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Slower workforce growth and fewer new companies: the upward trend in the German games industry is weakening

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• Number of German game companies grows by 4 per cent in twelve months
• Slowed growth pace: employment figures at developers and publishers up 3.5 per cent
• German games industry plus extended game labour market provides more than 30,000 jobs
 
The strong upward trend seen in the German games industry in recent years is now weakening significantly. After registering 15 per cent growth a year ago, the number of game companies increased by just 4 per cent in the past twelve months, to a total of 948 companies developing and publishing computer and video games in Germany. This was announced today by game – The German Games Industry Association on the basis of data from gamesmap.de in cooperation with Goldmedia. In particular, the number of companies that exclusively develop games is rising, with 6 per cent growth in the past year bringing the figure to 477 currently. A further 52 companies in Germany specialise exclusively in publishing video games and 419 are active in both game development and publishing. This amounts to a 52 per cent overall increase in the number of game companies in Germany since 2020.
Employee numbers at German game companies showed continued growth, but at only half the pace of the previous year. The number of employees at game development studios and publishers rose to 12,408 over the past twelve months, up around 3.5 per cent from last year’s figure of 11,992. This compares with 7 per cent growth recorded from 2022 to 2023. At first glance, the weakened yet still positive trend appears contradictory against the backdrop of the current overall decline in investment momentum and major waves of consolidation in the international games industry. While the current consolidation wave has indeed affected German game companies, its impact here has been less pronounced than in general internationally. One reason for this is that many game companies in Germany are currently still in the midst of projects made possible by federal games funding, which has served as a stabilising factor for the industry as a whole. In addition to the workforce in publishing and development, an estimated further 20,000 people are employed in the area of games. The games industry thus provides jobs for over 30,000 people in Germany, including skilled professionals in educational institutions, the media and the public and commercial sectors.
‘Games funding plays a decisive role in this. Although the on-going application freeze for the federal games funding has hampered the development of new projects for over a year now, the fact that many German studios were still in the middle of federally funded projects gave them stability. However, if the German government doesn’t ensure funding budgets at an internationally comparable level soon, the prospects for game companies will be all the more unclear. Along with the consolidation wave,’ he continues, ‘the current unpredictable and non-competitive framework conditions in Germany have now slowed the strong growth of recent years. The German government must finally make the promised funds available and return to the path of an ambitious policy of single-source game funding, as it announced in its latest growth initiative.’
About the data:
The data is drawn from a survey carried out by Goldmedia on the basis of entries on gamesmap.de. It was conducted on behalf of game – The German Games Industry Association for the period ending on 14 June 2024.

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GamingTECH CEE Awards 2025: The Online Voting Battle Begins February 12!

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The highly anticipated GamingTECH CEE Awards 2025 is entering its next thrilling phase as the online voting period kicks off on February 12 and runs through February 28, 2025. Nominees, get ready to enter the spotlight and prepare your communications campaigns! From the moment voting opens, all nominated companies and individual professionals will be visible, giving them the opportunity to rally support via social media and beyond to secure votes.

The GamingTECH CEE Awards celebrates outstanding achievements, embracing the latest advancements and industry trends in the region. Following a rigorous nomination process that concluded on January 19, the upcoming online voting session will determine the shortlists.

Key Dates:

  • Online Voting Period: February 12–28, 2025
  • Shortlist Announcement: March 4, 2025
  • Final Live Vote & Awards Ceremony: March 25, 2025, at the Prague Gaming & TECH Summit

New Rule for 2025:

This year, the GamingTECH CEE Awards introduces an important update: Each voter will only be allowed one vote for the entire online voting period. Nominees are encouraged to actively engage their industry peers and supporters to maximize their chances of advancing to the finals.

From “Shortlisted” to “Finalist”

Additionally, only shortlisted nominees who confirm their attendance at the Awards  by purchasing a ticket for the Prague Gaming & TECH Summit will be eligible to advance to the final voting stage. This ensures a fair competition for the Awards between equally committed finalists, and a strong industry presence at the Summit to foster greater networking and engagement.

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The final live vote will take place at the Prague Gaming & TECH Summit on March 25, 2025, where all event participants will have the opportunity to cast their votes and determine the ultimate winners. The winners will then be officially announced at the GamingTECH CEE Awards Ceremony, proudly sponsored and presented by Endorphina.

Awards Categories:

Company Categories:

  • Best Support for Responsible Gambling
  • Best Testing Laboratory
  • Best Payments Service Provider
  • Best Affiliate
  • Best Affiliate Program
  • Best Sports Betting Provider
  • Rising Star – Sports Betting Technology
  • Best Esports Service Provider
  • Best Online Casino Platform
  • Rising Star – Online Casino Technology
  • Online Casino Innovator
  • Best Online Casino
  • Best Sports Betting Operator

Individual Categories:

  • CEE iGaming Leader of the Year: Recognizing an individual from the CEE region who has demonstrated exceptional leadership, vision, and a strong impact in the iGaming industry. This person has driven growth and innovation in the region, setting the benchmark for others.
  • CEE Rising Star in iGaming: Celebrating an individual from the CEE region who has shown remarkable promise and potential in the iGaming industry early in their career. This award highlights emerging talent that is expected to shape the future of iGaming in the region.
  • CEE Innovator of the Year: Awarding the individual who has introduced the most groundbreaking innovations in the CEE iGaming sector. This person has significantly contributed to the evolution of the industry through unique products, services, or technologies tailored to the regional market.
  • CEE iGaming Influencer of the Year: Honoring a prominent individual whose influence and insights have significantly shaped the CEE iGaming community. Their thought leadership, content, or social presence has driven trends and fostered growth within the regional iGaming space.
  • Best iGaming CEO in CEE: Recognizing the CEO based in the CEE region who has led their company to new heights with outstanding strategic direction and business acumen. This award honors their ability to navigate the unique challenges of the CEE market and achieve exceptional business growth.

Get Involved & Secure Your Spot

Set your reminders and be ready for action on 12 February 2025! Encourage your peers, partners, and clients to participate in the voting process and ensure that your company or favorite nominee makes it to the final stage!

For more details on the awards, voting process, and ticketing information, visit https://hipther.com/events/prague/gamingtech-awards/ or contact HIPTHER at [email protected].

Join us in shaping the future of gaming and technology in CEE – Cast your vote and be part of the journey!

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DFL and Tipico Extend Partnership Until 2029

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Tipico, Germany’s leading sports betting provider, will continue as the Official Partner of the Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga. Before the end of the current agreement, Tipico and the DFL (Deutsche Fußball Liga) have agreed to extend their partnership, which began in 2018, through to the end of the 2028/29 season.

As part of this agreement, Tipico will continue to use the logos of both competitions and the two Meisterschalen (championship trophies) in its advertising. The company will also retain its extensive advertising rights, including first-access rights included in DFL’s media contracts, as well as a “Matching Offer Right” for all special advertising formats with national partners, and exclusivity within the industry. Tipico will also be integrated into digital Bundesliga platforms.

“We’re thrilled to extend this long-standing collaboration built on mutual trust. Over the years, Tipico has proven itself as a highly professional and reliable partner with a deep passion for football,” said Tobias Thöne, Director of Commercial Partnerships at Bundesliga International GmbH.

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Kajetan Strini-Brown, Director of Sports Brand at Tipico, said: “We’re incredibly proud to continue our partnership with the Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga! German football is at the heart of what we do, and that passion has always been deeply embedded in our DNA as a company. This extension is a key part of our strategic partnerships, which also include the DFB-Pokal, another major German football brand. Sponsorship, and the visibility it brings, plays an important role in guiding customers to the legal market.”

As outlined in the State Treaty on Gambling, the possibility to promote sports betting is an essential tool for guiding the deeply human drive to gamble into regulated and monitored channels. This plays a critical role in ensuring proper regulation of sports betting while counteracting illegal offerings. For more than 20 years, Tipico has been offering innovative, user-friendly, and secure sports betting products and has become the most popular brand for sports betting in Germany. In addition to continuous product development, Tipico has been working on modern player protection strategies for the last 15 years. The DFL has also long been committed to preventing match-fixing and gambling addiction in German professional football.

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Promatic Games now live in Slovakia

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Promatic Games, a polish game-tech brand and a slots studio specializing in game design and software solutions for online casinos, officially entered the Slovak market on January 24th, 2025. Eurogold, a long-time partner of Promatic Group in the land-based gaming sector, became the first online casino in Slovakia to launch 10 of the studio’s popular online slot games.

“Entering the Slovak market has been a significant milestone for us. This year, we are focused on strengthening our presence in Central Europe, with Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Romania, Croatia and other markets in the region as key strategic priorities. Our portfolio of over 100 online slot games is designed to meet the expectations of players in these markets, as proven by our success in Poland. Partnering with a long-time customer for our initial launch in Slovakia was a natural choice, but our ultimate goal is to become a widely recognized game provider in the country and a trusted partner for all operators “– says Maciej Makuszewski, Head of iGaming at Promatic.

The collaboration with Eurogold online casino marks a significant milestone in Promatic Games’ journey. This partnership brings a selection of top-tier games to Slovak players, including fan-favorites such as Jumping Fruits, Ultra Reels, 81 Show, and Miss Inferno Deluxe. As a highlight for this market, Promatic Games has developed an exclusive slot for Eurogold – Kmeťo King Deluxe – which is a tribute to a popular Slovak folk singer Igor Kmeťo. The game is available exclusively at Eurogold.sk and features some of Mr. Kmeťo’s music during the gameplay. The launch of Kmeťo King Deluxe underscores Promatic Games’ commitment to delivering localized and tailored gaming experiences for new audiences.

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All ten games introduced to the Slovak market have successfully passed rigorous certification by TSU Laboratory, a local Slovak authority specializing in game testing and certification. TSU ensures that all gaming software complies with international standards, guaranteeing fairness, reliability, and security for players. Promatic Games’ adherence to these high standards emphasizes the company’s dedication to delivering trusted and quality experiences.

Promatic Games is already preparing its next lineup of titles, promising to bring even more unforgettable gaming experiences to Slovak players. The new games will include, amongst others, Janosik 30 game based on the character of both Polish and Slovak folk hero. This expansion signals the company’s dedication to growing its presence in the Slovak market while maintaining the exceptional standards it is known for.

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