ReportDutch Game Garden
Games Monitor: The Netherlands 2020 Update – COVID Impact
1 Jan 20209 pages~14 min full read
The Dutch video game industry grew from 575 companies in 2018 to 615 by the end of 2020, supporting approximately 4,000 total jobs.
See it on page 6B2C entertainment developers experienced increased consumer demand during the pandemic, while B2B and applied game developers faced project cancellations and delays.
See it on page 5Operational productivity remained stable despite the transition to remote work, though nearly 50% of industry professionals reported increased stress levels.
See it on page 4The loss of physical industry events hindered business development, with one-third of surveyed professionals unable to effectively pursue new opportunities.
See it on page 7Approximately 85 companies in the sector utilized government labor cost subsidies to maintain operations during the initial 2020 lockdown phases.
See it on page 6While remote work sustained output quality, the erosion of informal office culture led to a decline in overall employee engagement.
See it on page 4This update provides an analysis of the Dutch video game industry’s performance during 2020, specifically examining the operational and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings are based on a survey of over 100 industry professionals conducted in late 2020, supplemented by desk research and database updates. The report tracks industry growth, employment trends, and the shift in business dynamics necessitated by global lockdowns.
The Dutch games sector demonstrated resilience, growing from 575 companies in 2018 to 615 by the end of 2020, with total employment reaching approximately 4,000 jobs. While the industry largely transitioned to remote work with minimal impact on output quality, the pandemic created a divide between business-to-consumer (B2C) and business-to-business (B2B) entities. B2C entertainment companies generally benefited from increased consumer demand for home-based entertainment. Conversely, B2B and applied game developers faced significant challenges in the spring of 2020 as client projects were paused or canceled, though some firms in the healthcare sector identified new opportunities.
Operational challenges were primarily centered on human resources and networking. While productivity remained stable for most, employee engagement declined due to the loss of informal office culture, and nearly half of respondents reported increased stress levels. The absence of physical industry events hindered the establishment of new business relationships, with one-third of respondents unable to pursue new business opportunities effectively. Despite these hurdles, the industry maintained its growth trajectory, supported by government labor cost subsidies that assisted approximately 85 companies during the initial lockdown phases. Overall, the sector proved adaptable, leveraging digital infrastructure to sustain operations while navigating a volatile market environment.
