In 2025 the European video‑game market 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 purchases and the growing importance of digital distribution channels across the continent. A notable development this year was the broadening of VGE’s flagship publication, the All About Games report.
Previously limited to the five largest European markets—namely the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain and Italy—the study now spans sixteen countries. The additional territories incorporated into the analysis are Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Sweden and Switzerland.
By widening the geographical scope, VGE aims to provide a more comprehensive picture of gaming trends, consumer behaviour and economic impact throughout the European region. To compile the figures, VGE commissioned the market‑research firm Ipsos, which drew on data from several established sources, including GameTrack, the German Software Developers Association (GSD) and the newly published EGDF‑VGE Video Games Industry Insight Report. The combined survey reached 39,371 respondents, offering a robust sample size for assessing player demographics, spending habits and platform preferences.
When the numbers for the original five‑country bloc (often referred to as the EU5) are examined in isolation, revenue showed a modest contraction of 4 percent year‑on‑year, slipping from €26.8 billion in 2024 to €25.7 billion in 2025. Germany remained the top‑earning nation within this group, delivering €6.5 billion in sales, followed by the United Kingdom, France, Italy and Spain. Employment data revealed that the sector continued to be a significant job creator. Across the European Union and the United Kingdom, 123,000 individuals were employed by roughly 8,700 development studios in 2025.
Women accounted for 24 percent of the workforce, indicating gradual progress toward gender diversity, though there remains ample room for improvement. The United Kingdom stood out as the largest employer, with 28,520 people working in gaming‑related roles.
Poland came in second with 14,930 employees, and Germany ranked third with 12,410 staff members. These figures highlight the concentration of talent hubs in both Western and Central Europe. Platform usage patterns showed that mobile devices and tablets dominate the European gaming landscape, with 82 percent of gamers reporting they primarily play on these handheld devices.
Console usage was reported by 47 percent of respondents, while 34 percent indicated a preference for PC gaming. In monetary terms, mobile and tablet platforms generated almost half of the total industry revenue, reinforcing the importance of the mobile market for publishers and developers alike.
When it comes to top‑performing titles, the console segment was led by Electronic Arts. EA’s football franchise, EA Sports FC26, claimed the number‑one spot, with its predecessor FC25 holding the second position. Battlefield 6 rounded out the top three console titles, demonstrating the enduring appeal of both sports and first‑person shooter genres on console hardware. The PC arena mirrored some of the console trends.
Battlefield 6 also topped the PC charts, followed closely by Rockstar Games’ evergreen classics Red Dead Redemption 2 and Grand Theft Auto V. These results illustrate the staying power of high‑budget, narrative‑driven experiences on personal computers. Mobile gaming leaders differed markedly from their console and PC counterparts.
The casual‑strategy game Coin Master secured the leading position on smartphones and tablets, with Royal Match and the long‑standing Candy Crush Saga occupying the second and third slots respectively. The popularity of these titles underscores the demand for quick, accessible gameplay loops that fit into users’ daily routines. Player‑base statistics indicated that 199 million Europeans engaged in video‑games during 2025.
Women represented a substantial 46 percent of this audience, translating to roughly 91.5 million female gamers. The United Kingdom emerged as the single largest national market, boasting 25 million active players. Average weekly playtime across the continent measured 8.39 hours per person, a slight decline from the 9.4 hours recorded in 2024. Age‑specific data showed that children aged 6‑11 spent an average of 11.35 hours per week gaming, while teenagers aged 12‑17 logged 14.30 hours, reflecting higher engagement among older youth.
Parental involvement remains a key factor in the European gaming ecosystem. Seventy‑five percent of parents expressed a desire to participate in setting limits on their children’s gaming activities. Moreover, 79 percent reported using one or more family‑setting tools—such as screen‑time controls or content filters—to monitor or restrict gameplay, and 74 percent indicated they have formal agreements, monitoring practices, or family‑setting configurations in place to manage online interactions.
Within the EU5 markets, 72 percent of parents said their children did not make in‑game purchases. Of the minority who did, a striking 93 percent of parents claimed they actively oversaw those transactions, suggesting a high level of vigilance regarding micro‑transactions. Spending behaviour among children who are permitted to buy in‑game content showed a downward trend, with average expenditure dropping 13 percent compared with 2024.
This reduction may be linked to increased parental oversight, heightened awareness of the costs associated with digital items, or broader economic factors influencing discretionary spending. Overall, the 2025 data paints a picture of a mature, digitally‑focused European gaming market that continues to grow in revenue, diversify its geographic footprint, and attract a broad, gender‑balanced audience. While challenges such as parental regulation and gender representation persist, the sector’s robust employment numbers and expanding reach across sixteen nations signal a vibrant future for European interactive entertainment.