2024 All About Video Games: European Key Facts

The 2024 annual report on the European video games sector provides a comprehensive analysis of the industry’s economic performance, workforce composition, and player demographics. Produced by Video Games Europe in collaboration with the European Games Developer Federation, the report utilizes data from GameTrack Ipsos—covering France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UK—alongside GSD and internal member contributions to establish a definitive overview of the market.

Financially, the sector demonstrates steady growth, with revenue in key markets rising by 4% to reach 26.8 billion Euros. The industry is characterized by a strong shift toward digital distribution, which now accounts for 90% of total revenue, up from 85% in the previous year. Smartphone and tablet gaming remains the dominant revenue driver at 44%, followed by consoles at 38%, PC at 15%, and on-demand streaming at 4%.

Demographically, the European gaming landscape is broad and mature, with 54% of the population aged 6–64 engaging with video games. The average player age is 31, and 75% of the player base consists of adults. Gender representation remains balanced, with women comprising 45% of players. Engagement levels remain consistent, with an average weekly playtime of approximately nine hours.

The industry also shows positive momentum in employment, with the total European workforce increasing by 1.8% to 116,419 professionals. Women currently represent 24.9% of this workforce. These findings underscore a resilient and evolving sector that continues to integrate across multiple platforms, with 71% of players utilizing mobile devices, 59% using consoles, and 43% playing on PC.