The Funding Landscape of the Swiss Game Industry 2026

The SGDA's 2026 preliminary study examines how Swiss game studios are funded, drawing on a voluntary nationwide survey conducted between April and May 2026 that received responses from 51 studios, split between Zurich (25) and the rest of Switzerland (26). Its central argument is that the Swiss industry, though internationally respected, remains small and under-capitalised, and that the decisive missing element is sustained funding at the production stage. The study frames strategic public funding as a matter of keeping capital and talent within the Swiss economy and building a more resilient, sovereign industry.

The data reveals a sharp contrast between Zurich and the rest of the country. Zurich studios are more often incorporated (64% as GmbH or Sàrl versus 27% elsewhere), have a median project budget of CHF 275k compared with CHF 30k outside the canton, and receive a median of 15% of their budgets from public support, while studios elsewhere receive none. Most cantons outside Zurich offer no support for games at all, and the Zurich Film Fund's new programme is already drawing studios and team members toward the canton. Qualitative responses point to a common desire for more funding, recognition, and mentoring, but also to tensions over grant sizes, repayment terms, and whether newcomers or established studios should be prioritised.

The authors acknowledge important limitations: the sample likely skews toward small independent studios, larger companies may be underrepresented, and the study is not statistically representative. They also flag possible underreporting of unpaid labour and widespread self-exploitation, and note that publishers and investors are scarce within Switzerland. The study concludes that overall funding volume must grow and that support instruments should be differentiated to match the different stages of studio development.