Recap 2024 and Outlook for 2025: Hamburg

The 2024 review and 2025 outlook for the Hamburg games industry highlights a year of sustained growth, successful networking initiatives, and significant award recognition for local developers. The primary purpose of this summary is to document the activities of Gamecity Hamburg, a regional initiative dedicated to fostering the local games ecosystem through funding, event organization, and professional development.

Key achievements in 2024 included the successful execution of multiple industry events, such as the 15th Hamburg Games Conference and the Polaris convention, which attracted over 40,000 visitors. The organization also facilitated international exposure for local studios through its "Road to" programs, enabling participation at major trade fairs including Gamescom and Nordic Game. Financial support remained a cornerstone of the initiative, with five projects receiving prototype funding of up to 80,000 euros each, and five additional teams participating in the Games Lift Incubator. Notably, the introduction of a diversity checklist for all funding programs reflects a strategic effort to encourage inclusive development practices within the local industry.

Hamburg-based studios demonstrated strong performance throughout the year, securing multiple accolades at the German Computer Game Award and the German Developer Award. Looking ahead to 2025, the industry is preparing for the inaugural Portside Game Assembly, a new B2B conference format scheduled for June that aims to facilitate confidential networking among international indie studios. The upcoming year will also maintain established application cycles for prototype funding and incubator programs, ensuring continued support for the region’s game development talent.