Close to 10 Million Gamers in Germany Are 50 Years and Older

Key insights

6 takeaways

01
The German games market reached a total value of 4.4 billion euros in 2018, representing a 9% growth over the previous year.
02
The average age of gamers in Germany has risen to 36.4 years, up from 31 years five years prior.
03
Nearly 10 million people aged 50 and older now play computer and video games, accounting for 29% of the total gaming population.
04
More than 34 million people in Germany play games across platforms including smartphones, tablets, PCs, and consoles, with women representing 48% of the total.
05
Online service fees were the primary growth driver for the market in 2018, nearly doubling to 353 million euros, a 97% increase.
06
In-game purchases also contributed significantly to market expansion, growing by 28% to reach 1.9 billion euros.

Summary

The German games industry experienced a significant demographic shift in 2019, characterized by an aging player base and robust market growth. The primary thesis highlights that gaming has evolved beyond a youth-centric activity into a diverse cultural, educational, and therapeutic medium, driven largely by the increasing participation of older demographics. As of 2019, nearly 10 million individuals aged 50 and older were active gamers, representing 29 percent of the total player population in Germany.

The average age of German gamers reached 36.4 years in 2019, continuing a steady upward trend from 31 years in 2014. Across the nation, more than 34 million people engage with computer and video games on various platforms, including consoles, PCs, and mobile devices. Gender parity remains a notable feature of the market, with women accounting for 48 percent of all gamers.

Financial performance in the German market was equally strong, with total sales of games and hardware reaching 4.4 billion euros in 2018, marking a 9 percent increase over the previous year. Growth was primarily fueled by online service fees, which nearly doubled to 353 million euros, and in-game purchases, which rose 28 percent to 1.9 billion euros.

These findings are based on comprehensive market data collected through a combination of retail panels and an ongoing survey of 25,000 consumers representative of the German population. The methodology utilizes data from GfK Consumer Panel, GfK Entertainment, GfK POS Measurement, and App Annie to provide a high-quality, longitudinal view of national gaming habits. Due to changes in service providers and data collection methodologies, these figures are noted as distinct from previous years' reporting.