Key insights
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Key number
Digital downloads reached 75 percent of full-game unit sales in 2025.
Digital downloads accounted for 75 percent of full-game unit sales in Belgium in 2025, up from 58 percent in 2021. Physical full-game sales continued to decline.
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- 01Digital downloads accounted for 75 percent of full-game unit sales in Belgium in 2025, up from 58 percent in 2021, as physical full-game sales continued to decline.See it on page 4
- 02Total video game sales in Belgium reached roughly €698 million across software and hardware, with the PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2, and Xbox Series X|S among the top-selling consoles.See it on page 4
- 03More than half of Belgians aged 6 to 75 play video games, equivalent to 6.3 million players, with an average player age of 34.7 years and a near-even male-female split overall.See it on page 8
- 04Children aged 6 to 17 make up 23 percent of players, and nearly nine in ten young people played a game in the past year.See it on page 9
- 05Male gamers spend on average around four hours more per week playing than female gamers.See it on page 9
- 06Parental oversight is widespread: 83 percent of parents set up parental tools, and 98 percent of parents whose children spend money on in-game content monitor that spending, which 36 percent report.See it on page 13
- 07Flanders' video game development sector grew steadily to €76.5 million in turnover, with 145 companies and 728 full-time equivalent employees, while no 2025 data was collected for Brussels or Wallonia.See it on page 6
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Summary
The Video Games Federation Belgium's 2025 Key Facts Report offers a comprehensive look at Belgium's video game sector, covering consumer sales, market size, player demographics, time spent playing, parental oversight, in-game spending, and the regulatory and educational tools available to families. The data draws on the Gametrack survey by Ipsos of 39,371 respondents across 16 European countries, including 2,013 in Belgium, supplemented by sales data from Sparkers, Newzoo, and AppMagic, and an annual survey of local development companies. Belgian market figures are presented alongside European comparisons where relevant.
Consumer spending in 2025 shows a notable shift toward digital distribution. Physical full-game sales declined, with digital downloads accounting for 75 percent of full-game unit sales in 2025, up from 58 percent in 2021. Top-selling console hardware included the PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2, and Xbox Series X|S, with total video game sales in Belgium reaching roughly €698 million in software and hardware. On the development side, Flanders saw consolidated but steadily growing turnover of €76.5 million, 145 companies, and 728 full-time equivalent employees, while no 2025 data was collected for Brussels or Wallonia.
Player data indicates that more than half of Belgians aged 6 to 75 play video games, equivalent to 6.3 million players, with an average age of 34.7 years and a near-even split between male and female players overall. Children aged 6 to 17 make up 23 percent of players, and nearly nine in ten young people played a game in the past year. Male gamers spend on average around four hours more per week than female gamers. Parental engagement is high, with 83 percent of parents setting up parental tools, while 36 percent report that their child spends money on in-game content, and 98 percent of those parents monitor that spending.
