Senator's Roundtable 2025: Hamburg City Hall

The Senator's Roundtable 2025, held on January 29 at Hamburg City Hall, served as a strategic forum for aligning the local gaming industry with political leadership. Hosted by Dr. Carsten Brosda, Senator for Culture and Media, alongside Gamecity Hamburg, the event facilitated a direct dialogue between government officials and managing directors from the Hamburg games sector. The primary objective was to evaluate current industry challenges, assess the efficacy of existing support programs, and establish priorities for the 2025 fiscal year.

Key findings from the roundtable highlighted that access to both municipal and federal funding remains a critical pillar for industry stability and growth. Participants identified significant operational hurdles, specifically regarding the recruitment of specialized talent for senior-level roles. Furthermore, the industry underscored the increasing complexity of commercial user acquisition, particularly within the free-to-play market segment, as a primary concern requiring ongoing attention and potential policy support.

The session also served to validate the success of regional development initiatives. Notably, 20 Hamburg-based developers were recognized for securing the federal "Press Start" start-up grant. This success included three projects originating from the 2024 Games Lift Incubator, each receiving 49,500 euros in financial backing. By bringing together a diverse group of stakeholders—ranging from established studios like InnoGames and Goodgame Studios to independent developers—the roundtable reinforced Hamburg’s commitment to maintaining a competitive, well-supported ecosystem for game development through collaborative governance and targeted financial investment.