In 2025 the European video‑game market generated an impressive €30 billion in total revenue, with digital sales representing a dominant 91 percent of that figure, according to the latest figures released by Video Games Europe (VGE). This milestone underscores the continued shift toward online purchases, downloadable content and subscription‑based services across the continent.
A notable development this year was the broadening of VGE’s flagship research publication, the All About Games report. Previously the analysis focused on the five largest European territories – the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain and Italy – but the 2025 edition now incorporates data from an additional eleven nations: Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Sweden and Switzerland. The inclusion of these markets provides a more comprehensive view of the region’s gaming ecosystem, capturing trends in both mature and emerging economies. To compile the data, VGE commissioned market‑research specialist Ipsos, which drew on a combination of sources including the GameTrack database, the Global Software Development (GSD) platform and the newly released EGDF‑VGE Video Games Industry Insight Report.
The survey gathered responses from a total of 39,371 participants, ranging from casual players to industry professionals, ensuring a robust statistical foundation for the findings. When the numbers are broken down by the original five‑country core (often referred to as the EU5), total revenue fell by 4 percent year‑on‑year, slipping from €26.8 billion in 2024 to €25.7 billion in 2025. Germany remained the top‑earning nation within this group, delivering €6.5 billion in sales, followed by the United Kingdom, France, Italy and Spain.
The modest decline is attributed to a combination of market saturation, tighter fiscal policies in some jurisdictions, and a temporary slowdown in console hardware cycles. Employment figures paint a positive picture despite the revenue dip.
Across the United Kingdom and the broader European Union, the gaming sector employed roughly 123,000 individuals in 2025, spread across an estimated 8,700 development studios, publishers and ancillary service providers. Women accounted for 24 percent of the workforce, reflecting gradual progress toward gender parity in a traditionally male‑dominated field. The United Kingdom alone accounted for the largest share of jobs, with 28,520 people working in game‑related roles.
Poland followed with 14,930 employees, while Germany contributed 12,410 positions. These numbers highlight the growing importance of Eastern European hubs, which are increasingly recognised for their technical expertise and cost‑effective production pipelines.
Platform usage trends continued to evolve. Mobile phones and tablets dominated the landscape, with 82 percent of gamers reporting that they primarily played on these devices. Consoles were the second‑most popular platform at 47 percent, and personal computers accounted for 34 percent of usage.
In monetary terms, mobile and tablet gaming generated almost half of the total industry revenue, underscoring the profitability of the freemium and in‑app purchase models that thrive on handheld devices. Within the console segment, Electronic Arts retained its leadership position throughout 2025.
The EA Sports FC26 title claimed the top spot, with its predecessor FC25 holding second place, and the long‑awaited Battlefield 6 rounding out the three‑way leaderboard. On the PC front, Battlefield 6 also emerged as the best‑selling title, followed closely by Rockstar Games’ evergreen classics Red Dead Redemption 2 and Grand Theft Auto 5, which continue to attract strong sales years after their initial releases. Mobile gaming charts were led by the casual‑puzzle powerhouse Coin Master, which secured the number‑one ranking. It was followed by Royal Match and the enduring favourite Candy Crush Saga, both of which benefit from massive global user bases and sophisticated monetisation strategies.
Player demographics revealed that 199 million Europeans engaged in video‑games during 2025. Women represented a substantial 46 percent of this audience, equating to 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 per person, a slight decline from the 9.4 hours recorded in 2024. Younger cohorts showed higher engagement: children aged 6‑11 logged an average of 11.35 hours per week, while teenagers aged 12‑17 averaged 14.30 hours.
These figures suggest that while overall playtime is modestly decreasing, younger gamers remain highly active. Parental involvement in gaming habits remains strong.
Seventy‑five percent of European parents expressed a desire to participate in setting limits on their children’s video‑game usage. Moreover, 79 percent reported using one or more family‑setting tools—such as time‑limits, content filters or purchase restrictions—to monitor or curb gameplay. A further 74 percent indicated that they have explicit agreements with their children, employ monitoring software, or utilise platform‑based family controls to manage online interactions and safeguard digital wellbeing. In the EU5 markets, 72 percent of parents said their children did not make in‑game purchases at all.
Among the minority who did buy digital items, a striking 93 percent of parents reported that they actively supervised those transactions. Notably, the average amount spent by children who were permitted to purchase in‑game content fell by 13 percent compared with 2024, reflecting both tighter parental oversight and possibly a shift toward more cost‑conscious spending behaviours among younger gamers. Overall, the 2025 All About Games report paints a nuanced portrait of a mature yet still expanding European gaming industry. While revenue growth has plateaued in the traditional core markets, the sector continues to generate substantial employment, diversify its geographic footprint, and innovate across platforms.
Mobile remains the engine of monetary performance, and the rise of new regional players signals a healthy competitive environment. Meanwhile, the sustained involvement of parents and the growing proportion of female gamers suggest that the industry is becoming more inclusive and socially responsible, setting the stage for continued evolution in the years ahead.