The German games market grew by 14% to 3.5 billion Euros in 2018, driven by a 97% increase in revenue from online service fees (to 305 million Euros) and a 57% increase in in-game purchases (to 297 million Euros).
02
34.3 million Germans play computer and video games, with 48% being female. The average age of gamers has risen to 36.4 years, with nearly 10 million players over 50 years old, representing 29% of all gamers.
03
The purchase of games as downloads or on physical media is no longer the largest market segment, declining by 10% to 1.1 billion Euros. Downloads accounted for 41% of sales and 28% of revenue in 2018, a slight decrease from 2017.
04
Germany's games industry faces a challenging financing situation, making game production up to 30% more expensive than in other countries like France, the UK, and Canada, which have stronger government support.
05
eSports is rapidly growing in popularity and economic potential in Germany, with major events like ESL One tournaments and the League of Legends Championship Series hosted there. Many German sports clubs and companies like Mercedes-Benz, Audi, and Vodafone are investing in eSports.
06
The gamescom trade fair saw a 10% increase in exhibitors to 1,037 in 2018, attracting 370,000 visitors. The USK (Entertainment Software Self-Regulation) has been active for 25 years in youth protection for gaming, and since 2018, it can review games containing unconstitutional symbols on a case-by-case basis.
Insights
01
The German games market grew by 14% to 3.5 billion Euros in 2018, driven by a 97% increase in revenue from online service fees (to 305 million Euros) and a 57% increase in in-game purchases (to 297 million Euros).
02
34.3 million Germans play computer and video games, with 48% being female. The average age of gamers has risen to 36.4 years, with nearly 10 million players over 50 years old, representing 29% of all gamers.
03
The purchase of games as downloads or on physical media is no longer the largest market segment, declining by 10% to 1.1 billion Euros. Downloads accounted for 41% of sales and 28% of revenue in 2018, a slight decrease from 2017.
04
Germany's games industry faces a challenging financing situation, making game production up to 30% more expensive than in other countries like France, the UK, and Canada, which have stronger government support.
05
eSports is rapidly growing in popularity and economic potential in Germany, with major events like ESL One tournaments and the League of Legends Championship Series hosted there. Many German sports clubs and companies like Mercedes-Benz, Audi, and Vodafone are investing in eSports.
06
The gamescom trade fair saw a 10% increase in exhibitors to 1,037 in 2018, attracting 370,000 visitors. The USK (Entertainment Software Self-Regulation) has been active for 25 years in youth protection for gaming, and since 2018, it can review games containing unconstitutional symbols on a case-by-case basis.