2025 Industry Barometer: The Mood in the German Games Industry

The 2026 Industry Barometer provides an assessment of the current economic sentiment within the German games sector, signaling a shift toward renewed optimism following three years of market challenges. The primary thesis is that the industry is experiencing a brightening outlook, driven by successful major events and favorable shifts in government policy, including increased federal funding and planned tax incentives.

Key findings indicate that 29 percent of German games companies anticipate an overall industry upswing in the coming year, a significant improvement from the 17 percent recorded in the previous annual survey. Conversely, the percentage of companies expecting a negative industry trend dropped from 45 percent to 31 percent. Regarding individual business performance, 53 percent of companies project positive development for their own operations in 2026, while only 12 percent foresee a downturn. Despite this improved confidence, hiring intentions remain stable rather than aggressive, with 32 percent of companies planning to recruit new staff, consistent with the previous year’s figures.

The scope of the analysis covers the German games industry, specifically focusing on developers and publishers. The data is derived from an online survey conducted by the German Games Industry Association (game) between November 12 and November 21, 2025. The sample size for this study consisted of 202 member companies. By capturing these metrics, the research highlights a stabilizing market environment where policy support and industry engagement are successfully fostering a more positive outlook for the year ahead.