The European video‑game market posted a combined turnover of €24 billion in 2024, supported by more than 6,600 development studios and a labour force that now exceeds 95,000 individuals. These figures come from the European Video Game Industry Insights Report, a joint publication by the European Games Development Association (EGDF) and Video Games Europe (VGA).
The report, which reflects data gathered throughout 2024, is compiled using a two‑stage process: each of the 28 EGDF member organisations first produces a national‑level analysis, after which the EGDF aggregates those submissions into a continent‑wide overview. While the overall pool of skilled talent in Europe appears to have reached a plateau, the sector’s structural footprint continued to expand. The number of active studios rose between five and ten percent during the year, indicating that new ventures are still being launched even as the labour market steadies.
Countries such as Finland, Italy, and the Czech Republic recorded modest but steady increases in their employment figures, suggesting that localized ecosystems remain healthy and capable of absorbing fresh talent. Poland emerged as the clear leader in terms of headcount, employing the largest number of professionals in game development and publishing across the EU. Polish studios also delivered the highest volume of new titles, with 450 releases recorded in 2024. The United Kingdom followed closely, with a workforce of 28,516 people engaged in various stages of the game creation pipeline, from concept art and programming to marketing and distribution.
The 2024 edition of the report marked the first inclusion of two additional markets: Bulgaria and Cyprus. Cyprus, despite its relatively small size, generated €4.3 billion in turnover, earning the description of the "main game industry hub in terms of combined revenue" within the region.
Bulgaria, meanwhile, was highlighted as an "important regional hub surrounded by key European game industry talent"—a nod to its strategic position next to talent‑rich neighbours such as Romania and Türkiye. The EGDF emphasized that, despite a challenging macro‑economic environment, several European nations managed to sustain growth both in revenue and in the number of operational studios. This dual uplift helped to offset the negative pressures observed elsewhere on the continent.
However, the report also warned of emerging headwinds: layoffs, company consolidations, and a slight decline in employment in certain markets signalled the first measurable dip in sector‑wide staffing levels since the industry’s modern inception. To put these numbers into perspective, the €24 billion turnover represents a modest increase over the previous year, but the growth rate has slowed compared with the rapid expansion seen in the early 2020s. Analysts attribute this deceleration to a combination of factors, including rising production costs, tighter financing conditions, and a more competitive global market where Asian publishers are gaining share.
Nevertheless, the continued rise in studio count suggests that entrepreneurial activity remains robust; many developers are opting for smaller, more agile business models that can adapt quickly to shifting consumer preferences. Looking ahead, industry stakeholders are focusing on several strategic priorities. First, there is a concerted effort to nurture the next generation of talent through education and apprenticeship programmes, aiming to reverse the stagnation in the talent base. Second, policymakers across the EU are being urged to maintain or expand fiscal incentives—such as tax credits and grant schemes—that have historically attracted investment to the sector.
Finally, the report calls for greater collaboration between established studios and emerging indie developers, fostering knowledge transfer and helping smaller teams scale their operations without sacrificing creative independence. In summary, the European games industry in 2024 demonstrated resilience in the face of headwinds. Turnover reached €24 billion, more than 6,600 studios were active, and the workforce topped 95,000 professionals.
While talent growth has stalled and a few countries experienced a marginal decline in employment, the overall landscape remains dynamic, with new studios emerging and traditional hubs like Poland and the United Kingdom continuing to lead in both personnel and output. The inclusion of Bulgaria and Cyprus underscores the expanding geographic diversity of Europe’s gaming ecosystem, hinting at further opportunities for growth and innovation in the years to come.