In the first half of 2025, the German gaming industry experienced a 4% increase in growth

The first half of 2025 saw a rebound in Germany's gaming sector, with a 4% year-on-year increase, following a downturn in 2024.

A recent report by the German Games Industry Association, a partner in Gamescom, shared on August 12, 2025, utilized data from YouGov and data.ai to highlight this growth.

The report shows that the gaming industry, including software, hardware, and online gaming services, achieved revenues of €4.6 billion ($5.4 billion) in the first half of 2025, marking a 4% increase compared to the previous year.

In the first half of 2024, the industry generated €4.28 billion ($5 billion), reflecting a 6% decrease from 2023, marking the first decline after consecutive growth years.

The hardware sector noted significant recovery, "driven in part by the launch of the Nintendo Switch 2." This segment, which experienced an 8% drop in 2024 to €1.2 billion, has seen a 17% increase in the first half of 2025.

Revenues from online gaming services, such as PlayStation Plus and Xbox Game Pass, grew 4% year-on-year, consistently increasing after rising 25% year-on-year in the first half of 2024.

Revenue from games themselves has continued to reduce, with a 2% year-on-year decrease to €2.7 billion ($5.5 billion) during the first half of 2025, improving on the 4% decrease observed during the same period in 2024.

The study also highlights that two-thirds of Germans regard gaming as "the entertainment of our age," with a quarter expressing interest in gaming handhelds.

Felix Falk, managing director of game, stated, "The expansion of the German games market in the initial six months of 2025 provides a strong message for the start of Gamescom." He also noted that this year’s event has reached a new peak in exhibitor participation.

Falk further emphasized, "With additional exhibition space and notable companies attending, gamescom is poised to further amplify growth in both the German and international gaming industries."

Additionally, a report released last month indicated a 4% decrease in the number of companies and employees within the German gaming industry over the past year, following a period of consistent expansion.