ReportAEVI
Manifiesto de Video Games Europe 2024-2029
1 Jan 202426 pages~33 min full read
The European video game sector generated €24 billion in revenue between 2019 and 2024, representing a 16% growth rate and supporting 110,000 highly-skilled jobs.
See it on page 2The industry faces a significant regulatory burden, having been subjected to 850 new obligations and over 5,000 pages of legislation between 2017 and 2022.
See it on page 13Current EU financing tools are insufficient to compete with global hubs like Canada and the UK, prompting calls for a dedicated funding framework and improved tax incentives.
See it on page 9The PEGI self-regulatory system has successfully labeled over 40,000 titles across 40 countries, reducing non-compliant sales by up to 50%.
See it on page 11Video games have reached 53% of the European population, with a demographic split of 46.7% women and an average player age of 32.
See it on page 2Research shows that girls who play video games are three times more likely to pursue STEM studies, highlighting the medium's role in educational development.
See it on page 2The industry is advocating for a unified intellectual property regime and updated NACE classification codes to improve economic measurement and sector competitiveness.
See it on page 20The European video‑game sector seeks recognition as a distinct blend of technology and creative culture and urges policymakers to embed this identity in the EU’s 2024‑2029 strategic framework. By positioning games as a driver of digital innovation, cultural expression, and economic growth, the manifesto argues that tailored legislation, financing, and data‑collection mechanisms are essential to sustain the industry’s momentum and competitiveness.
Between 2019 and 2024 the sector expanded by 16 %, reaching €24 billion in revenue and employing roughly 110 000 highly‑skilled workers across the Union. More than half of Europeans (53 %) now play games, with women accounting for 46.7 % of the audience and the average gamer aged 32. Research indicates that girls who game are three times more likely to pursue STEM studies, underscoring the medium’s educational impact. The self‑regulatory PEGI system, which has labelled over 40 000 titles in 40 countries, has cut non‑compliant sales by up to 50 %, demonstrating effective consumer protection without heavy legislative burden.
Current EU financing tools—tax credits and grants—are deemed insufficient to match the incentives offered by hubs such as Canada, the United Kingdom and France. The manifesto calls for a dedicated funding framework that channels public resources toward innovative, creative projects, alongside flexible talent‑attraction visas and Horizon‑funded labour‑market mapping to close digital‑skills gaps. It also highlights the strain of 850 new obligations introduced between 2017 and 2022, amounting to more than 5 000 pages of regulation, which increase compliance costs for developers and publishers.
To solidify the sector’s contribution, a unified intellectual‑property regime and a revision of NACE classification codes are proposed, enabling accurate economic measurement. Mandatory PEGI‑based age controls, parental‑lock tools and proactive chat moderation address the 53 % of Europeans prioritising child‑friendly environments. Finally, the industry’s low‑carbon digital products and initiatives such as “Playing for the Planet” and “Green Game Jam” are presented as foundations for a climate‑responsible future, aligning gaming with
