The European video‑game market posted a combined revenue of €24 billion in 2024, supported by more than 6,600 development studios that together employ over 95,000 individuals across the region. These figures come from the European Video Game Industry Insights Report, a joint publication of the European Games Development Association (EGDF) and Video Games Europe (VGA). The report is based on data collected for the calendar year 2024, which is the most recent year for which comprehensive statistics were available due to the time required to gather, verify, and harmonise national submissions. The methodology behind the report involves each of the 28 EGDF member organisations preparing a detailed national snapshot of their domestic game‑development ecosystem.
Once the individual country reports are completed, they are aggregated into a single European overview, allowing for cross‑border comparisons and the identification of broader trends. One of the most striking observations from the 2024 edition is the contrast between the stagnation of the talent pool and the continued rise in the number of active studios.
While the overall growth in the continent’s pool of skilled professionals has essentially stalled, the total count of game‑development companies grew by between five and ten percent during the year. This suggests that existing talent is being redistributed across a larger number of smaller or medium‑sized enterprises, or that studios are becoming more efficient in their hiring practices.
Country‑level details illustrate how the sector is evolving in different markets. Finland, Italy, and the Czech Republic each recorded modest yet steady increases in their employment figures, indicating that these nations are still attracting or retaining game‑industry workers despite the broader talent‑base plateau.
Poland emerged as the clear leader in terms of sheer headcount, employing the highest number of professionals in both development and publishing across the European Union. In addition, Polish studios were the most prolific in releasing new titles, with 450 fresh games launched during the year. The United Kingdom also maintained a substantial workforce, reaching 28,516 employees in the sector. While the UK’s absolute numbers are lower than Poland’s, the country remains a key hub for both creative talent and publishing expertise, especially in the areas of AAA production and online multiplayer services.
The 2024 report marks the first time that Bulgaria and Cyprus have been included in the EGDF’s pan‑European analysis. Cyprus, despite its relatively small size, generated €4.3 billion in turnover, earning it the description of the "main game industry hub in terms of combined revenue" within the report.
This impressive figure reflects the island’s growing concentration of development studios, many of which focus on niche genres and mobile gaming, as well as a supportive fiscal environment that encourages investment. Bulgaria, on the other hand, was highlighted as an "important regional hub surrounded by key European game industry talent" from neighboring Romania and Türkiye. The Bulgarian market benefits from a strategic geographic position, a competitive cost base, and a growing community of developers who collaborate on cross‑border projects.
These characteristics have helped Bulgaria to carve out a distinct role within the wider European ecosystem, acting as a bridge between Western European markets and the emerging talent pools of Eastern Europe and the Near East. The EGDF’s commentary underscores the dual nature of the current climate. On the one hand, the data demonstrate that, even in the face of economic uncertainty and a tightening labor market, several countries have managed to boost both revenue and the number of operational studios.
This positive momentum has lifted the overall European indicators, suggesting resilience and adaptability within the sector. On the other hand, the report also flags a series of challenges that are beginning to surface. Layoffs, corporate consolidations, and a modest decline in employment in certain jurisdictions have contributed to a stagnation—and in a few cases, a slight reduction—in workforce numbers.
This marks the first recorded dip in employment across the European gaming sector, a development that the EGDF describes as a warning sign that the industry must address through strategic investment in education, talent retention, and sustainable growth models. In summary, the 2024 European Video Game Industry Insights Report paints a picture of a market that is financially robust, with €24 billion in turnover and a broad base of more than 6,600 studios. Yet the sector is also at a crossroads, where the expansion of studio count is not being matched by a corresponding increase in skilled labour.
Policymakers, industry bodies, and individual companies will need to collaborate closely to ensure that the talent pipeline can keep pace with the entrepreneurial spirit that continues to drive new studio formation across the continent.