In 2025 the European video‑game industry amassed a total turnover of €30 billion, with digital sales representing a dominant 91 percent of that figure, according to the latest data released by Video Games Europe (VGE). This milestone underscores the continued shift toward online distribution and in‑game purchases across the continent, confirming that physical copies are now a marginal slice of overall earnings. A notable development this year was the broadening of VGE’s flagship research publication, the All About Games report.
Previously limited to the five largest European markets – the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain and Italy – the study now incorporates data from an additional eleven countries: Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Sweden and Switzerland. By expanding its geographic scope, VGE aims to provide a more comprehensive picture of gaming activity, consumer behaviour and industry health throughout the European Union and neighbouring economies. To compile the new edition, VGE commissioned the market‑research firm Ipsos, which aggregated information from several reputable sources, including GameTrack, the German Software Developers Association (GSD) and the freshly published EGDF‑VGE Video Games Industry Insight Report. The combined survey reached 39,371 respondents, offering a robust sample that captures trends across diverse demographic groups and national contexts.
When the numbers for the original five‑country bloc (often referred to as the EU5) are examined in isolation, a slight contraction becomes evident. Revenue in these core markets fell by 4 percent year‑on‑year, dropping from €26.8 billion in 2024 to €25.7 billion in 2025. Germany remained the powerhouse of the region, generating €6.5 billion, the highest national total among the EU5. Employment figures also paint an encouraging portrait of the sector’s vitality.
In 2025, a workforce of roughly 123,000 individuals was engaged across 8,700 development studios operating in the EU and the United Kingdom. Women represented 24 percent of this labour pool, highlighting ongoing efforts to improve gender balance in a traditionally male‑dominated field. The United Kingdom alone accounted for the largest share of jobs, employing 28,520 people, followed by Poland with 14,930 and Germany with 12,410. Platform preferences continued to evolve, with mobile phones and tablets cementing their status as the most popular gaming devices.
An impressive 82 percent of gamers reported using handheld devices, while consoles were the primary platform for 47 percent of respondents and personal computers for 34 percent. Revenue generation mirrored these usage patterns: mobile and tablet gaming contributed almost half of the total €30 billion market, underscoring the lucrative nature of the free‑to‑play and micro‑transaction models that dominate that segment.
In the console arena, Electronic Arts maintained its leadership position throughout 2025. The company’s flagship sports titles, EA Sports FC26 and FC25, occupied the top two slots on console sales charts, with the tactical shooter Battlefield 6 taking third place. Battlefield 6 also dominated the PC segment, where it was followed by Rockstar Games’ enduring classics Red Dead Redemption 2 and Grand Theft Auto 5, both of which continue to attract substantial player bases years after their initial releases.
Mobile gaming leaders were similarly clear‑cut. The casual‑strategy title Coin Master held the number‑one position, with Royal Match and the long‑standing Candy Crush Saga rounding out the top three. These results illustrate the sustained appeal of quick‑session, reward‑driven experiences that fit comfortably into the daily routines of a broad audience.
Overall participation numbers remained robust: 199 million Europeans reported playing video games in 2025. Women comprised 46 percent of that audience, translating to roughly 91.5 million female gamers. The United Kingdom emerged as the single largest market in terms of player count, with an estimated 25 million active gamers. Average weekly playtime, however, showed a modest decline.
Gamers spent an average of 8.39 hours per week on games, down from 9.4 hours the previous year. Age‑specific data revealed that younger children (6‑11 years) logged 11.35 hours per week, while teenagers (12‑17 years) averaged 14.30 hours, indicating that older youths still dedicate considerable time to interactive entertainment. Parental involvement in gaming habits remained high. Seventy‑five percent of European parents expressed a desire to be actively involved in setting limits on their children’s gaming activities.
Moreover, 79 percent reported using one or more family‑setting tools—such as time‑limits, content filters or purchase restrictions—to supervise or curb gameplay. Seventy‑four percent indicated that they have explicit agreements, monitoring practices, or family‑setting configurations in place to manage online interactions and protect their children from inappropriate content.
When focusing on the EU5 markets, 72 percent of parents said their children did not make in‑game purchases at all. Among the minority who did buy virtual items, a striking 93 percent of parents claimed they kept a close eye on those transactions. Notably, the average amount spent by children who were permitted to purchase in‑game content fell by 13 percent compared with 2024, suggesting either more cautious spending behaviour or the impact of heightened parental oversight.
These findings collectively illustrate a European gaming ecosystem that is growing in revenue, diversifying across platforms, and increasingly attentive to the social responsibilities surrounding youth engagement. The expanded geographic coverage of VGE’s All About Games report promises richer insights for developers, publishers, policymakers and investors seeking to navigate the dynamic landscape of European interactive entertainment.