German Games Market: 2025 Growth Analysis

The German games market experienced a return to growth in 2025, achieving a 4 percent increase in total revenue to approximately 9.4 billion euros. This recovery follows a slight decline in the previous year and is primarily attributed to strong performance in the hardware sector and the continued expansion of online gaming services. The data, provided by the German Games Industry Association (game), reflects a shift in consumer behavior toward long-term engagement with established titles and subscription-based models rather than the purchase of individual games.

Key findings highlight that games hardware was a significant growth driver, with total revenue in this segment rising 12 percent to 3.4 billion euros. Specifically, game console revenue surged by 26 percent, bolstered by the launch of new hardware such as the Nintendo Switch 2. Additionally, gaming PC accessories saw a 13 percent increase, reversing a downward trend that had persisted since 2021. Online gaming services also reached a milestone, surpassing one billion euros in revenue for the first time, representing a 7 percent year-over-year increase. Conversely, revenue from the purchase of individual computer and video games declined by 13 percent, while in-game and in-app purchases grew by 1 percent to 4.1 billion euros.

The analysis covers the German market for the 2025 calendar year, encompassing games, hardware, and online services. The methodology relies on data from YouGov Shopper, which includes an ongoing survey of 25,000 representative consumers, alongside insights from Sensor Tower and Nielsen IQ. Due to fundamental revisions in data collection for mobile markets and physical retail hardware, historical figures have been adjusted to ensure accurate year-over-year comparisons.