Reportgame – Verband der deutschen Games-Branche e. V.
Games Industry 2019/20
1 Jan 202043 pages~87 min full read
Germany is the largest video-game market in Europe and the fifth-largest globally, generating a record €4.4 billion in 2018 with a 9 percent year-on-year growth rate.
See it on page 9The German government supports the industry with €50 million in annual non-repayable grants, which cover 25 to 50 percent of project costs for developers.
See it on page 7The sector comprises approximately 524 game-related firms, including 368 development studios, employing 11,000 staff directly and nearly 28,000 when including ancillary roles.
See it on page 14The industry is supported by a robust talent pipeline from over 50 higher-education institutions, with development hubs concentrated primarily in Berlin and Hamburg.
See it on page 16The annual gamescom exhibition in Cologne is a major international industry driver, attracting 31,300 trade professionals and over 100 million video hits in 2023.
See it on page 29The German ecosystem is defined by a dense network of over 200 development and publishing firms alongside more than 150 specialist service providers, including companies like Deep Silver, Kolibri Games, and Mimimi.
See it on page 3Germany stands as Europe’s largest video‑game market and the world’s fifth‑largest, a position reinforced by a robust developer community, flagship events and a policy framework that actively subsidises production. Federal funding of €50 million per year, allocated as non‑repayable grants covering a quarter to half of project costs, is complemented by regional programmes and a business climate that benefits from a sizable domestic audience and a highly skilled workforce.
The market generated a record €4.4 billion in 2018, expanding 9 percent year‑on‑year, while the sector’s organisational base grew to roughly 524 game‑related firms that year. These include 368 development studios, 38 pure publishers and a further 118 hybrid entities, employing about 11 000 staff directly in development and nearly 28 000 when ancillary roles are counted. More than 50 higher‑education institutions now deliver dedicated curricula in game design, computer science, art and virtual reality, concentrating talent pipelines in Berlin and Hamburg.
Mid‑size studios such as Deep Silver, Kolibri Games and Mimimi have produced internationally recognised titles, and the annual gamescom exhibition in Cologne underscores the industry’s global reach. In 2023 the event attracted 31 300 trade professionals, delivered over 500 000 concurrent viewers for its Opening Night Live broadcast and amassed more than 100 million video hits, prompting the launch of a gamescom Asia edition in Singapore to capture growth in the Asia‑Pacific region.
A dense network of over 200 development and publishing firms and more than 150 specialist service providers—spanning localisation, cloud infrastructure, legal counsel, marketing and middleware—covers virtually every German city. This comprehensive, SME‑driven ecosystem, supported by mature ancillary services, positions Germany for sustained expansion and reinforces its role as a central hub for both domestic creation and international distribution of video‑games.
