In 2025 the European video‑game sector amassed a total turnover of €30 billion, with digital sales representing an overwhelming 91 percent of that figure, according to the latest data released by Video Games Europe (VGE). This milestone underscores the continuing shift toward online purchases, subscriptions and micro‑transactions that dominate modern gaming economics across the continent. One of the most notable developments this year was the broadening of VGE’s flagship market analysis, the All About Games report.
Previously confined 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 extending its geographic scope to sixteen nations, VGE aims to provide a more comprehensive picture of the industry’s health, trends and employment landscape throughout the EU and the UK. To compile the expanded dataset, VGE commissioned market‑research firm Ipsos, which drew on several reputable sources, including GameTrack, the German Software Distribution (GSD) data set, and the freshly published EGDF‑VGE Video Games Industry Insight Report. The combined survey reached a total of 39,371 respondents, offering a robust statistical foundation for the findings presented.
When the numbers for the original five‑country core (often referred to as the EU5) are examined in isolation, revenue fell by 4 percent year‑on‑year, slipping from €26.8 billion in 2024 to €25.7 billion in 2025. Despite this modest decline, Germany remained the top‑earning market within the group, generating €6.5 billion in sales, followed by the United Kingdom, France, Italy and Spain. Employment figures paint an encouraging portrait of growth. Across the EU and the UK, 123,000 individuals were employed by 8,700 development studios in 2025.
Women accounted for roughly a quarter of the workforce, representing 24 percent of all gaming‑industry employees. The United Kingdom led the region in headcount, with 28,520 people working in game development, publishing, and related services.
Poland came in second with 14,930 employees, while Germany rounded out the top three with 12,410 staff members. Platform usage patterns continued to evolve, with mobile phones and tablets maintaining their dominance. An impressive 82 percent of gamers reported using a handheld device as their primary way to play, while consoles were the preferred hardware for 47 percent of respondents and personal computers for 34 percent.
In monetary terms, mobile and tablet gaming contributed nearly half of the total €30 billion revenue, reinforcing the importance of the mobile market for publishers and developers alike. On the console side, Electronic Arts retained its leading position throughout 2025. The company’s flagship sports titles, EA Sports FC26 and FC25, occupied the first and second spots on the console charts, with the long‑running first‑person shooter Battlefield 6 securing the third position. Battlefield 6 also topped the PC leaderboard, demonstrating its cross‑platform appeal.
It was followed closely by Rockstar Games’ enduring classics Red Dead Redemption 2 and Grand Theft Auto 5, both of which continue to generate strong sales years after their initial releases. Mobile gaming saw a different set of leaders. The casual‑puzzle title Coin Master claimed the number‑one slot, while Royal Match and the evergreen Candy Crush Saga filled out the top three. These results highlight the sustained popularity of free‑to‑play models that rely on in‑app purchases and ad revenue.
Player demographics revealed that 199 million Europeans engaged in video‑games during 2025. Women represented a substantial 46 percent of that audience, equating 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 individuals playing regularly.
Average weekly playtime across the region dropped slightly, falling to 8.39 hours per person compared with 9.4 hours in 2024. Younger gamers, however, still logged considerable hours: children aged 6‑11 averaged 11.35 hours per week, while teenagers aged 12‑17 spent an average of 14.30 hours gaming each week. Parental involvement remains a key factor in the European gaming ecosystem. Seventy‑five percent of parents expressed a desire to be actively involved in setting limits on their children’s gaming activities.
Correspondingly, 79 percent reported using one or more family‑setting tools—such as time‑limit features, content filters or purchase restrictions—to monitor or curb gameplay. Additionally, 74 percent said they have established agreements, conduct regular checks, or employ family‑setting mechanisms to manage online interactions and safeguard their children’s digital experiences. Within the EU5 markets specifically, 72 percent of parents indicated that their children did not make any in‑game purchases.
Of the minority who did, a striking 93 percent said they closely supervised those transactions. Notably, the average amount spent by children who were permitted to buy in‑game content fell by 13 percent compared with the previous year, suggesting a growing awareness of spending habits among both parents and young gamers. Overall, the 2025 data illustrate a vibrant and increasingly diversified European gaming landscape. While revenue growth slowed in the traditional core markets, the expansion of the All About Games report to include eleven additional nations provides valuable insight into emerging opportunities.
Mobile dominance, strong console franchises, and a balanced gender split among players point to a healthy, inclusive market that continues to attract investment, talent, and a broad consumer base across the continent.