European gaming revenue experienced a robust 4% year-on-year growth in 2024, reaching €26.8 billion. A significant 90% of this revenue was driven by digital purchases, underscoring a major shift in consumer behavior and the industry’s successful digital transformation. Mobile gaming continues to lead the charge in revenue generation.
Key Takeaways
- Digital purchases accounted for 90% of European gaming revenue in 2024.
- Overall gaming revenue grew by 4% year-on-year.
- Mobile gaming generated the largest share of revenue at 44%.
- PC gaming revenue saw a slight increase but represented only 15% of the total.
- The European gaming workforce grew by 1.8%.
Digital Transformation Accelerates
The "All About Video Games" report, compiled by Video Games Europe and the European Games Developer Federation (EGDF), reveals that digital sales now constitute a dominant 90% of the European gaming market’s revenue. This marks a 5% increase from the previous year, while physical sales have dwindled to just 10%.
Device Revenue Breakdown
Smartphones and tablets are the primary drivers of gaming revenue in Europe, capturing 44% of the market in 2024, a 3% increase year-on-year. Console gaming, while still significant, saw a 3% decline in revenue, accounting for 38% of the total. PC gaming revenue experienced a modest 1% rise, making up 15% of the market, despite a slight decrease in the number of PC players.
Market Growth and Player Demographics
Gaming sector revenue in five key European markets (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the U.K.) rose from €25.7 billion in 2023 to €26.8 billion in 2024. Approximately 54% of Europeans played video games in 2024, with Germany having the highest player penetration at 60%. The average age of a European gamer remains 31, and women now represent 45% of the player base, a 1.5% increase from the prior year. The industry also saw a slight increase in its workforce, growing by 1.8% to over 116,000 employees.
Top Performing Games
The report also highlighted the top-selling games across different platforms. On consoles, "EA FC 25," "Call of Duty Black Ops 6," and "EA FC 24" led the charts. For PC, "Helldivers 2," "Call of Duty Black Ops 6," and "Command and Conquer Generals" were the bestsellers. Mobile gaming’s top titles included "Coin Master," "Royal Match," and "Brawl Stars."
