Key insights
7 slides
Key number
Belgium's game sector generated an estimated €73.5 million in turnover.
The turnover came from 163 companies employing roughly 936 full-time equivalents. Flanders hosts the largest share of studios, followed by Brussels and Wallonia.
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- 01Belgium's video game sector generated an estimated €73.5 million in turnover across 163 companies employing roughly 936 full-time equivalents, with Flanders hosting the largest share of studios, followed by Brussels and Wallonia.See it on page 4
- 02The economic value of video games in Belgium reached €708 million, a 21.6 percent increase, with PlayStation 5 sales rebounding strongly after chip shortages constrained supply in 2022.See it on page 5
- 03Job openings in Belgium's game industry rose in the second half of 2023, a notable contrast to global layoff trends.See it on page 4
- 04Among the best-selling console and PC titles were EA Sports FC 24, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, and Grand Theft Auto V, while Minecraft and Roblox dominated among children.See it on page 6
- 05Belgian children aged 4 to 17 play an average of nine hours per week, compared with a European average of around seven, and 76 percent of parents set time limits.See it on page 7
- 06More than a third of Belgian gamers are over 35, and the share of women among players has grown by 10 percent over the past 15 years.See it on page 7
- 07A survey of 700 parents found that 95 percent talk with their children about the games they play, and most feel they have sufficient control over their children's gaming.See it on page 8
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Summary
This 2023 report from the Video Games Federation Belgium (VGFB) provides an overview of Belgium's video game industry, covering development, sales, player demographics, parental guidance, and educational and inclusion initiatives. Its central aim is to present facts and figures on the sector while also offering tools for parents, educators, and industry stakeholders to engage with video games responsibly and constructively.
On the development side, the industry generated an estimated €73.5 million in turnover across 163 companies employing roughly 936 full-time equivalents, with Flanders hosting the largest share of studios, followed by Brussels and Wallonia. Job openings rose in the second half of 2023, a notable contrast to global layoff trends. On the consumer side, the economic value of video games in Belgium reached €708 million, a 21.6 percent increase, with PlayStation 5 sales rebounding strongly after chip shortages constrained supply in 2022. Among the best-selling console and PC titles were EA Sports FC 24, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, and Grand Theft Auto V, while Minecraft and Roblox dominated among children.
Player data shows that Belgian kids aged 4 to 17 play an average of nine hours per week, compared with a European average of around seven, and that 76 percent of parents set time limits. More than a third of Belgian gamers are over 35, and the share of women has grown by 10 percent over the past 15 years. Findings from a survey of 700 parents indicate that 95 percent talk with their children about the games they play and most feel they have sufficient control over their children's gaming.
The report draws on multiple sources, including Ipsos GameTrack data, Sparkers' tracking and extrapolation, financial statements, AppMagic mobile data, a survey of Belgian studios, and a DVJ Insights parent survey. Its final sections describe the PEGI age-rating system, parental control resources, inclusion and accessibility initiatives, and guidance for using games in classrooms.
