Herní průmysl ČR 2020

Key insights

7 takeaways

01
The Czech game industry reached a total valuation of 3.79 billion CZK in 2020, supported by a workforce of 1,750 employees after the creation of 300 new positions.See it on page 4
02
The sector is highly export-oriented, with 95 percent of production destined for international markets.See it on page 2
03
The industry is dominated by small-to-medium enterprises, as 73 percent of studios employ fewer than 10 people and only 7 percent have more than 50 staff.See it on page 2
04
PC and console development remains the primary focus for 67 percent of studios, while 87.5 percent of companies favor self-publishing over third-party agreements.See it on page 3
05
The workforce is highly internationalized, with foreign nationals accounting for 29 percent of all employees.See it on page 2
06
Growth is tempered by structural challenges, specifically a shortage of skilled labor, limited access to capital, and a need for more specialized educational curricula.See it on page 1
07
The industry is relatively young, with 55 percent of studios established within the last five years and an average production cycle of three years per game.See it on page 4

Summary

The Czech game development industry experienced significant growth in 2020, reaching a total valuation of 3.79 billion CZK. This expansion is reflected in the workforce, which grew to 1,750 employees, marking the creation of 300 new positions over the previous year. The sector is characterized by a high export orientation, with 95 percent of production destined for international markets. The industry is primarily composed of small-to-medium enterprises, as 73 percent of studios employ fewer than 10 people, while only 7 percent of companies have more than 50 staff members.

The landscape is dominated by PC and console development, which accounts for 67 percent of studio focus, followed by mobile gaming at 41 percent. Most entities operate as domestic limited liability companies, with 87.5 percent favoring self-publishing over third-party publishers. The workforce is highly internationalized, with foreigners comprising 29 percent of employees. Despite this growth, the industry faces structural challenges, specifically a shortage of skilled labor, the need for improved educational systems to support specialized game development curricula, and difficulties in accessing capital for expansion.

Data for this analysis was collected from a sample of 54 game studios, representing approximately 80 percent of the total market, with the remaining figures derived through qualified estimation. The industry remains relatively young, with 55 percent of studios having been established within the last five years. On average, studios manage the simultaneous development of two games, with a typical production cycle lasting three years. The most sought-after professional roles include programmers, game designers, and testers, highlighting a persistent demand for technical and creative talent to sustain the industry's upward trajectory.