FLEGA Report 2016: Highlights and Conclusions

The 2016 Flemish Games Association (FLEGA) report provides a comprehensive analysis of the Belgian games industry, focusing on the economic challenges and growth potential of the sector. Commissioned by the Flemish Minister for Culture, Media, Youth and Brussels, the study examines the landscape of the local gaming market, the economic impact of game studios, and the necessity for improved government support to ensure international competitiveness.

Data indicates that Belgium had 4.2 million active gamers in 2015, representing 37.5% of the population, with a notable shift toward smartphone gaming. The industry itself comprised 72 studios across Flanders, Wallonia, and Brussels, generating a total turnover of €43.6 million in 2014—a 6.63% increase from 2012. Despite this growth, the sector faces significant structural hurdles, including high wage costs that limit hiring capacity and force studios to develop projects sequentially rather than in parallel, which increases financial vulnerability.

The analysis, based on a survey of 43 industry professionals, highlights that current subsidy programs, such as those from the VAF Gamefonds, are insufficient to support marketing and international expansion. Consequently, established studios have been forced to relocate operations abroad to remain viable. The report concludes that to prevent a "brain drain" of creative talent and to foster long-term economic growth, the government must implement tax shelters or tax breaks similar to those found in successful international markets. Such measures are presented as essential for attracting investment, creating jobs, and establishing Belgium as a significant player in the global digital economy.