In 2025 the European video‑game market amassed a total turnover of €30 billion, with digital transactions representing an overwhelming 91 percent of that figure, according to the latest figures released by Video Games Europe (VGE). This milestone underscores the continuing shift toward online and downloadable content across the continent, as physical copies become an increasingly marginal segment of overall sales.
One of the most notable developments in VGE’s annual release is the broadened geographic scope of its flagship study, the All About Games report. Where the 2024 edition focused on the five largest economies – the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain and Italy – the 2025 edition now incorporates data from an additional eleven territories: Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Sweden and Switzerland. By widening the lens to sixteen countries, VGE aims to provide a more comprehensive picture of the European gaming ecosystem, capturing trends in both established hubs and emerging markets.
The research was carried out in partnership with market‑research firm Ipsos, which pulled together information from several industry sources, including GameTrack, the Game Software Developers (GSD) association, and the newly published EGDF‑VGE Video Games Industry Insight Report. The resulting dataset covered the responses of 39,371 individuals, ranging from casual players to industry professionals, and offered a granular view of consumption habits, spending patterns and employment figures. When the numbers for the original "EU5" bloc are examined in isolation, revenue actually fell 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, generating €6.5 billion, followed by France and the United Kingdom.
Despite the dip in revenue, the sector continued to be a major employer: roughly 123,000 people worked across 8,700 development studios located throughout the EU and the UK. Women accounted for about a quarter of the workforce (24 percent), a modest but steady improvement over previous years. In terms of headcount, the United Kingdom led the pack with 28,520 employees, a reflection of its dense concentration of studios and ancillary services.
Poland came in second with 14,930 staff members, while Germany’s workforce numbered 12,410. The remaining nations collectively contributed the balance of the employment total, illustrating a fairly even distribution of talent across the region.
Platform preferences continued to evolve. Mobile phones and tablets dominated usage statistics, with 82 percent of gamers reporting that they primarily played on these devices. Console play was still significant, capturing 47 percent of the audience, while PC gaming accounted for 34 percent. Notably, mobile and tablet platforms also generated almost half of the total revenue, confirming the profitability of the “play‑on‑the‑go” model and the importance of micro‑transactions, in‑app purchases and ad‑supported titles.
When it comes to specific titles, the console arena was led by Electronic Arts, whose sports franchise EA Sports FC 26 topped the charts, followed closely by its predecessor FC 25. Battlefield 6 secured the third spot, demonstrating the enduring appeal of large‑scale shooters. On the PC front, Battlefield 6 also claimed the number‑one position, with Rockstar Games’ long‑standing hits Red Dead Redemption 2 and Grand Theft Auto 5 rounding out the top three. Mobile gaming saw the casual‑puzzle title Coin Master at the summit, with Royal Match and the ever‑popular Candy Crush Saga completing the leading trio.
Player penetration remained high: 199 million Europeans reported playing video games in 2025, and women represented 46 percent of that audience (approximately 91.5 million female gamers). The United Kingdom again stood out as the single largest market, with an estimated 25 million active players.
Average weekly playtime across the region fell slightly to 8.39 hours, down from 9.4 hours in the previous year. Younger gamers still logged the most time: children aged 6‑11 averaged 11.35 hours per week, while teenagers aged 12‑17 averaged 14.30 hours. These figures suggest that while overall engagement is tapering marginally, the core youth demographic remains highly active. Parental involvement in gaming habits was another focal point of the study.
Seventy‑five percent of European parents indicated a desire to participate in setting limits on their children’s gaming activities. Moreover, 79 percent reported using at least one family‑setting tool—such as time‑limit features or content filters—to monitor or restrict play, and 74 percent said they have explicit agreements, monitoring practices, or family‑setting configurations in place to manage online interactions. In the EU5 markets specifically, 72 percent of parents claimed that their children did not make in‑game purchases.
Of the minority who did, a striking 93 percent of parents said they kept a close eye on those transactions. Interestingly, the average amount spent by children who were permitted to buy in‑game content dropped by 13 percent compared with 2024, indicating either tighter parental control, a shift toward less expensive micro‑transactions, or perhaps a broader awareness of spending habits among younger players.
Overall, the 2025 All About Games report paints a picture of a mature, digitally‑focused industry that continues to grow in revenue while diversifying its geographic footprint and player base. The data highlights the central role of mobile platforms, the sustained popularity of flagship franchises, and the increasing importance of parental oversight in shaping the future of gaming across Europe.