White Paper on Spanish Video Game Development: 2022 Executive Summary

The Spanish video game industry has established itself as a significant economic force, generating €1.28 billion in revenue and supporting 8,833 professional roles as of 2022. This trajectory suggests a robust future, with industry projections anticipating revenue growth to exceed €2.2 billion and employment to reach 13,000 positions by 2025. Despite this expansion, the sector remains characterized by a high degree of geographic concentration, with the vast majority of activity centered in Madrid and Catalonia. The business landscape is similarly bifurcated, featuring a large population of small studios alongside a select group of major companies that command the majority of the industry's total revenue and workforce.

International markets serve as the primary engine for this growth, as 75 percent of total revenue is derived from exports, particularly within North America and the European Union. While studios maintain a strong commitment to developing original intellectual property, the industry faces structural hurdles that threaten long-term scalability. Specifically, companies struggle with persistent talent shortages in technical disciplines and a reliance on self-financing, which limits the ability to undertake larger, high-budget projects.

To ensure sustained competitiveness, the industry advocates for targeted government intervention, including enhanced tax incentives for production and increased public funding. Addressing these financial barriers, alongside systemic efforts to improve gender parity and youth employment, is essential for the sector to mature. By fostering a more stable investment environment and expanding the talent pipeline, the Spanish video game industry aims to transition from its current reliance on personal capital toward a more sustainable, institutionalized model of development that can compete effectively on the global stage.