The European video‑game market posted a combined turnover of €24 billion in 2024, supported by more than 6,600 development studios and a labour force that now exceeds 95,000 individuals. These figures come from the latest European Video Game Industry Insights Report, a joint publication by the European Games Development Association (EGDF) and Video Games Europe (VGA). The report, which reflects data gathered throughout 2024, is the product of a multi‑stage compilation process: each of the 28 EGDF member organisations first prepares a national‑level analysis, after which the data are merged to create a comprehensive European snapshot. While the overall pool of talent on the continent appears to have plateaued, the number of active studios continued to climb, registering an increase somewhere between five and ten percent over the previous year.
This modest but steady rise was evident in several key markets. Finland, Italy and the Czech Republic, for example, all reported slight upticks in employment within the sector, indicating that new studios are still being founded and existing ones are expanding their teams despite broader hiring challenges. Poland emerged as the clear leader in terms of sheer headcount, employing the largest number of professionals in game development and publishing across the EU. The country also topped the list for new releases, with 450 titles launched during the year.
The United Kingdom, another major hub, reported a workforce of 28,516 people, underscoring its continued importance in the European ecosystem. The 2024 edition of the report also marked the first inclusion of two previously untracked markets: Bulgaria and Cyprus. Cyprus, despite its relatively small size, generated €4.3 billion in revenue and was described as the "main game industry hub in terms of combined revenue" for the region.
Bulgaria, meanwhile, was highlighted as an "important regional hub surrounded by key European game industry talent"—a nod to its strategic location near Romania and Türkiye, both of which host significant creative talent pools. The EGDF commented that the data illustrate a resilient sector: "The report demonstrates that despite challenging times, industry growth continued in several countries, in both revenue and the number of studios, lifting both indicators at the European level." This optimism is tempered by a sober acknowledgment of the headwinds the industry faces.
Layoffs, corporate consolidations and a measurable decline in employment levels have led to stagnation, and in a few nations even a slight dip in workforce numbers—a phenomenon not seen in the sector until now. Several underlying factors help explain this mixed picture.
On the one hand, the proliferation of new development tools, the rise of cross‑platform publishing, and the increasing attractiveness of games as a cultural export have encouraged entrepreneurs to launch studios, especially in regions with supportive tax incentives or strong academic pipelines. On the other hand, market saturation, rising production costs and the pressure to deliver live‑service titles have forced some larger publishers to trim staff or merge with competitors, resulting in the observed employment contraction. Looking ahead, industry observers suggest that the European gaming landscape will likely continue to evolve along two parallel tracks.
The first track involves the gradual maturation of emerging hubs—such as Cyprus, Bulgaria and other smaller economies—where government backing and growing local expertise could translate into higher turnover and more jobs in the medium term. The second track reflects the consolidation trend among established players, which may lead to fewer but larger studios that can leverage economies of scale to compete on a global stage. Policy makers across the continent are taking note. Several national governments have announced or are considering new incentive schemes aimed at attracting foreign investment, supporting indie developers, and fostering talent development through university curricula and apprenticeship programmes.
If these measures prove effective, they could offset the current slowdown in talent pool growth and help sustain the upward trajectory of studio formation. In summary, 2024 was a year of both continuity and change for Europe's game industry. Revenue growth remained robust, with €24 billion recorded across the sector, and the number of studios kept expanding despite a flattening talent base.
Poland and the United Kingdom retained their positions as the largest employment centres, while newcomers like Cyprus and Bulgaria earned recognition as rising hubs. The sector’s future will depend on how well it balances the need for new talent with the realities of market consolidation and evolving consumer expectations.