Four out of Ten Games Are Purchased as Downloads: Germany

Key insights

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Market Value

The German games market surpassed 3.3 billion euros in 2017.

This marks the first time the market has exceeded the 3-billion-euro threshold. The total market value increased by 15 percent over the previous year.

Platform Differences

Nearly 8 out of 10 PC games were purchased as downloads in 2017.

This represents a 10 percentage point increase from 2016, making PC gaming the primary driver of digital adoption. Console and handheld platforms show a lower digital adoption rate.

Like choosing a streaming service over a physical DVD for a movie, PC gamers heavily favor digital portals for their games.

8 out of 10

PC games purchased as downloads in 2017.

Increase from 2016: 10 percentage point
Console and handheld games purchased as downloads: 23%

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Summary

The German games industry experienced significant growth in 2017, with the total market value exceeding 3.3 billion euros for the first time, representing a 15 percent increase over the previous year. This expansion was driven by a 12 percent rise in software revenue to nearly 2.4 billion euros and a 26 percent surge in hardware and peripheral sales, which reached 938 million euros. Despite this overall growth, domestic developers maintained a modest market share of approximately 6 percent, prompting industry calls for increased government subsidies to improve local competitiveness.

Digital distribution continued to gain traction, with 42 percent of all games sold for PC, consoles, and handhelds in 2017 purchased as downloads, up from 39 percent in 2016. Revenue generated from these digital sales reached 29 percent of the total, a 2-percentage-point increase from the prior year. Platform preferences remain distinct, as PC gamers heavily favor digital portals like Steam, Origin, and Uplay, with nearly 80 percent of PC titles acquired via download. In contrast, console platforms—including PlayStation, Switch, and Xbox—saw only 23 percent of games purchased in digital format.

These findings are based on comprehensive market data provided by GfK, utilizing a representative consumer panel of 25,000 individuals in Germany. The analysis highlights that digital platforms are increasingly vital for the industry, particularly for smaller development teams that utilize early-access models to secure funding and gather player feedback during the development process. The data serves as a key indicator of shifting consumer behavior and the evolving economic landscape within the German interactive entertainment sector.