More Than 41 Million People in Germany Play Video Games

Key insights

6 takeaways

01
More than 41 million people in Germany play video games, representing approximately 6 in 10 individuals aged 6 to 69.
02
The German games market generated 9.4 billion euros in total revenue in 2025, marking a 4% year-over-year growth.
03
Smartphones are the leading gaming platform with 23.7 million users, followed by game consoles at 22.1 million, PCs at 14 million, and tablets at 9.9 million.
04
Hardware and subscription services drove 2025 growth, with console revenue rising 26%, gaming PC accessories up 13%, and online gaming services exceeding 1 billion euros for the first time.
05
The average age of a video game player in Germany is 38.3 years, with a gender distribution of 46% women and 54% men.
06
Approximately 19 million gamers in Germany engage with the hobby across two or more different devices.

Summary

The German games industry has reached a significant milestone, with 41.2 million people in Germany now identifying as video game players. This figure represents approximately 60 percent of the population aged 6 to 69. The demographic profile of the gaming community is broad and diverse, featuring an average player age of 38.3 years, with 79 percent of gamers being adults. The gender distribution remains nearly balanced, consisting of 46 percent women and 54 percent men. Notably, the scope of this data has expanded to include all residents of Germany, regardless of citizenship, providing a more inclusive assessment of the national gaming landscape than in previous years.

Market data indicates that smartphones are the most popular gaming platform, utilized by 23.7 million people, followed closely by game consoles with 22.1 million users. PCs and tablets account for 14 million and 9.9 million players, respectively, with roughly 19 million individuals engaging with games across multiple devices. This widespread adoption is supported by a robust market environment, which saw total revenue grow by 4 percent in 2025 to reach 9.4 billion euros. Key drivers for this financial growth included a 26 percent increase in the console segment and a 13 percent rise in gaming PC accessories, alongside the continued expansion of online subscription services.

The findings are derived from comprehensive market research conducted by YouGov, utilizing an ongoing survey of 25,000 representative consumers, supplemented by data from Nielsen IQ and Sensor Tower. This methodology ensures a high-quality, longitudinal view of purchasing and usage habits within the German market. By capturing a more holistic demographic picture, these insights underscore the continued integration of gaming into mainstream German culture and the industry's sustained economic momentum.