The European video‑game market posted a combined revenue of €24 billion in 2024, supported by more than 6,600 development studios that together employ over 95,000 professionals across the region. These figures come from the latest European Video Game Industry Insights Report, a collaborative publication by the European Games Development Association (EGDF) and Video Games Europe (VGA). The report draws on data compiled for the calendar year 2024, reflecting the time required for national bodies to gather and harmonise their statistics. Each of the 28 EGDF member organisations first produces a detailed national snapshot, which is then merged into a single European overview.
This methodology ensures that the numbers capture both the breadth of the industry and the nuances of individual markets. One of the most striking take‑aways is that, despite a noticeable slowdown in the expansion of the overall talent pool, the continent’s studio ecosystem continued to grow. The total number of active game‑development studios rose between five and ten percent during the year, signalling that new entrants are still finding opportunities even as hiring slows in some areas.
Countries such as Finland, Italy and the Czech Republic illustrated this trend, each reporting modest but steady increases in the size of their development teams and the volume of projects under way. Poland emerged as the clear leader in terms of employment, boasting the largest workforce dedicated to game creation and publishing within the EU.
Polish studios also produced the highest number of new titles, with 450 releases recorded in 2024. The United Kingdom, another major hub, saw its industry employment climb to 28,516 individuals, underscoring the UK’s continued relevance as a centre for both creative talent and commercial activity. The 2024 edition of the report marked the first appearance of two smaller markets: Bulgaria and Cyprus.
Cyprus, despite its modest size, generated €4.3 billion in turnover, earning the description of the "main game industry hub in terms of combined revenue" within the report. Bulgaria was highlighted as an "important regional hub surrounded by key European game industry talent"—a nod to its strategic position near the talent‑rich economies of Romania and Türkiye.
Both nations illustrate how even relatively small economies can carve out influential niches in the broader European gaming landscape. EGDF officials emphasized that the data demonstrates resilience in the face of challenging conditions. "The report shows that despite difficult times, several countries experienced growth both in revenue and in the number of studios, which together lifted the European averages," the association noted.
This optimism is tempered by a sobering reality: the sector also faced layoffs, corporate consolidations and a decline in overall employment in certain regions. For the first time since systematic tracking began, a handful of countries reported a slight dip in the number of people working in game development, signalling the first observable contraction in the sector’s labour market. To put these numbers into perspective, consider the broader economic context. The €24 billion turnover represents a sizable share of the EU’s creative‑industry output, placing gaming alongside film, music and publishing as one of the fastest‑growing digital entertainment segments.
The increase in studio count, even as hiring slows, suggests that many companies are opting for leaner, more agile structures—often leveraging remote work, cross‑border collaborations and specialised outsourcing to keep development pipelines efficient. Moreover, the rise of new studios is being driven by several converging factors.
First, the proliferation of accessible development tools such as Unity and Unreal Engine has lowered the barrier to entry, allowing smaller teams to produce high‑quality titles without massive capital outlays. Second, the expansion of digital distribution platforms—Steam, Epic Games Store, console marketplaces and mobile app stores—provides immediate access to global audiences, reducing the need for large in‑house publishing divisions.
Third, increased public and private investment in creative industries across Europe, including tax incentives and grant programmes, continues to attract entrepreneurs and developers to launch ventures in their home countries rather than relocating to traditional hubs like the United Kingdom or France. Nevertheless, the report also warns that the talent‑base slowdown could become a bottleneck if not addressed. While studios are multiplying, the pool of skilled programmers, artists, designers and producers is not expanding at the same pace. This mismatch has already manifested in higher competition for qualified staff, rising salary expectations and, in some cases, the need to import talent from outside the EU.
Policymakers are therefore urged to reinforce education and training pathways, such as university programmes, vocational courses and industry‑led apprenticeships, to sustain the sector’s growth trajectory. In summary, the European gaming industry in 2024 painted a picture of robust financial performance and a flourishing ecosystem of development studios, even as it grappled with labour market headwinds. With €24 billion in revenue, more than 6,600 studios and a workforce exceeding 95,000, the sector remains a pivotal driver of digital culture and economic activity across the continent.
Future success will likely hinge on balancing the creation of new studios with strategic investment in talent development, ensuring that Europe can maintain its competitive edge in the global gaming arena.