FLEGA – Flemish Games Association

The Flemish Games Association (FLEGA) invites Belgian developers to participate in gamescom ’26, held in Cologne from 26‑28 August. The event offers a B2B booth in the Business Area and an Indie Arena booth in the Entertainment Area, each with distinct participation options. The B2B booth is exclusively for business‑to‑business networking and includes three tiers: Meeting Point (€700 VAT excl.), Deluxe Meeting Point (€1,250 VAT excl.) and Individual Booth (€800 per square metre). All tiers provide a MeetToMatch account, exhibitor passes, joint PR support, and access to the BelgianGames Café. The Indie Arena booth is free but requires an application by 13 April, with eligibility criteria such as a release window of 6‑9 months post‑gamescom, VAF funding or talent program participation, first‑time booth status, and a diverse team.

Additionally, devcom, the developers’ segment of gamescom running 23‑25 August, offers speaking opportunities and an Indie Expo. Submission deadlines are 5 April for talks and 30 April for the Indie Expo, with selection by a jury. FLEGA partners with Flanders Investment & Trade for the B2B booth and VAF Game for the Indie Arena, leveraging their networks for PR and logistics. The initiative targets Belgian studios seeking exposure to publishers, investors, press, and consumer audiences within the European gaming market. The call emphasizes networking, visibility, and support for both established and emerging developers in the 2026 games industry landscape.

The Flemish Games Association (FLEGA) has outlined its participation strategy for Gamescom 2026, scheduled for August 26–28 in Cologne. The primary objective is to facilitate international networking, deal-making, and project visibility for Belgian game studios. In collaboration with Flanders Investment & Trade and VAF Game, the association provides a structured framework for studios to engage with the global games industry through various exhibition tiers and professional development opportunities.

The initiative offers three distinct participation levels within the B2B Business Area. A standard Meeting Point provides shared access to meeting tables and networking events for 700 EUR, while a Deluxe Meeting Point offers a dedicated table for 1,250 EUR. For studios requiring a more prominent presence, individual branded booths are available at 800 EUR per square meter. These packages include logistical support, PR coordination, and access to the BelgianGames Cafe, with an optional BIZ package available for increased visibility in the official exhibitor directory.

Beyond the B2B sector, the program supports consumer-facing engagement through the Indie Arena Booth in the Entertainment Area. Participation in this space is subject to specific criteria, including VAF funding status, project release timelines, and team diversity. Furthermore, the association encourages involvement in the devcom developer conference, which precedes the main event from August 23–25. Studios are invited to submit proposals for speaking engagements or participation in the Indie Expo. Deadlines for these various opportunities range from early April to late April 2026, emphasizing a structured, competitive application process for Belgian developers seeking to leverage these industry platforms.

The report presents a comprehensive snapshot of the videogame sector in Flanders and Brussels for 2024, focusing on company activity, employment, and financial performance. It documents a total of 160 companies operating across development, publishing, services, portals, and accelerator/incubator roles, with a notable concentration in Antwerp (23 firms) and Brussels (21). Company size distribution is heavily skewed toward micro enterprises, accounting for 112 out of 160 firms; only 15 are small (11–49 employees), one midsized, and none large.

Employment figures show a steady rise in full‑time equivalents (FTEs) from 600 in 2020 to 857 by 2024, reflecting a growth of roughly 43% over five years. The sector’s turnover has also expanded, reaching €75.9 million in 2024 compared to €64.6 million in 2023, marking a 17% increase year‑on‑year and an overall rise of about 18% since 2020.

Geographically, the sector is concentrated in the western and eastern parts of Flanders, with a smaller but growing presence in Limburg. The data exclude Wallonia due to delayed reporting, indicating that the figures represent only a partial view of Belgium’s overall videogame landscape.

Methodologically, the report aggregates company counts, employment numbers, and revenue figures from industry registries and self‑reported financial statements. The analysis covers the period 2020–2024, providing a trend view that highlights sustained growth in both human capital and economic output within the Flemish‑Brussels videogame ecosystem.