In 2024 the European video‑game industry posted a combined revenue of €24 billion, a figure that underscores the sector’s continuing importance to the region’s digital economy. More than 6,600 development studios were active across the continent, collectively employing a workforce that now exceeds 95,000 individuals. These numbers come from the European Video Game Industry Insights Report, a joint publication of the European Games Development Association (EGDF) and Video Games Europe (VGA). The report is based on data compiled for the year 2024, reflecting the most recent snapshot that could be assembled given the time required for each national association to gather and verify its statistics.
The process begins with the 28 EGDF member organisations, each of which prepares a detailed national report. Those individual submissions are then merged to produce a comprehensive European overview. One of the most striking observations in the 2024 edition is the contrast between the stagnation of the talent base and the continued rise in the number of operating studios.
While the overall pool of skilled professionals showed little growth – a sign that the sector may be approaching a saturation point in terms of available expertise – the count of studios still managed to increase by between five and ten percent during the year. This suggests that existing talent is being redistributed into new ventures, that companies are scaling up, or that smaller studios are emerging in niche markets. Country‑specific trends illustrate the broader picture.
Finland, Italy and the Czech Republic each reported modest but steady gains in employment within the gaming sector, indicating that even mature markets are still finding room to expand. Poland stood out as the clear leader in terms of headcount, employing the largest number of developers, designers, artists and publishers in the EU.
Polish firms also produced the highest volume of new titles, with 450 releases recorded for the year. The United Kingdom, another major hub, saw its gaming workforce reach 28,516 professionals, reinforcing its status as a key player in the European landscape. The 2024 report also marked the first inclusion of two smaller economies: Bulgaria and Cyprus. Cyprus, despite its modest size, generated €4.3 billion in turnover and was highlighted as the primary revenue hub for the region, outpacing many larger neighbours when measured on a per‑company basis.
Bulgaria, meanwhile, earned recognition as an important regional centre, benefitting from its proximity to talent pools in Romania and Türkiye and acting as a bridge for cross‑border collaboration. EGDF officials commented that the data demonstrates resilience in the face of challenging market conditions.
"The report shows that despite a difficult environment, several countries continued to experience growth both in terms of revenue and the number of studios, which together lifted the overall European indicators," the association said. However, the same statement also acknowledged that the sector is not immune to headwinds. Layoffs, mergers and a general decline in employment figures were reported in a number of markets, leading to the first recorded dip in overall employment across the European gaming industry.
This contraction was most evident in nations where consolidation activity was high, and where companies chose to streamline operations in response to rising development costs and shifting consumer preferences. The juxtaposition of expanding studio numbers with a flat or even shrinking talent pool raises several strategic questions for policymakers and industry leaders. If the supply of qualified professionals cannot keep pace with the demand generated by new studios, the sector may face bottlenecks that could limit future growth. Initiatives aimed at expanding education and training programmes, fostering apprenticeships, and encouraging cross‑disciplinary skill development are likely to become increasingly important.
Moreover, the geographical spread of growth suggests that opportunities are emerging beyond the traditional powerhouses of the UK, France and Germany. Nations such as Finland, Italy, the Czech Republic, and the newly highlighted Bulgaria and Cyprus are carving out niche positions, often focusing on specialised genres, innovative gameplay mechanics, or leveraging local cultural assets to attract global audiences. In summary, the European gaming industry in 2024 delivered €24 billion in revenue, supported by a network of over 6,600 studios and a workforce of more than 95,000 people.
While the talent base showed signs of stalling, the sector compensated through an increase in the number of active development houses, a trend that was especially pronounced in several mid‑size economies. The inclusion of Bulgaria and Cyprus broadens the map of European gaming activity and points to a more diversified future. At the same time, the first recorded decline in overall employment highlights the need for targeted strategies to sustain the talent pipeline and to manage consolidation pressures. The data paints a picture of an industry that is both resilient and at a crossroads, poised to continue its contribution to Europe’s digital economy provided that the right investments in people and infrastructure are made.