In 2025 the European video‑game market demonstrated remarkable financial strength, delivering a total turnover of €30 billion, according to the latest figures released by Video Games Europe (VGE). Digital sales dominated the landscape, representing a striking 91 percent of the overall revenue pool, underscoring the continuing shift away from physical media toward online purchases, downloadable content and subscription‑based services.
A notable development this year was the broadening of VGE’s flagship research publication, the All About Games report. Historically the analysis focused on the five largest European markets – the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain and Italy – collectively referred to as the EU5. For the 2025 edition VGE extended its scope to incorporate eleven additional territories: Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Sweden and Switzerland. This expansion provides a more comprehensive picture of gaming activity across the continent and allows stakeholders to compare trends in both mature and emerging markets.
To compile the data, VGE commissioned the market research firm Ipsos, which drew on several industry databases, including GameTrack, GSD and the newly released EGDF‑VGE Video Games Industry Insight Report. The survey reached a total of 39,371 respondents, offering a robust sample size that captures a wide range of consumer behaviours, spending patterns and demographic details.
When the numbers for the original EU5 are examined in isolation, a modest contraction is evident. Revenue in these five core economies fell by 4 percent year‑on‑year, slipping from €26.8 billion in 2024 to €25.7 billion in 2025.
Germany remained the biggest earner among them, generating €6.5 billion, followed closely by the United Kingdom and France. The dip reflects a combination of market saturation, tighter fiscal conditions for consumers, and increased competition from mobile and cloud‑based platforms. Employment data paints an encouraging picture of job creation within the sector.
In 2025 a total of 123,000 individuals were employed across 8,700 game‑development studios operating in the EU and the UK. Women accounted for roughly a quarter of this workforce – 24 percent – highlighting ongoing efforts to improve gender diversity in a field traditionally dominated by men. The United Kingdom led the continent in terms of staff numbers, with 28,520 employees, while Poland (14,930) and Germany (12,410) rounded out the top three.
Platform usage trends continued to evolve. Mobile phones and tablets emerged as the dominant devices, with 82 percent of gamers reporting that they primarily played on these handheld platforms. Consoles maintained a solid foothold, attracting 47 percent of users, and personal computers were the preferred choice for 34 percent. Not only did mobile and tablet devices dominate usage, they also contributed nearly half of the total industry revenue, confirming the lucrative nature of the mobile gaming market.
In the console arena, Electronic Arts retained its leadership position throughout 2025. The company’s flagship sports titles, EA Sports FC26 and FC25, occupied the two highest slots on the sales charts, with the military‑themed Battlefield 6 taking third place. Battlefield 6 also commanded the PC segment, where it was followed by Rockstar Games’ enduring classics Red Dead Redemption 2 and Grand Theft Auto 5, both of which continue to generate strong sales long after their initial releases. Mobile gaming leaders were equally clear.
The casual‑strategy title Coin Master claimed the top spot, while Royal Match and the long‑standing puzzle phenomenon Candy Crush Saga secured the second and third positions respectively. These results illustrate the continued appeal of free‑to‑play models that blend engaging gameplay with micro‑transactions. Player demographics revealed that 199 million Europeans engaged in video‑games during 2025, with women representing 46 percent of that audience – roughly 91.5 million female gamers. The United Kingdom stood out as the single largest national market, boasting 25 million active players.
Average weekly playtime across the continent measured 8.39 hours, a slight decline from the 9.4 hours recorded in 2024. Younger gamers spent considerably more time on their devices: 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 remained high. Seventy‑five percent of European parents expressed a desire to participate in setting limits on their children’s gaming activities.
Correspondingly, 79 percent reported using one or more family‑setting tools – such as time‑limits, content filters or purchase restrictions – to monitor or curb gameplay. Additionally, 74 percent said they had established agreements, actively supervised, or employed family‑setting features to regulate online interactions and ensure a safe digital environment. When focusing on the EU5 markets, 72 percent of parents indicated that their children did not make in‑game purchases at all. Among the minority who did, an overwhelming 93 percent said 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 controls. Overall, the 2025 data underscores a maturing European gaming ecosystem: robust revenues driven by digital sales, expanding geographic coverage of market analysis, steady employment growth, and a clear shift toward mobile platforms.
At the same time, the industry faces challenges such as modest revenue declines in its largest traditional markets and the need to maintain responsible spending practices among younger players. These insights will help developers, publishers, policymakers and investors shape strategies that sustain growth while fostering a safe and inclusive gaming environment across Europe.