Central Europe
6 in 10 PC and console games sold in 2021 in Germany were purchased as downloads
- Number of download purchases rises to 59 per cent
- Almost all PC games that are purchased are purchased as downloads
- Nearly two thirds of all games for video game consoles are purchased on physical media
Following a sharp increase in the first Covid-19 year 2020, the share of games purchased as downloads stabilised in 2021: the share of all PC and console games sold in Germany that were purchased as downloads increased by just one percentage point compared to the previous year, to 59 per cent. This means that roughly six in ten computer and video games were once again purchased as downloads last year. These are the figures released today by game – the German Games Industry Association, based on data collected by the market research company GfK. There were major differences in the share of downloads for different platforms and price categories, with downloaded games making up a particularly large percentage of the lower-priced titles. Approximately eight in ten games priced below 30 euros were purchased as downloads. Higher-priced titles were more likely to have been purchased on physical media, with players buying 68 per cent of all games costing over 30 euros on data carriers from online shops or bricks-and-mortar stores in 2021.
Players of PC games in particular relied on downloads, for example from portals like Origin and Steam. As a result, downloads accounted for around 93 per cent of PC game sales. Nearly two thirds (64 per cent) of all games for video game consoles such as Nintendo Switch, PlayStation and Xbox, on the other hand, were purchased on physical media.
‘Thanks to their excellent accessibility, download purchases have established themselves as the preferred choice of many players. Even so, there continue to be large differences between the various gaming platforms. Download purchases can be an attractive option for players of PC games, for example, on account of online discounts or the wide range of indie games on offer. Console fans, on the other hand, like to purchase games on physical media, whether it be to add to the collection of games on their shelves or to obtain limited-edition games boxes containing special items for fans,’ says Felix Falk, Managing Director of game.
Another year of strong growth for the German games market
Following a historic 2020 performance with 32 per cent growth, sales revenues in the German games market continued to rise significantly in 2021 with a total of approximately 9.8 billion euros in sales revenue generated by games, games hardware and fees for online gaming services – an increase of 17 per cent compared to the previous year. Sales revenue from computer and video games grew by 19 per cent to about 5.4 billion euros, due among other things to increases in in-game and in-app purchases. Sales revenue from games hardware has also grown, by 18 per cent overall to about 3.6 billion euros. Demand for games consoles and gaming PC accessories was particularly strong.
About the market data
The market data is based on statistics compiled by the GfK Consumer Panel and data.ai. 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.
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SYNOT Games has accelerated its growth in the Slovak market through the delivery of branded games exclusively for SazkaHry.sk. Building on its extensive experience and success in the Czech Republic, the company is reinforcing its commitment to providing high-quality, customised gaming experiences tailored to local audiences.
As part of this expansion, two branded SYNOT Games titles originally created for Sazka CZ, Pirátska Plavba and Výlet do Vegas 27, have been translated into Slovak. These are not only localised games but exclusive, tailor-made titles that have already been successfully running on the Czech platform. Their adaptation for the Slovak market for the SazkaHry.sk offers a uniquely personalised and immersive experience for local players.
Martina Krajčí, CCO at SYNOT Games, said: “Our long-term partnership with Sazka in the Czech Republic continues to bring excellent results, and we are proud to expand our expertise to Slovakia for Allwyn Slovensko. By providing exclusive localized content for SazkaHry.sk, we ensure a more tailored and engaging experience for players, while continuing to uphold the highest standards in certified, secure gaming.”
Jan Horyna, member of the Allwyn Slovensko Board of Directors, said: “We’re pleased to cooperate with SYNOT Games in Slovakia. Offering branded games exclusive for SazkaHry.sk in the Slovak language is a natural step in offering original content that resonates with Slovak players and builds our position as a trusted operator.”
The post SYNOT Games Delivers Bespoke Games Exclusively for SazkaHry.sk in the Slovak Market appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Aquisitions/Mergers
NOVOMATIC successfully completes sale of ADMIRAL Austria to Tipico and focuses on international growth markets
Europe’s leading gaming technology group has successfully completed the sale of ADMIRAL Austria to Tipico. This transaction underscores NOVOMATIC’s long-term focus on global expansion and marks another important milestone in its international growth strategy. ADMIRAL Austria will remain an important technology partner under its new owner Tipico and will continue to rely on NOVOMATIC’s innovative technology solutions in the future.
Stefan Krenn, Executive Board Member of NOVOMATIC AG, emphasized: “The completion of this transaction marks an important step in our global expansion strategy with a clear focus on international growth markets. ADMIRAL has developed into an established market leader over the past decades, and we thank all ADMIRAL employees for their great commitment. We are pleased to have found a strong and reliable technology partner in Tipico, who will successfully continue the company’s operations in Austria.”
Axel Hefer, CEO of the Tipico Group, stated: “We are delighted about the successful completion of this transaction. ADMIRAL is a leading Austrian company with a strong legacy, and clear potential for future growth. Both companies are synonymous with state-of-the-art technology, innovative products and a high focus to player protection. Our future collaboration is very good news for our customers.”
The closing of the transaction followed the receipt of all required regulatory approvals.
The post NOVOMATIC successfully completes sale of ADMIRAL Austria to Tipico and focuses on international growth markets appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Central Europe
Promatic Games and SYNOT Interactive Announce Strategic Partnership to Strengthen iGaming Expansion in Central and Eastern Europe
Promatic Games, a recognized provider of innovative iGaming content and one of the leaders of the Polish market, and SYNOT Interactive, a dynamic technology company headquartered in the Czech Republic, have officially announced a strategic partnership. The objective of the cooperation is the distribution of the Promatic Games portfolio to SYNOT Interactive’s aggregation customers, with a focus on the strategic markets of the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The cooperation will accelerate growth for both parties by combining Promatic Games’ tailored gaming portfolio with SYNOT Interactive’s proven platform and extensive presence in regulated European markets.
SYNOT Interactive will be the first aggregation partner for Promatic Games in the Czech and Slovak markets.
“Up until now we have taken a few important steps to enter the Czech and Slovak markets. We have a portfolio of certified games for those markets, and we have integrated with a few platform providers. We have also launched our games with several operators. But obviously, cooperation with a brand like SYNOT Interactive brings new perspectives to our business there,” said Maciej Makuszewski, Head of iGaming at Promatic Games. “We are excited to work with SYNOT Interactive’s aggregation customers to generate great value for them. We are confident that our content will match customers’ tastes in these strategic markets, just as it has been proven in Poland, where we are one of the leading iGaming suppliers. We are of course looking forward to scaling up in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, but we are also ready for other challenges with our strategic partner. SYNOT Interactive’s Central European footprint aligns perfectly with our expansion strategy.”
By integrating Promatic Games content into SYNOT Interactive’s modular platform, operators in multiple jurisdictions will gain access to Promatic Games quickly and efficiently. The cooperation will begin with Slovakia and the Czech Republic—both highly regulated markets where SYNOT already maintains a strong operator base—and will later extend to Romania, Croatia, and other Balkan markets. This geographic overlap between Promatic Games’ strategic goals and SYNOT Interactive’s established infrastructure makes the partnership especially powerful.
“At SYNOT Interactive, we are dedicated to building partnerships that create lasting value for both operators and players. We know Promatic Games’ content is strong in Poland, and we believe that, given the content’s quality and type, it can be a great fit for our Central European casino partners. By joining forces, we can accelerate innovation and deliver an enhanced player experience in regulated markets. We appreciate the technology that Promatic Games provides, and we are confident it will work well on the scale that SYNOT Interactive can offer,” said Petr Březina, Head of Sales, from SYNOT Interactive.
The agreement underscores how strategic alliances are shaping the future of the iGaming industry. With regulatory landscapes becoming increasingly complex, operators require diverse gaming content that meets local compliance standards. The cooperation between Promatic Games and SYNOT Interactive demonstrates how combining expertise can generate synergies in distribution, compliance, and player engagement, creating mutual benefits for both companies and their partners.
The post Promatic Games and SYNOT Interactive Announce Strategic Partnership to Strengthen iGaming Expansion in Central and Eastern Europe appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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