Updated Mar 3, 2026 by Video Games Europe
Video Games Europe opposes new network fees or expanded regulation of cloud services, arguing these measures would threaten net neutrality, increase consumer costs, and damage European digital competitiveness.
The European video game industry generates €24.5 billion in annual revenue and employs approximately 110,000 people, with 53 percent of the European population participating in gaming.
Gaming traffic is significantly lower than video streaming, with typical online gameplay consuming 60–80 megabytes per hour and high-intensity titles rarely exceeding 300 megabytes per hour.
Game publishers refute 'free-riding' allegations by noting they already invest in their own data centers and content-delivery networks (CDNs) while paying for enhanced upload capacity.
The industry maintains that existing market dynamics are sufficient, citing the successful management of COVID-19 traffic surges and ongoing collaboration with ISPs to schedule downloads during off-peak hours.
Regulatory stability is requested to ensure investment security, with the association advocating that infrastructure deployment should be driven by demonstrated market demand rather than aspirational policy targets.
Video Games Europe opposes new network fees or expanded regulation of cloud services, arguing these measures would threaten net neutrality, increase consumer costs, and damage European digital competitiveness.
The European video game industry generates €24.5 billion in annual revenue and employs approximately 110,000 people, with 53 percent of the European population participating in gaming.
Gaming traffic is significantly lower than video streaming, with typical online gameplay consuming 60–80 megabytes per hour and high-intensity titles rarely exceeding 300 megabytes per hour.
Game publishers refute 'free-riding' allegations by noting they already invest in their own data centers and content-delivery networks (CDNs) while paying for enhanced upload capacity.
The industry maintains that existing market dynamics are sufficient, citing the successful management of COVID-19 traffic surges and ongoing collaboration with ISPs to schedule downloads during off-peak hours.
Regulatory stability is requested to ensure investment security, with the association advocating that infrastructure deployment should be driven by demonstrated market demand rather than aspirational policy targets.