Strong Demand for Computer and Video Games Drives Significant Growth in the German Market

Key insights

6 takeaways

01
The German computer and video games market grew by 8% in the first half of 2015, reaching a total sales revenue of 863 million euros compared to 798 million euros in the same period of 2014.
02
Growth in 2015 is projected to exceed the 11% annual growth rate achieved in 2014, driven by a strong pipeline of blockbuster releases scheduled for the second half of the year.
03
Microtransactions and virtual goods were a primary growth driver, generating 264 million euros in the first half of 2015, a 15% increase over the previous year.
04
Subscription-based revenue saw significant expansion, growing 27% to approximately 65 million euros during the first six months of 2015.
05
Sales revenue from games for PCs, consoles, handhelds, and mobile devices reached 534 million euros, representing a 3% increase compared to the first half of 2014.
06
Market expansion is attributed to high consumer demand for the latest generation of gaming consoles and the continued success of the free-to-play business model.

Summary

The German computer and video games market experienced significant growth during the first half of 2015, driven by strong consumer demand across all industry segments. Total sales revenue reached 863 million euros, representing an 8 percent increase compared to the 798 million euros recorded during the same period in 2014. This upward trajectory was primarily fueled by the popularity of the latest generation of gaming consoles and the continued expansion of the free-to-play model, which effectively attracted new users.

The market’s growth was broad-based, with gains observed in all three major sub-segments. Revenue from games for PCs, consoles, handhelds, and mobile devices rose by 3 percent to 534 million euros. Furthermore, the digital economy saw substantial momentum, as revenue from virtual goods and microtransactions climbed 15 percent to 264 million euros, while the subscription-based segment grew by 27 percent to approximately 65 million euros.

Industry projections for the remainder of 2015 remained highly optimistic, with expectations that the market would exceed the double-digit growth threshold. Given the robust performance in the first half of the year and a strong pipeline of upcoming blockbuster releases, experts anticipated that annual growth could surpass the 11 percent mark achieved in 2014.

The data was compiled by the German Games Industry Association (BIU) in partnership with the market research institute GfK. The methodology involved an ongoing, representative survey of 25,000 consumers regarding their purchasing and usage habits, alongside a dedicated consumer panel, providing a comprehensive view of the German digital games landscape.