In 2025 the European video‑game market generated a total of €30 billion in revenue, 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 continued shift toward online distribution and in‑app purchases across the continent, as physical copies become increasingly marginal.
A major development this year is the broadening of VGE’s flagship research publication, the All About Games report. Previously limited to the five largest European gaming economies – 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 widening the geographic scope, VGE aims to provide a more comprehensive picture of the industry’s health, employment trends, and consumer behaviour throughout the broader European region. To compile the expanded dataset, VGE commissioned market‑research firm Ipsos, which pulled figures from several established sources, including GameTrack, the German Software Distribution (GSD) database, and the newly released EGDF‑VGE Video Games Industry Insight Report.
The combined survey reached 39,371 respondents, offering a robust sample that captures both casual players and dedicated gamers across a range of demographics. When the numbers are broken down, the original "EU5" markets experienced a modest contraction, with total revenue falling 4 percent year‑on‑year to €25.7 billion, down from €26.8 billion in 2024. Germany remained the top‑earning nation within this core group, pulling in €6.5 billion, followed closely by the United Kingdom and France. The decline is attributed mainly to a slight slowdown in console sales and a modest dip in ad‑supported mobile revenue, although digital purchases continued to buoy overall figures.
Employment data paints an encouraging picture despite the revenue dip. In 2025, the gaming sector across the EU and the United Kingdom employed roughly 123,000 individuals, spread across 8,700 development studios, ranging from indie teams to large multinational publishers. Women accounted for 24 percent of the workforce, a gradual increase that reflects ongoing diversity initiatives within the industry.
The United Kingdom led the region in headcount with 28,520 employees, followed by Poland (14,930) and Germany (12,410). Smaller markets such as Sweden and the Netherlands also reported healthy staffing levels, indicating a geographically diversified talent pool. Platform usage trends continued to favour mobile devices. Smartphones and tablets were the primary way Europeans accessed games, with 82 percent of respondents indicating they played on these devices.
Console usage remained steady at 47 percent, while PC gaming attracted 34 percent of the audience. Notably, mobile and tablet platforms together generated nearly half of the total €30 billion revenue, highlighting the monetisation power of free‑to‑play titles and in‑app purchases. In the console arena, Electronic Arts retained its leadership position in 2025. EA Sports’ flagship football titles, FC26 and FC25, occupied the top two slots on console sales charts, with the highly anticipated Battlefield 6 taking third place.
On the PC side, Battlefield 6 also claimed the number‑one spot, followed by Rockstar Games’ evergreen classics Red Dead Redemption 2 and Grand Theft Auto V, which continue to draw substantial player bases years after their initial releases. Mobile gaming saw a different set of leaders. The casual‑strategy game Coin Master topped the European mobile leaderboard, with Royal Match and the long‑standing puzzle phenomenon Candy Crush Saga rounding out the top three. These titles benefit from strong brand recognition, frequent content updates, and sophisticated monetisation models that keep players engaged and spending.
Player demographics revealed that 199 million Europeans engaged in video‑gaming activities during 2025, with women representing 46 percent of that total (approximately 91.5 million female gamers). The United Kingdom emerged as the single largest national market, boasting 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 cohorts, however, maintained higher engagement levels: children aged 6‑11 logged an average of 11.35 hours per week, while teenagers aged 12‑17 averaged 14.30 hours. Parental involvement in gaming habits remains significant.
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 one or more family‑setting tools—such as screen‑time controls, purchase restrictions, or content filters—to monitor or curb playtime. Additionally, 74 percent indicated they have established agreements, actively supervise, or employ family‑setting features to manage online interactions and protect their children from inappropriate content.
When it comes to in‑game purchases, the EU5 markets showed a relatively low incidence among minors: 72 percent of parents said their children did not buy any digital content. Of the minority who did make purchases, a strong 93 percent of parents reported that they closely monitored those transactions.
Interestingly, the average amount spent by children who were permitted to buy in‑game items dropped by 13 percent compared with 2024, suggesting either more cautious spending habits or the impact of stricter parental controls. Overall, the 2025 data underscores a maturing European gaming ecosystem: revenue remains robust, digital distribution dominates, mobile platforms continue to expand, and the industry provides significant employment across a wide geographic spread.
At the same time, the growing emphasis on responsible gaming—evidenced by parental involvement and monitoring—reflects a broader societal awareness of the need to balance entertainment with wellbeing. As VGE’s All About Games report now covers 16 nations, stakeholders can expect even richer insights in the coming years, helping developers, publishers, and policymakers navigate the evolving landscape of European interactive entertainment.