Central Europe
German games market grows by 17 per cent in 2021
The German games market has followed up its historic growth spurt in 2020 with yet another year of significant growth: in 2021, approx-imately 9.8 billion euros in revenues were generated from games, charges for online services and games hardware. This is an increase of 17 per cent com-pared to the previous year. Already in 2020, the German games market was able to grow by 32 per cent, which was due in part to the growth in new video game players that resulted from the Covid-19 pandemic. These are the numbers released today by game – the German Games Industry Association, based on data collected by the market research companies GfK and data.ai. The demand for games hardware, particularly for games consoles (+23 per cent) and acces-sories for gaming PCs (+22 per cent), as well as in-game and in-app purchases (+30 per cent), was the biggest driver of growth.
According to Felix Falk, Managing Director of game: ‘Following the historic growth spurt in 2020, the German games market continued its strong perfor-mance with significant growth in 2021. This also demonstrates that the people who first took up playing during the lockdowns are still enjoying it. We are partic-ularly delighted by the strong growth in games hardware. No matter whether they are using games consoles or gaming PCs, Germany’s video game players once again invested considerable sums in their equipment to ensure that they would be able to continue enjoying their games in the best possible quality in future. In fact, demand in some cases exceeded supply, meaning that it would have been possible to increase sales revenue by even more.’
Games, games hardware and charges for online services: all three market segments posted growth once again
Sales revenue from purchases of computer and video games grew by 19 per cent to about 5.4 billion euros. So-called in-game and in-app purchases were once again the biggest driver of growth here, with sales revenue increasing by 30 per cent overall to about 4.2 billion euros. This is happening in response to a sustained trend towards free-to-play games, as well as a general increase in the length of time that individual titles are being supported with the frequent addition of new free and charged content. Sales revenue from the once-only purchase of games, on the other hand, fell significantly, by 9 per cent to about 1.1 billion eu-ros. Sales revenue through monthly subscription charges for individual games – a model that is common among online role-playing games – also fell, by 11 per cent to 145 million euros.
Sales revenue from games hardware grew by 18 per cent overall to about 3.6 billion euros. Games consoles are in particular demand: although retailers were often sold out of some models, sales revenue still managed to increase by 23 per cent to 808 million euros. Approximately 1 billion euros were generated from sales of gaming PCs – both desktops and laptops. This is an increase of 10 per cent compared to the previous year. More and more video game players are also investing in accessories to make their experience even better. Demand for graphic cards, keyboards, mice, monitors and VR headsets for gaming is espe-cially strong. Sales revenue from purchases of gaming PC accessories grew by 22 per cent to about 1.5 billion euros. Sales revenue from games console ac-cessories increased by 11 per cent to 306 million euros.
Following a huge 50 per cent leap in growth in 2020, sales revenue generated by online gaming services rose by an additional 4 per cent to 720 million euros in 2021. Gaming subscription services such as the Xbox Game Pass, EA Play and Ubisoft+ made a key contribution to this growth, with their sales revenue increas-ing by 22 per cent to 220 million euros. Cloud gaming services, on the other hand, experienced a decline of 13 per cent to 63 million euros. One of the rea-sons for this is the fact that some cloud gaming functions have been integrated into other services free of charge, meaning that no independent sales revenues are generated for these functions. Sales revenue from online gaming services also fell, by 2 million euros to 437 million euros. These are frequently offered for various games consoles and include – depending on the specific offer – free monthly games, games discounts, the ability to play online, or even cloud stor-age for saved games.
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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.
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.
The post Promatic Games now live in Slovakia appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Central Europe
IGT Modernizes Central Lottery System for LOTTO Thüringen in Germany via Seven-Year Contract Extension
International Game Technology PLC announced that its subsidiary, IGT Global Services Limited, has signed a seven-year contract with the Thuringian State Lottery (“LOTTO Thüringen”) in Germany to deploy its retail central system technology, Aurora™, and related software upgrades. The contract term will begin upon go-live of the new platform, planned for March 2026.
An integral part of OMNIA™, IGT’s player-centric, omnichannel solution for lotteries, Aurora helps drive lottery innovation and profitability. The platform will provide intuitive, user-friendly applications, tools and reporting capabilities which will handle all of LOTTO Thüringen’s transaction processing, game management and back-office operations.
“LOTTO Thüringen has relied on IGT’s versatile and strong-performing central system technology throughout the course of our decades-long relationship,” said Jochen Staschewski, LOTTO Thüringen Chief Executive Officer. “Upgrading our central retail system to IGT’s advanced platform and back-end software will enable us to streamline our business processes and continue operating with the highest levels of efficiency.”
“IGT’s retail central system incorporates a suite of flexible solutions designed to help manage, transform and further grow LOTTO Thüringen’s business,” said Jay Gendron, IGT Chief Operating Officer, Global Lottery. “With this long-term contract extension, LOTTO Thüringen is well-positioned to continue benefiting from IGT’s secure, responsible and modernized technology and software. Leveraging these best-in-class solutions will aid in the Lottery’s goals of supporting good causes throughout the state.”
The post IGT Modernizes Central Lottery System for LOTTO Thüringen in Germany via Seven-Year Contract Extension appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
SYNOT Games, a leading iGaming provider, has partnered with win2day, taking a major step in its Austrian market growth strategy.
The collaboration marks its debut with the launch of Resin Joker, a fan-favorite slot that combines the simplicity of a classic gaming experience with a fresh, modern twist. With its smooth gameplay, vibrant audio-visuals, and universal appeal, Respin Joker has become a standout title for players seeking both entertainment and nostalgia.
As this partnership progresses, players can look forward to a steady rollout of additional games from SYNOT Games’ extensive portfolio, further enriching win2day’s already robust catalog. This collaboration is designed to offer Austrian players a premium gaming experience, with a diverse selection of games that blend cutting-edge innovation and top-tier quality.
Georg Wawer, Managing Director of win2day, said: „As the sole licensed operator in Austria, our goal is to host all leading iGaming providers on our platform. Synot, being a major player on the international stage, makes us proud to feature their content. We regard SYNOT Games as a skilled and trustworthy partner for win2day, and we are confident that this collaboration will yield great success.„
Martina Krajčí, CCO at SYNOT Games, commented: “We are excited to partner with win2day and bring our games to Austrian players. At SYNOT Games, our focus has always been on providing quality entertainment, and this partnership highlights our commitment to delivering an outstanding gaming experience.”
The post SYNOT Games teams up with win2day to revolutionize Austria’s iGaming scene appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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