Central Europe

Germany: Interest in online gaming services continues strong rise

Published

5 years ago

April 23, 2021

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Online gaming services are becoming an ever more important pillar of the German games market. They allow video game players worldwide to compete online against one another, access cloud gaming offerings or use a large catalogue of games for a fixed monthly price. The last several years have seen significant growth not only in the variety of online gaming services, but also in players’ interest in them. In Germany, sales revenue of these services increased by 50 per cent in a single year, to 692 million euros. This value is nearly double that of 2018, when 353 million euros in sales were achieved with online gaming services. These are the numbers released today by game – the German Games Industry Association, based on data collected by the market research company GfK. Cloud gaming services showed the strongest rise in sales revenue: within just one year, this segment grew by 67 per cent, to 72 million euros. With cloud gaming services, players no longer need high-performance hardware to play titles with their full range of graphics. But because the computing takes place in the cloud, a correspondingly fast internet connection is required. Among the services in this category are GeForce Now from Nvidia, MagentaGaming from Telekom, PlayStation Now from Sony and Stadia Pro from Google. While sales revenue with online gaming services grew somewhat more slowly, at 50 per cent, this submarket is already considerably larger: 439 million euros in sales revenue were achieved in 2020 through services of this kind, such as Nintendo Switch Online, PlayStation Plus from Sony and Xbox Live Gold from Microsoft. In addition to game rebates and the saving of scores on the internet, these services also allow customers to play online via games consoles. Significantly more was also spent on subscription gaming services in 2020: this submarket grew by 44 per cent to a total value of 181 million euros. For a fixed monthly price, services like EA Play, the Xbox Game Pass from Microsoft, Ubisoft+ and the two versions for smartphone, Apple Arcade and the Google Play Pass, offer access to an extensive games library.

‘Online gaming services have developed into an important pillar of the games market within just a few years,’ says Felix Falk, Managing Director of game. ‘The number and variety of services have gone up sharply, as has demand on the part of video game players. And there are a number of different factors that promise strong continued growth in the coming years. One of these is the rising interest in cloud gaming, which is still in an early market phase. Another is the increasing success of subscription gaming services, which give players access to a large selection of titles for a fixed monthly rate.’

German games market: big jump in sales revenue in 2020

The German games market recorded a strong jump in sales revenue in the Covid-19 year 2020: total sales revenue of around 8.5 billion euros was achieved in computer and video games and associated hardware, as already reported by game. This is an increase of 32 per cent compared to the previous year. Sales of more than 3.2 billion euros were registered with games consoles, gaming PCs and the corresponding peripheral equipment – an increase of 26 per cent over 2019. The submarket for computer and video games showed even stronger growth, with purchases of games, in-game and in-app purchases, subscriptions and charges for online services climbing to 5.2 billion euros, an impressive 36 per cent rise compared to the previous year.

About the market data

The market data is based on statistics compiled by the GfK Consumer Panel. The methods used by GfK to collect data on Germany’s video games market are unique in terms of both their quality and their global use. They include an ongoing survey of 25,000 consumers who are representative of the German population as a whole regarding their video game purchasing and usage habits, as well as a retail panel. The data collection methods provide a unique insight into the German market for computer and video games.

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.

Austria

Austrian Brand Value Study: NOVOMATIC Defends Top Ranking

Published

1 week ago

July 3, 2026

Wladimir P.

In the 23rd edition of the Austrian Brand Value Study, the European Brand Institute (EBI) once again recognised the country’s most valuable and sustainable brands. NOVOMATIC continues its winning streak, ranking second behind Red Bull for the seventh consecutive year with a brand value of EUR 3.938 billion, up 2.0% from the previous year.

“This top ranking once again confirms the strong international appeal of the NOVOMATIC brand and the success of our long-term corporate strategy. We have succeeded in further strengthening the NOVOMATIC brand worldwide through continuous innovation, the expansion of our global presence, and a consistent focus on sustainable growth. The fact that we are once again among the leading companies in the Sustainable Brand Ranking shows that economic success and responsible business practices are inextricably linked at NOVOMATIC,” said Stefan Krenn, Member of the NOVOMATIC AG Executive Board.

This prestigious award highlights NOVOMATIC’s strong market position and sustainable growth. The company has consistently ranked among Austria’s most valuable corporate brands since 2020. The evaluation is based on international standards and considers factors including brand strength, brand potential, trends and economic performance.

NOVOMATIC’s renewed second place reaffirms its position as a leader in the Sustainable Brand Ranking. A key factor in this success is the Group’s corporate responsibility and ESG program, which firmly integrates environmental, social and governance aspects into the long-term corporate strategy. The effectiveness of these measures is regularly confirmed by independent ESG rating agencies.

The Austrian Brand Value Study is conducted annually by the European Brand Institute. For the 2026 ranking, 180 brand-name companies from 16 industries were analyzed, more than 45% of which are Austrian-owned. The evaluation is conducted in accordance with the international standards ISO 10668 and ISO 20671.

With its top rankings in both the Brand Value and Sustainable Brand categories, NOVOMATIC AG has once again underscored its position as one of Austria’s most important companies with international influence.

The post Austrian Brand Value Study: NOVOMATIC Defends Top Ranking appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Casinò Portorož

SYNOT Games Enters Slovenian Market with Casino Portorož Partnership

Published

1 month ago

June 5, 2026

Wladimir P.

synot-games-enters-slovenian-market-with-casino-portoroz-partnership

SYNOT Games continues its European expansion by officially entering the Slovenian market through a strategic partnership with the renowned Casino Portorož and its platform Casino.SI. This marks the provider’s first collaboration in Slovenia and a significant milestone in strengthening its presence across regulated European jurisdictions.

As part of the launch, SYNOT Games has successfully certified an extensive portfolio of 190 games for the Slovenian market – effectively making its full suite of content available to local players. The offering includes a comprehensive range of products, from top-performing slots to popular alternatives such as crash games and roulette, enabling Casino Portorož to deliver a diverse and engaging gaming experience.

The go-live will be supported by the introduction of a SYNOT Progressive Bonus with a €10,000 jackpot pool, designed to keep player engagement from day one. Looking ahead, the partners aim to further expand the integration by fully leveraging SYNOT’s proprietary ecosystem of promotional and engagement tools. The long-term plan is to introduce the full portfolio, including PEAK, Feature Free Rounds and Free Round Bonuses, enabling Casino.SI to maximise player engagement, boost retention, and deliver highly personalised, dynamic bonus experiences.

Martina Krajčí, Chief Commercial Officer at SYNOT Games, said: “We are very pleased to enter the Slovenian market through our partnership with Casino Portorož, a respected and established operator with a strong local presence. Bringing nearly our entire portfolio to Slovenian players demonstrates our commitment to delivering premium content tailored to regulated environments.”

Ksenija Bezek, Head of Online Operations at Casino Portorož, said: “We are delighted to partner with SYNOT Games and introduce their rich and diverse portfolio to our players. Their proven performance across regulated markets, combined with engaging features such as the SPB jackpot, aligns perfectly with our strategy to continuously enhance our offering and deliver innovative entertainment experiences to our customers.”

The post SYNOT Games Enters Slovenian Market with Casino Portorož Partnership appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Central Europe

Habanero goes live on Favbet Romania

Published

2 months ago

May 19, 2026

Wladimir P.

Deal adds Habanero’s slots and table games to Favbet.ro as the supplier targets further growth in CEE regulated markets.

Habanero has gone live with Favbet Romania, rolling out its slots and table games portfolio on the operator’s locally focused platform in Romania’s regulated online market.

Under the agreement, Favbet Romania players gain access to Habanero’s full catalogue. The companies positioned the launch as part of Habanero’s wider push to add regulated operator partners across Central and Eastern Europe.

Toni Karapetrov, Head of Corporate Communications at Habanero, said: “Favbet Romania is a well-respected brand in Europe and exactly the kind of partner we look to work with as we deepen our presence in the market. Romania players have a strong appetite for our content and we are confident our games will resonate well with their audience.

“Romania is an important market for us, and going live with this operator is another strong step in our continued European expansion across high-growth regulated markets.”

Cristian Sapovici, Head of Casino, Favbet Romania, said: “The collaboration between Favbet Romania and Habanero has been strong from the very beginning, and this co-branded collaboration agreement marks an important step in strengthening our strategic partnership.

“Our shared objective is to deliver a more integrated gaming experience for players in Romania, supported by consistent visibility, dedicated campaigns, and a stronger presence of Habanero content within the Favbet.ro ecosystem.”

Habanero said it is now live in 22 European regulated markets, and counts operators including Entain, Sisal and Betway among its partners.

The post Habanero goes live on Favbet Romania appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.