Germany increases games funding to 70 million euros

Berlin, Germany – May 28, 2017: Reichstag building, German Parliament (Deutscher Bundestag), people enjoying a spring day. The dedication Dem deutschen Volke, meaning To the German people, can be seen on the frieze.

Good news for games companies who are developing games in Germany: the budget committee of the German Bundestag has increased the national budget for games support in 2023 by some 20 million euros, to a total of 70 million euros. This decision follows on the great initial success of the funding programme, which has attracted strong demand from game companies since its launch in 2019. The result has been a major upswing, with the number of games companies increasing by 26 per cent within the two-year period since 2020. The number of people employed by developers and publishers has risen by 12 per cent during the same period. This growth has exhausted the annual budget of 50 million euros available to date, so an increase in funding was necessary to continue supporting game development in 2023. game – the German Games Industry Association forecasts that the funding programme will require 100 million euros annually in the coming years. The possibility of initiating a tax break model – something offered by many internationally successful games locations – is additionally to be studied.

Felix Falk, Managing Director of game: ‘The provision of this additional games funding sends a powerful signal. It will enable Germany to continue its pursuit of becoming one of the world’s top locations for game development. With these steps, the German Bundestag and the federal government are renewing their promise to make Germany a leading market for games on the international stage.’

game – the German Games Industry Association

We are the association of the German games industry. Our members include developers, publishers and many other games industry actors such as esports event organisers, educational establishments and service providers. As a joint organiser of gamescom, we are responsible for the world’s biggest event for computer and video games. We are an expert partner for media and for political and social institutions, and answer questions relating to market development, games culture and media literacy. Our mission is to make Germany the best games location.