The German Games Industry: 2026

The German games industry experienced a period of moderate growth in 2025, followed by a contraction in the first half of 2026. The market reached a total valuation of €9.382 billion in 2025, representing a 4% year-over-year increase. However, data for the first half of 2026 indicates a 3% decline compared to the same period in the previous year, with total revenue reaching €4.2 billion. This downturn is largely attributed to a decrease in hardware sales, which fell by 8%, while game sales saw a 1% decline. Conversely, online gaming services maintained positive momentum, growing by 3%.

The industry landscape in Germany is characterized by a diverse player base of 41.2 million individuals, with an average age of 38.3 years. Smartphones remain the dominant platform, followed by consoles and PCs. While the number of active game companies in the country has rebounded to 956, total industry employment has seen a slight decline to 12,235 personnel at developers and publishers. Despite these fluctuations, market sentiment is improving, with a higher percentage of companies expressing optimism regarding future industry development compared to the previous year.

Methodologically, the findings rely on a comprehensive YouGov Shopper survey of 25,000 participants, supplemented by industry data from Sensor Tower, Nielsen IQ, and GSD. Employment and company figures are derived from the gamesmap.de database as of March 31, 2026. The report also highlights the significant impact of the annual Gamescom event, which achieved record-breaking attendance and engagement metrics in 2025, underscoring Germany's continued status as the largest gaming market in Europe and the fifth-largest globally.