Annual Report of the German Games Industry 2021

Key insights

5 takeaways · ~2 min read

01
The German games market experienced significant growth in 2020, with overall sales revenue increasing by over 30% due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Hardware sales, including consoles and gaming PCs, reached a record high, and subscription services saw a 44% increase in sales revenue.See it on page 8
02
Germany launched a major EU-notified games funding guideline in late 2020, with several studios receiving over one million euros in funding, marking a significant first for the country's games industry.See it on page 4
03
The number of companies in the German games industry increased by 5% for development and publishing companies and 7% for publishing-focused companies in 2021. However, employment in the core market grew by only 8% to 10,906 people, indicating that most new companies are microenterprises.See it on page 15
04
gamescom 2020 successfully transitioned to a digital format due to the pandemic, attracting millions of viewers from over 180 countries and featuring 370 partners across five show formats, with gamescom: Opening Night Live being a highlight.See it on page 20
05
game – the German Games Industry Association, with approximately 340 members including developers and publishers, advocates for improved industry conditions, youth protection, and diversity, and has been climate-neutral since early 2021.See it on page 26

Summary

01 Players in Germany 8 02 German market for computer 14 03 The games industry in Germany 24 .1 Employment figures and companies .4 The ten demands of the games industry 04 gamescom 38 05 About game – the German 42 .1 Diversity initiative Hier spielt Vielfalt .2 Environmental and climate protection in the .3 Foundation for Digital Games Culture .5 Entertainment Software Self-Regulation Body 06 D...