Latest News

German games market in 2023: strong development in turbulent times

Published

10 months ago

April 10, 2024

Reading Time: 3 minutes

The German games market once again grew significantly overall in 2023: sales of games, games hardware and gaming online services rose by 6 per cent to around 9.97 billion euros. This is a significant increase after sales had only risen by 1 per cent in the previous year. The biggest growth drivers include games consoles and their accessories as well as in-game and in-app purchases. Despite the large number of top-class titles, which increased sales of games purchases by 4 per cent, the number of games sold fell by 8 per cent at the same time. There were also significant declines in some cases for gaming PCs and laptops. The data on the German games market is based on surveys conducted by the consumer panel services GfK and data.ai. The different developments in the individual market segments also show that 2023 was a year of contrasts for the games industry as a whole: on the one hand, more high-calibre titles were released within twelve months than ever before. On the other hand, some sales expectations were not met, particularly due to this abundance of outstanding games. Combined with generally high interest rates and a slowdown in the investment market, a wave of consolidation began worldwide, as a result of which developer studios are still being downsized or even closed and jobs are being cut.

‘The German games market continues to grow, but a close look at the data shows just how challenging these times are for game companies,’ says Felix Falk, Managing Director of game. ‘This is particularly true for small to medium-sized companies in Germany, most of which have only thin capital cover and therefore feel the impact of the tougher investment climate especially quickly. In such turbulent times reliable and internationally competitive political solutions are needed more than ever.’

Major differences between categories of games hardware

Sales revenues from various categories of games hardware developed very differently last year. Game consoles were among the most important growth drivers, posting a revenue increase of 44 per cent to break the billion-euro threshold, with total revenues of 1.1 billion euros. Demand for game console accessories was similarly robust, if at a slightly lower level. Sales revenues in this area jumped 32 per cent, to 374 million euros. In stark contrast, gaming PCs registered a clear decline as revenues from PCs and laptops marketed specially for games dropped by 17 per cent, to 547 million euros. Accessories for gaming PCs – including special input devices, graphic cards, etc. – fared only slightly better, with revenues falling by 7 per cent, to just under 1.3 billion euros.

‘Last year was the first year in a long time in which all current game consoles were easily available on the market,’ says Felix Falk. ‘The huge revenue gain in this category in 2023 shows how great the pent-up demand was among players. On the other hand, there was a clear drop in sales revenues from gaming PCs. After investing in PCs and laptops during the Covid-19 pandemic, a lot of video game players seem to be well-equipped for the moment.’

Sales revenue from games rises and gaming online services stabilise at a high level

Sales revenue from games developed positively overall in 2023. Across all platforms, purchases of PC and console games generated 4 per cent more revenue than in the year before. Total sales revenues in this area increased to around 1.1 billion euros. Considering the many high-quality game releases, however, this rise seems rather low. Indeed, the number of games sold actually dropped by 8 per cent. This reveals that the growth in revenue here is attributable exclusively to higher average prices. Last year, many video game players appear to have purchased high-quality titles shortly after their release and not waited for discounts. Also, because many of the top titles of 2023 are especially time-intensive, they didn’t leave room for players to acquire a larger number of games. In contrast, the market development for in-game and in-app purchases was significantly more positive, showing a revenue increase of about 6 per cent, to 4.7 billion euros. From an upgrade in a player character’s armour, to a season pass with a lot of additional content, to completely new campaigns, it has become ever more common for the playing time of a game to be extended or individualised through additional content. This trend continued in 2023. In-game sales revenues contribute significantly to covering continuously rising game development costs.

After a number of years of strong growth, sales revenues from online gaming services stabilised at a high level. Among the categories in this segment are fee-based subscription services that provide access to a large selection of games, cloud-based gaming, online multiplayer functions and the ability to save game progress in the cloud. Examples of these services include EA Play, Nintendo Switch Online, PlayStation Plus, Xbox Game Pass and Ubisoft+. Revenue from these services fell by 1 per cent in 2023, to 860 million euros.

The post German games market in 2023: strong development in turbulent times appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Latest News

SPAYZ.io reflects on milestone achievements in 2024

Published

7 hours ago

January 20, 2025

George Miller

Reading Time: < 1 minute

SPAYZ.io, a global leader in payments technologies, has reflected on a remarkable year of milestones and achievements as it prepares for a series of exciting new industry initiatives. Its expansion into new markets, integration of next generation technologies, and active participation at industry events have collectively paved the way for strengthened partnerships and innovative solutions in 2025.

In 2024, SPAYZ.io launched new payment methods in established jurisdictions like Europe (Open Banking) and South Korea (Virtual Accounts) and emerging markets including Pakistan (Jazzcash, Easypasia), Malaysia (Touch’n’Go, FPX), Indonesia (Dana, OVO), Vietnam (MobileMoney, Viettel). Three new geos were also added; Kenya (M-Pesa), Ghana (MobileMoney) and Congo (MobileMoney).

SPAYZ.io made huge upgrades to ensure its platform,including enhanced provider balance management to optimise operational efficiency, increased fault tolerance to mitigate the impact of Distributed Denial of Service attacks, strengthened fraud prevention measures to safeguard transactions, and a tiered commissions policy.

A key highlight was the enhancement of SPAYZ.io’s existing IT product block. A new structure for team integration and alignment, double productivity output, reducing development time by 20. This was backed by the processing of 77,000 requests, 210 requests per day, in 2024 by the customer support team, offering fast assistance anytime the day.

Alongside these launches, SPAYZ.io took part in 19 exhibitions across 13 countries with 4 booths, expanding its network of partners.

Finally, in line with SPAYZ.io’s philosophy of rewarding partnerships and simplifying collaboration, it launched a new tiered commissions policy in 2024. This structure ensures its partners can benefit from incentives, while providing access to SPAYZ.io’s suite of payment tools.

The past 12 months have laid down a strong foundation for 2025, positioning SPAYZ.io for even greater achievements. The team looks forward to providing regular updates to our expanding network, particular with the 2025 event season well underway.

The post SPAYZ.io reflects on milestone achievements in 2024 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Latest News

Atlaslive and Split The Pot Team Up to Enhance Gaming Accessibility and Fun

Published

7 hours ago

January 20, 2025

George Miller

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Atlaslive, a dynamic iGaming Platform, has recently announced a strategic partnership with Split The Pot, a company renowned for lightweight, customizable, and enjoyable games. This collaboration will enhance the gaming experience for Atlaslive Platform users by combining top-notch, live technology with engaging and secure gaming solutions that also reach remote locations and all sorts of phone models.

Atlaslive is committed to delivering innovative iGaming solutions for operators that meet the changing needs of the gaming community. This partnership with Split The Pot aligns perfectly with Atlalsive’s mission to discover how far iGaming tech can evolve and to provide exceptional, user-centric gaming experiences.

Lidiia Vakulenco, COO of Atlaslive, expressed her excitement about this collaboration: “We are thrilled to partner with Split The Pot and bring their engaging and intuitive games to our platform. At Atlaslive, we focus on offering solutions that combine innovative technology with ease of use, ensuring that operators can deliver outstanding gaming experiences to players worldwide. This partnership strengthens our commitment to providing user-friendly and secure options for all types of players.”

Split The Pot is a Swedish game studio led by experienced online gambling professionals. They create simple, fun, and intuitive games designed for a wide audience, with a strong focus on mobile-friendly design.

Christian Rajter, CEO of Split The Pot, shared his enthusiasm: “We are excited to start working with Atlaslive and are confident this collaboration will bring great results to all of us and immense value to players. Their platform is incredibly advanced yet adaptable, allowing our games to reach a broader audience, including players in remote areas and those using various devices.”

Through this partnership, Atlaslive continues to show its commitment to building the future of iGaming while ensuring that operators benefit from live technology while meeting the dynamic needs of the gaming community. Together with Split The Pot, Atlaslive is here to revolutionize gaming through inventive, accessible, and personalized tools.

The post Atlaslive and Split The Pot Team Up to Enhance Gaming Accessibility and Fun appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Latest News

ICE welcomes the ‘world of gaming’ to Barcelona

Published

7 hours ago

January 20, 2025

George Miller

Reading Time: < 1 minute

120,000 square metres of innovation presented by some 1,000 exhibitors is the prospect awaiting visitors arriving in Barcelona to be part of the annual gambling showcase, the first to be staged outside the UK. Both ICE and iGB Affiliate are officially sold out with Clarion Gaming confirming that it is operating a waiting list for 2026.

A Skywalk delivers an elevated perspective on the show floor and provides visitors with straightforward and swift access to the product zones that they require. To help visitors explore the full potential of the flagship event, Clarion has invested in ICE Ai, an enhanced customer tool which provides information on everything the industry-defining expo has to offer.

The relocation to Fira Gran Via Barcelona has provided opportunities to add new features and enhance existing ones. The first ICE ‘Association Assembly’ has been created to enable trade bodies to promote their values and create new opportunities for the gaming community across every sector and geography.

What was previously ICE VOX has been rebranded The World Gaming Forum (WGF). The name more accurately reflects the credentials of events including the World Regulatory Briefing, the new Casino & Leaders Conference (formerly the ICC), and the new Esports & Games Conference – formerly the Esports Betting Conference.

Situated at the heart of the Fira Gran Via Barcelona, the WGF features an exclusive club-style VIP Lounge, a dedicated networking garden, and access to a range of concierge services.

The rebranded Sustainable Gambling Zone, sponsored by Flutter Entertainment, features 26 safer gambling bodies and underlines the importance that the industry places on sustainability and player protection.

The post ICE welcomes the ‘world of gaming’ to Barcelona appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.