Europe reports and market data
Documents
Swedish Games Industry: Game Developer Index 2021
The Swedish games industry demonstrated exceptional resilience and financial performance in 2020, achieving a 43 percent revenue increase to reach 3.3 billion EUR.
- The Swedish games industry achieved a 43 percent revenue increase in 2020, reaching 3.3 billion EUR and marking twelve consecutive years of profitability.
- The sector is supported by 667 active companies and nearly 6,600 employees, with Swedish titles accumulating six billion global downloads.
- International expansion has accelerated significantly, with the number of Swedish-owned studios abroad rising from 39 to 126 across 38 countries to mitigate domestic talent shortages.
Welcome To PG Connects London 2025 - Chris James
The Pocket Gamer Connects London 2025 conference, hosted by Steel Media CEO Chris James, serves as a strategic industry gathering aimed at analyzing the current state of the global games market and identifying growth opportunities for the year ahead.
- The global games industry generated between $188 billion and $200 billion in revenue last year, maintaining its position as the world's largest entertainment sector.
- Approximately 40,000 industry jobs were lost globally over the past 18 months, though recruitment activity remains ongoing for those seeking new roles.
- The distribution landscape is shifting away from the Apple and Google duopoly, with new app stores and direct-to-consumer portals emerging from companies like Aptoide, Huawei, Samsung, and Epic Games.
Session: Unlocking The iOS Platform For User Growth – Key Updates On DMA, DMCC & Emerging....
The mobile application landscape is undergoing a significant shift as regulatory interventions and court decisions challenge the long-standing duopoly of Apple and Google.
- Customer acquisition costs (CAC) on iOS have risen by 60% since 2021, driven primarily by Apple's App Tracking Transparency (ATT) policy, increased market competition, and ad platform consolidation.
- The European Union's Digital Markets Act (DMA) now allows developers in Europe to utilize alternative app stores (such as Aptoide, Epic, and AltStore) and alternative billing systems to reduce platform fees from 30% to approximately 10–20%.
- Apple imposes a 'Core Technology Fee' (CTF) of €0.50 per user per year for apps distributed outside the official App Store, a policy currently under formal investigation by the European Commission for potentially creating excessive friction.
Panel: Playing by New Rules – Game Development Under the Digital Markets Act.
The Digital Markets Act represents a pivotal shift in the mobile gaming landscape, aiming to dismantle restrictive distribution barriers and foster a more competitive ecosystem.
- The European Digital Markets Act (DMA) is expected to create a more diverse and competitive ecosystem for game developers by enabling new distribution models and revenue streams, particularly within the mobile platform space.
- Publishers like Team17 and Curve Games are increasingly adopting consultative approaches, helping developers navigate complex monetization strategies and Web Store integrations to maximize the value of their IP.
- The shift toward a more open market allows developers to experiment with cross-play and cross-progression, potentially lowering barriers to entry and enabling mobile strategies for established IP like Team17's 'Hell Let Loose'.
The Game Industry of Poland: 2025
The Polish video game and tabletop sectors have matured into a cornerstone of the nation’s creative economy, establishing Poland as the second-largest market in Europe.
- The provided report content contains only the title and author credits, lacking the body text, statistical data, or specific industry findings required to generate factual insights.
- Due to the absence of substantive data in the provided source, it is impossible to extract growth rates, company performance metrics, or industry trends for the Polish game industry in 2025.
- The source material consists exclusively of administrative metadata regarding the report's contributors and institutional affiliations.
Joint Industry Statement
A coalition of European and international industry associations representing technology, media, banking, hospitality, travel, e-commerce and fintech firms has voiced collective concern over the proposed unconditional refund right for merchant-initiated transactions (MITs) in the EU Payment Services Regulation.
- A coalition of cross-industry associations is lobbying against a proposed EU regulation that would grant an unconditional eight-week refund right for all merchant-initiated transactions (MITs).
- The coalition argues that extending this refund right—currently limited to SEPA Direct Debits—would create significant fraud risks and threaten the financial sustainability of subscription-based, digital content, and hospitality business models.
- Data from a 2024 consumer fraud survey indicates that 40% of adults experienced online fraud in the past year, while 45% of consumers believe exploiting policy loopholes is acceptable.
The Romanian Video Games Development Industry
The analysis presents a comprehensive overview of Romania’s video-game development sector, focusing on revenue performance, geographic concentration, and workforce trends over the past decade.
- The Romanian video game industry has nearly tripled its turnover in the last decade, growing from approximately €119 million in 2015 to over €340 million in 2024.
- The sector’s workforce has expanded at an annual rate of 12%, with total headcount projected to reach 343,160 employees by 2024.
- Market dominance is held by major multinational publishers like Electronic Arts in Bucharest and Ubisoft in Cluj-Napoca, while mid-size studios such as Amber, Green Horse Games, and Playtika contribute between 5% and 15% of total earnings.
El Seguro en el Ámbito de los Videojuegos
This industry guide, developed by the Spanish Video Game Association (AEVI) in collaboration with legal experts from Pérez-Llorca, serves as a strategic framework for managing risk within the video game development and publishing sectors.
- Professional Civil Liability (RCP) and Errors and Omissions (E&O) insurance are the primary mechanisms for protecting developers against involuntary contractual breaches and professional negligence.
- Cybersecurity insurance is essential for mitigating the operational costs and reputational damage associated with ransomware, data leaks, and hacking incidents.
- Insurance policies must specifically cover intellectual property infringement, including claims related to unauthorized use of music, character designs, and concept art.
La Financiación de un Videojuego: España
The guide aims to equip Spanish video-game developers and publishers with a practical framework for securing external financing, emphasizing investment agreements (AI) as a flexible alternative to traditional bank credit.
- Investment Agreements (AI) function as a hybrid financing model that provides developers with cash infusions linked to development milestones without requiring immediate equity dilution.
- AI structures grant investors political and economic rights—including voting and dividend privileges—comparable to shareholders, while tying repayment directly to a percentage of project revenue.
- Key contractual protections for investors include profitability targets with time-bound thresholds, 'bad leaver' clauses for founders, and the right to capitalize debt into equity if revenue targets are not met.
Employment Issues in Video Game Development: Spain
The guideaims to help video-game publishers, developers and related staff in Spain navigate employment legislation while fostering safe, productive workplaces.
- Misclassifying employees as independent contractors can result in Social Security fines of €3,750–€12,000 per worker, plus potential surcharges of up to 150% of unpaid contributions.
- Indefinite contracts are the legal default in Spain, with fixed-term contracts strictly limited to production needs (six-month maximum) or employee replacement (90 days per year); misuse of these terms triggers fines of €751–€7,500 per employee.
- Occupational risk prevention, specifically regarding 'crunch' and psychosocial health, is mandated under Law 31/1995, with non-compliance penalties ranging from €45 up to €983,736 for severe violations.
Financing Video Games: Spain
The guide aims to equip Spanish video-game developers and publishers with a practical framework for securing external financing beyond traditional bank credit.
- Investment agreements (IAs) serve as a hybrid financing model for Spanish developers, bridging the gap between equity and debt by granting investors shareholder-like rights without requiring immediate capital increases.
- Unlike traditional bank loans, IAs replace fixed repayment schedules with returns tied directly to project profitability, often including conversion mechanisms that turn credit into equity if revenue targets are missed.
- IAs typically structure capital as lump-sum or milestone-linked payments, with returns defined by a percentage of commercial revenues, such as a €100 investment targeting a €120 return.
Guide to Consumer Rights, Advertising and Data Protection: Spain
The guide is intended to equip Spanish video-game publishers, developers and marketers with a practical understanding of the legal framework governing consumer rights, advertising and data protection.
- Digital purchases in Spain generally require a 14-day right of withdrawal, though this is waived for age-rated titles once gameplay begins and for opened physical copies or virtual currencies.
- Data processing for users under 14 requires verified parental consent, which must be obtained through age-verification mechanisms or electronic signatures.
- Influencer marketing must include clear, visible disclosures such as #Sponsored or #Ad to avoid violating regulations against covert sponsorship.