In 2024 the European video‑game market posted a collective turnover of roughly €24 billion, a figure that underscores the region’s continuing relevance on the global stage. The sector is now home to more than 6,600 development studios, which together employ in excess of 95,000 individuals ranging from programmers and artists to marketers and support staff.
These statistics come from the European Video Game Industry Insights Report, a collaborative publication produced by the European Games Development Association (EGDF) together with Video Games Europe (VGA). The report captures data for the calendar year 2024, even though the information was gathered and compiled later in the year due to the time‑intensive nature of the research process. Initially, each of the 28 EGDF member organisations prepares a detailed national snapshot, outlining revenue, studio counts, employment figures and other key performance indicators. Once every national submission is complete, the EGDF aggregates the individual datasets to create a comprehensive European overview.
One of the most striking take‑aways from the 2024 edition is the contrast between two opposing trends. On the one hand, the overall growth of the continent’s talent base – measured by the net increase in people employed in game‑related roles – appears to have plateaued. In other words, the sector is not adding as many new workers as it did in previous years. On the other hand, the number of active studios continued to climb, with an expansion rate estimated between five and ten percent compared with the previous year.
This suggests that while larger companies may be consolidating or trimming staff, smaller and mid‑size developers are still emerging, contributing to a more diversified ecosystem. Country‑level details illustrate how the broader picture plays out in specific markets.
Finland, Italy and the Czech Republic each reported modest but steady gains in their employment numbers, indicating that these nations are still attracting talent and expanding their development capacity. Poland stands out as the EU’s biggest employer in the sector, boasting the largest workforce among all member states and releasing the highest number of new titles – 450 games were launched from Polish studios in 2024 alone. The United Kingdom also remains a heavyweight, with a total of 28,516 people working in game creation, publishing, and related services.
The 2024 report also marks the first inclusion of two previously untracked economies: Bulgaria and Cyprus. Cyprus, despite its relatively small size, generated an impressive €4.3 billion in turnover, earning the description of the “main game industry hub in terms of combined revenue” within the European context. Bulgaria, meanwhile, was highlighted as an “important regional hub surrounded by key European game industry talent” from neighboring Romania and Turkey, reflecting its growing reputation as a supportive environment for developers and a source of skilled personnel.
Commentary from the EGDF emphasizes that, even in a climate marked by uncertainty, several countries managed to push both revenue and studio counts upward, thereby lifting the aggregate European indicators. The association points out that the sector’s resilience is evident in the fact that new studios are still being founded and that many existing companies continue to release fresh content, which in turn fuels revenue streams.
Nevertheless, the report does not shy away from acknowledging the challenges that have surfaced. Layoffs, mergers and acquisitions, and a general slowdown in hiring have led to a stagnation – and in some cases a slight decline – in employment figures across certain markets.
This represents the first observable dip in workforce numbers for the European gaming sector since systematic data collection began. The downturn is attributed to a combination of macro‑economic pressures, rising production costs, and the increasing complexity of modern game development, which often requires larger, more specialized teams that are harder to scale quickly. Looking ahead, industry analysts suggest that the European gaming landscape will likely experience a period of consolidation, where larger publishers absorb smaller studios, while at the same time niche developers continue to carve out specialized segments such as indie, mobile, and VR/AR experiences.
Investment in education and training programs is expected to play a crucial role in replenishing the talent pipeline, especially in countries where employment has plateaued. Governments across the EU are also considering policy measures – including tax incentives, grant schemes, and infrastructure support – to sustain growth and keep Europe competitive against North American and Asian markets. In summary, the 2024 European Video Game Industry Insights Report paints a nuanced picture: a sector that remains financially robust, with €24 billion in turnover and a vibrant studio ecosystem exceeding 6,600 entities, yet one that must confront a modest slowdown in workforce expansion.
The inclusion of Bulgaria and Cyprus expands the geographical scope of the data, highlighting emerging hubs that could become more influential in the years to come. While the first dip in employment signals caution, the continued rise in the number of studios and the strong revenue figures suggest that Europe’s gaming industry retains a solid foundation for future innovation and growth.