Germany’s Gaming Industry Sees Rapid Growth

The gaming industry in Germany is experiencing a period of significant growth, according to the German Games Industry Association (GAME). The total number of games companies in the country has increased by 15.5% year-on-year, reaching a 46% growth since 2020.

Currently, Germany is home to 908 games companies, employing 11,992 individuals in game development studios. This indicates an overall employment growth of almost 7% within the industry. When taking into account the extended games labor market, which includes jobs in media and service providers, Germany’s games industry provides more than 30,000 job opportunities.

Rise of Smaller Startups

The growth in the number of new gaming companies is a positive sign for the future of the industry and Germany’s role within it. This is particularly significant as Poland recently overtook Germany for third place in workforce size in Europe. However, Germany seems to have recovered from this blow.

According to the data collected by gamesmap.de and Goldmedia, the majority of gaming companies in Germany are developers. Out of the total 908 companies, 861 are developers, with an additional 411 being publishers. The remaining 47 companies specialize in game marketing.

It is worth noting that the disparity between new company growth and employment growth suggests that many startups are smaller studios. Felix Falk, the managing director of GAME, believes that the funding provided by the federal government has been effective in promoting this growth. He emphasizes the importance of increased funding to facilitate further positive growth.

GAME, as a co-organizer of Gamescom, is expecting up to 3,000 industry professionals to attend the event in Cologne, Germany, this August.