In 2025 the European video‑game sector 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, downloadable content and subscription‑based models that have reshaped the continent’s gaming economy over the past decade.
A notable development this year was the broadening of VGE’s flagship market analysis, the All About Games report. Previously limited to the five largest economies – the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain and Italy – the study now incorporates data from an additional eleven nations: Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Sweden and Switzerland. By extending its geographic scope to sixteen countries, VGE aims to provide a more nuanced picture of regional trends, consumer habits and industry health across the European Union and its neighbouring markets.
The expanded research was compiled with the assistance of market‑research firm Ipsos, which aggregated information from several reputable sources, including GameTrack, the Global Software Distribution (GSD) database, and the newly released EGDF‑VGE Video Games Industry Insight Report. The survey drew responses from 39,371 participants, ranging from casual players to industry professionals, offering a comprehensive snapshot of the market’s dynamics. When the numbers for the original five‑country bloc (often referred to as the EU5) are examined in isolation, a modest contraction becomes apparent.
Revenue in these core markets fell by 4 percent year‑on‑year, slipping from €26.8 billion in 2024 to €25.7 billion in 2025. Germany remained the powerhouse of the group, generating €6.5 billion, followed by the United Kingdom and France, which together accounted for a substantial share of the total.
Employment figures also paint an encouraging portrait of the sector’s vitality. Across the EU and the UK, roughly 123,000 individuals were employed by an estimated 8,700 development studios in 2025. Women represented 24 percent of this workforce, a modest yet meaningful increase that reflects ongoing diversity initiatives within the industry. The United Kingdom employed the largest number of professionals – 28,520 – with Poland (14,930) and Germany (12,410) trailing behind as the next biggest labour markets.
Platform preferences among European gamers continued to evolve. Mobile phones and tablets dominated usage statistics, with 82 percent of respondents indicating they primarily played on these devices.
Console gaming retained a solid foothold at 47 percent, while PC usage stood at 34 percent. In terms of revenue generation, mobile and tablet platforms contributed nearly half of the total €30 billion, underscoring the lucrative nature of the mobile ecosystem and the effectiveness of in‑app purchase strategies. When it comes to top‑selling titles, the console segment was led by Electronic Arts. EA’s flagship sports franchise, EA Sports FC26, claimed the number‑one spot, closely followed by its predecessor FC25.
Battlefield 6 secured the third position, demonstrating the continued appetite for large‑scale, multiplayer shooters on console hardware. The PC arena mirrored some of these trends, with Battlefield 6 also topping the charts for desktop gamers. Rockstar Games’ enduring classics, Red Dead Redemption 2 and Grand Theft Auto V, occupied the next two slots, illustrating the lasting appeal of narrative‑driven open‑world experiences.
Mobile gaming, however, told a different story. The casual‑puzzle title Coin Master emerged as the most popular download, with Royal Match and the ever‑popular Candy Crush Saga rounding out the top three. These results highlight the strength of hyper‑casual and match‑three genres in capturing the attention of on‑the‑go players.
Overall participation in gaming remained robust, with 199 million Europeans reporting that they played video games in 2025. Women accounted for 46 percent of this audience, translating to roughly 91.5 million female gamers. The United Kingdom stood out as the single largest 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 revealed that younger children (6‑11 years) logged an average of 11.35 hours per week, while teenagers (12‑17 years) spent even more time gaming, averaging 14.30 hours weekly. Parental involvement in gaming habits also featured prominently in the survey.
Seventy‑five percent of European parents expressed a desire to be actively involved in setting limits on their children’s gaming activities. Correspondingly, 79 percent reported using at least one family‑setting tool—such as screen‑time controls or content filters—to monitor or restrict gameplay. Additionally, 74 percent indicated that they had established agreements, actively monitored, or employed family‑setting features to manage online interactions and protect their children from inappropriate content.
In the EU5 markets specifically, 72 percent of parents said their children did not make in‑game purchases. Among the minority who did, a striking 93 percent of parents reported that they kept a close eye on those transactions, reflecting heightened awareness of micro‑transaction spending. 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 either more cautious spending habits or the impact of parental oversight.
The data collectively illustrate a gaming landscape that is both financially robust and increasingly diverse in terms of platforms, demographics and regional participation. While revenue growth in the traditional EU5 markets showed a modest dip, the broader inclusion of additional European nations helped to sustain overall industry expansion.
Mobile and tablet devices continue to drive the bulk of consumer spending, whereas console and PC titles retain dedicated followings among core gamers. Looking ahead, industry observers anticipate that the trends highlighted in VGE’s 2025 report—particularly the rise of mobile monetisation, the gradual narrowing of the gender gap, and the growing emphasis on parental controls—will shape strategic decisions for developers, publishers and platform holders alike. As the sector moves toward 2026, the focus is expected to shift toward further integration of cross‑platform experiences, deeper investment in cloud‑gaming infrastructure, and continued efforts to foster inclusive work environments that attract a broader talent pool.
Overall, the European games industry’s ability to generate €30 billion in revenue, sustain a sizable workforce, and engage nearly 200 million players demonstrates its resilience and its central role in the continent’s digital economy.