A land of gamers

How big is the computer games market in Germany?

Germans spend about 9.4 billion euros per year on hardware, software and online services that are used primarily for gaming. That is more than is spent on cinema (around 868 million euros), films and streaming (5,4 billion euros), music (about 2.4 billion euros) and even Germany’s primary football league, the Bundesliga (4.8 billion euros). This puts Germany in first place in Europe and in fifth place worldwide, behind the USA, Japan, China and South Korea.

Is Germany a land of gamers?

Over half (53 percent) of Germans aged 16 and over regularly spend time playing digital games on PCs, gaming consoles, smartphones or tablets. The figure in the 16 to 29 age group even exceeds 90 percent, and is a not insignificant 21 percent even among the over-65s. Contrary to the cliché of the young male gamer, the average age of players is rising continuously (currently at 38), and nearly half of gamers (48 percent) are female. 

Does the government support the gaming industry?

Many states promote the development of digital games. The German government also supports the domestic gaming industry. In 2025 it is providing 88 million euros for this purpose, with the amount set to rise to 125 million in 2026. “We are significantly increasing the funding to up to eight million euros per project, thereby enabling large, multi-year projects,” said Federal Research Minister Dorothee Bär. 

Do many games developers come from Germany?

German games productions currently have a roughly 5 percent share of the overall market. Industry representatives hope the planned funding could help increase the share. The increased support is “an important and encouraging signal that Germany is creating internationally comparable conditions and is keen to catch up quickly in the competition between games industry locations,” says Felix Falk, Managing Director of “Game” – the German Games Industry Association.

Where does the world’s largest gaming fair take place?

Nowhere else in the world attracts as many fans, games developers and games enthusiasts as the Gamescom in Cologne does. In terms of visitor numbers and exhibition floorspace, Gamescom is the world’s biggest video games fair and exhibitors come from over 60 countries. In 2025, Gamescom will take place from August 20 to 24 and be opened by Federal Research Minister Dorothee Bär.