In 2025 the European video‑game industry amassed a total turnover of €30 billion, with digital sales representing a striking 91 percent of that figure, according to the latest data released by Video Games Europe (VGE). This milestone underscores the continuing shift toward online distribution and in‑app purchases across the continent, as physical copies become an increasingly niche segment.
A notable development this year was the expansion of VGE’s flagship "All About Games" report. Previously the analysis was confined to the five largest European markets – the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain and Italy – but the 2025 edition broadened its scope to include eleven additional territories: Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Sweden and Switzerland. By covering sixteen countries, the study now offers a far more comprehensive picture of gaming activity, consumer preferences and economic impact throughout the European Union and the United Kingdom. To compile the figures, VGE commissioned the market‑research firm Ipsos, which drew on three major data sources: GameTrack, the Game Software Developers (GSD) database, and the newly published EGDF‑VGE Video Games Industry Insight Report.
The combined survey reached 39,371 respondents, providing a robust sample that reflects both casual and hardcore gamers, as well as industry professionals. When the numbers are broken down by region, the original "EU5" bloc recorded a modest 4 percent decline in revenue compared with the previous year, falling 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. The contraction can be partially attributed to market saturation and a slight slowdown in console sales, yet the overall health of the sector remains strong thanks to the continued dominance of digital purchases.
Employment data paints an equally encouraging picture. Across the EU and the UK, 123,000 individuals were employed by 8,700 game‑development studios in 2025. Women accounted for roughly one‑quarter (24 percent) of the workforce, a figure that, while still below parity, signals gradual progress toward greater gender diversity in a traditionally male‑dominated field. The United Kingdom employed the largest number of gaming professionals, with 28,520 staff members spread across a vibrant ecosystem of indie developers, mid‑size studios and global publishers.
Poland came in second with 14,930 employees, reflecting the country’s rapid rise as a hub for both development talent and outsourcing services. Germany followed with 12,410 workers, reinforcing its status as a central node in Europe’s gaming supply chain.
Platform usage trends reveal that mobile devices and tablets continue to dominate the European market, accounting for 82 percent of all gaming sessions. Consoles were the second‑most popular platform at 47 percent, while PCs captured 34 percent of playtime. In terms of revenue generation, mobile and tablet gaming contributed nearly half of the total €30 billion, highlighting the lucrative nature of free‑to‑play titles, in‑app purchases and ad‑supported models. On the console front, Electronic Arts retained its leadership position in 2025.
EA Sports FC26 claimed the top spot, with its predecessor FC25 taking second place, and the long‑awaited Battlefield 6 rounding out the trio of best‑selling console games. The PC arena was similarly dominated by big‑budget releases; Battlefield 6 led the charts, followed closely by Rockstar’s evergreen classics Red Dead Redemption 2 and Grand Theft Auto 5, which continue to generate strong sales years after their initial launch. Mobile gaming saw a different set of leaders. The casual‑strategy title Coin Master secured the number‑one ranking, while Royal Match and the ever‑popular Candy Crush Saga occupied the second and third positions respectively.
These games benefit from massive user bases, frequent content updates, and monetisation strategies that encourage repeat spending. Player demographics indicate that 199 million Europeans engaged in gaming activities during 2025.
Women represented a substantial 46 percent of that audience, equating to 91.5 million female gamers—a clear sign that gaming is increasingly gender‑balanced. The United Kingdom emerged as the single largest market in terms of player count, with an estimated 25 million individuals playing regularly. Average weekly playtime across the continent measured 8.39 hours per person, a slight dip from the 9.4 hours recorded in 2024.
Younger age groups still logged higher engagement: children aged 6‑11 averaged 11.35 hours per week, while teenagers aged 12‑17 averaged 14.30 hours. These figures suggest that while overall consumption may be tapering marginally, younger gamers remain highly active. Parental involvement in gaming habits also featured prominently in the survey.
Seventy‑five percent of European parents expressed a desire to participate in setting limits on their children’s video‑game usage. 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.
Moreover, 74 percent indicated that they have established agreements, actively supervise, or employ 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 at all. Among the minority who did, a striking 93 percent of parents claimed they kept a close eye on those transactions, underscoring the heightened awareness of micro‑transaction spending among families. Spending behaviour among children who are permitted to buy in‑game items showed a downward trend, with average expenditures falling 13 percent compared with 2024.
This reduction may reflect growing parental oversight, increased awareness of the costs associated with free‑to‑play models, or a shift toward more budget‑conscious gaming habits. Overall, the 2025 data paints a picture of a mature, digitally‑driven European gaming industry that continues to generate substantial economic value, create jobs, and attract a diverse player base. The expansion of VGE’s reporting to include sixteen nations provides richer insight for policymakers, investors and developers seeking to navigate the evolving landscape of European interactive entertainment.