In 2025 the European video‑game industry 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 and downloadable content across the continent, as physical copies become a diminishing share of the market.
A notable development this year was VGE’s decision to broaden the scope of its flagship "All About Games" report. Previously the analysis focused on the five largest European gaming economies – the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain and Italy – collectively known as the EU5. The 2025 edition now incorporates data from an additional eleven countries: Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Sweden and Switzerland.
By covering sixteen markets, the study provides a more comprehensive picture of gaming activity throughout Europe and captures emerging trends in smaller, yet rapidly growing, regions. To compile the figures, VGE commissioned market‑research firm Ipsos, which aggregated information from several reputable sources, including GameTrack, the Game Software Development (GSD) database, and the newly published EGDF‑VGE Video Games Industry Insight Report. The combined survey reached a total of 39,371 respondents, offering a robust sample size that enhances the reliability of the conclusions drawn.
When the results are broken down by region, the traditional EU5 still accounts for the bulk of revenue, but it experienced a modest contraction of 4 percent compared with the previous year, falling 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 closely by the United Kingdom and France.
The decline can be attributed to a mix of market saturation, tighter consumer spending, and the impact of regulatory changes affecting in‑game purchases. Employment figures paint an encouraging portrait of the sector’s health. Across the European Union and the United Kingdom, an estimated 123,000 individuals were employed by roughly 8,700 development studios in 2025. Women represented 24 percent of the workforce, indicating gradual progress toward gender balance in an industry historically dominated by men.
The United Kingdom employed the largest number of professionals – 28,520 – with Poland (14,930) and Germany (12,410) rounding out the top three hiring markets. Platform preferences among European gamers continued to evolve. Mobile phones and tablets dominated usage statistics, with 82 percent of players reporting that they primarily engaged with games on these devices.
Consoles held a solid second place at 47 percent, while PC gaming attracted 34 percent of respondents. Notably, mobile and tablet platforms also contributed nearly half of the total industry revenue, reinforcing the importance of touch‑based experiences and the lucrative nature of app‑store ecosystems.
In the console arena, Electronic Arts (EA) emerged as the leading publisher for 2025. Its flagship sports titles, EA Sports FC26 and FC25, occupied the top two slots on the charts, with the long‑running first‑person shooter Battlefield 6 taking third place. On the PC front, Battlefield 6 also claimed the number‑one position, followed by Rockstar Games’ evergreen classics Red Dead Redemption 2 and Grand Theft Auto 5, which continue to generate strong sales years after their initial release. Mobile gaming leaders differed markedly from their console and PC counterparts.
The casual‑strategy title Coin Master secured the premier spot, while Royal Match and the ever‑popular Candy Crush Saga followed in second and third place respectively. These results highlight the enduring appeal of free‑to‑play models that combine simple mechanics with frequent micro‑transactions.
Player demographics revealed that 199 million Europeans engaged in video‑games during 2025, with women accounting for 46 percent (approximately 91.5 million) of the total audience. The United Kingdom stood out as the single largest market, boasting 25 million active gamers. On average, Europeans spent 8.39 hours per week playing, a slight dip from the 9.4 hours recorded in 2024.
Age‑specific data showed that children aged 6‑11 logged an average of 11.35 hours per week, while teenagers aged 12‑17 averaged 14.30 hours, indicating that younger cohorts remain the most avid participants. Parental involvement in gaming habits remained high.
Seventy‑five percent of European parents expressed a desire to take an active role in setting limits on their children’s gaming activities. Correspondingly, 79 percent reported using at least one family‑setting tool—such as time limits, content filters, or purchase restrictions—to monitor or curb playtime. Additionally, 74 percent indicated that they have established agreements, actively supervise, or employ family‑setting features to manage online interactions and protect their children from inappropriate content.
Within 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 confirmed that they closely supervised these transactions. Importantly, the average amount spent by children who were permitted to purchase in‑game content fell by 13 percent compared with 2024, suggesting that heightened parental oversight and possibly tighter regulatory frameworks are influencing spending behaviour.
Overall, the 2025 data paints a picture of a mature yet dynamic European gaming ecosystem. Revenue continues to be driven by digital distribution, mobile platforms dominate user engagement, and a diversified portfolio of titles—from high‑budget console releases to casual mobile hits—caters to a broad audience.
While growth in the traditional EU5 markets has slowed, the inclusion of eleven additional countries in VGE’s analysis offers fresh opportunities for developers and publishers seeking to expand their reach across the continent. The sector’s sizable employment base and gradual improvement in gender representation further underline its significance as a key pillar of Europe’s digital economy.