Central Europe
German games market in 2023: strong development in turbulent times
The German games market once again grew significantly overall in 2023: sales of games, games hardware and gaming online services rose by 6 per cent to around 9.97 billion euros. This is a significant increase after sales had only risen by 1 per cent in the previous year. The biggest growth drivers include games consoles and their accessories as well as in-game and in-app purchases. Despite the large number of top-class titles, which increased sales of games purchases by 4 per cent, the number of games sold fell by 8 per cent at the same time. There were also significant declines in some cases for gaming PCs and laptops. The data on the German games market is based on surveys conducted by the consumer panel services GfK and data.ai. The different developments in the individual market segments also show that 2023 was a year of contrasts for the games industry as a whole: on the one hand, more high-calibre titles were released within twelve months than ever before. On the other hand, some sales expectations were not met, particularly due to this abundance of outstanding games. Combined with generally high interest rates and a slowdown in the investment market, a wave of consolidation began worldwide, as a result of which developer studios are still being downsized or even closed and jobs are being cut.
‘The German games market continues to grow, but a close look at the data shows just how challenging these times are for game companies,’ says Felix Falk, Managing Director of game. ‘This is particularly true for small to medium-sized companies in Germany, most of which have only thin capital cover and therefore feel the impact of the tougher investment climate especially quickly. In such turbulent times reliable and internationally competitive political solutions are needed more than ever.’
Major differences between categories of games hardware
Sales revenues from various categories of games hardware developed very differently last year. Game consoles were among the most important growth drivers, posting a revenue increase of 44 per cent to break the billion-euro threshold, with total revenues of 1.1 billion euros. Demand for game console accessories was similarly robust, if at a slightly lower level. Sales revenues in this area jumped 32 per cent, to 374 million euros. In stark contrast, gaming PCs registered a clear decline as revenues from PCs and laptops marketed specially for games dropped by 17 per cent, to 547 million euros. Accessories for gaming PCs – including special input devices, graphic cards, etc. – fared only slightly better, with revenues falling by 7 per cent, to just under 1.3 billion euros.
‘Last year was the first year in a long time in which all current game consoles were easily available on the market,’ says Felix Falk. ‘The huge revenue gain in this category in 2023 shows how great the pent-up demand was among players. On the other hand, there was a clear drop in sales revenues from gaming PCs. After investing in PCs and laptops during the Covid-19 pandemic, a lot of video game players seem to be well-equipped for the moment.’
Sales revenue from games rises and gaming online services stabilise at a high level
Sales revenue from games developed positively overall in 2023. Across all platforms, purchases of PC and console games generated 4 per cent more revenue than in the year before. Total sales revenues in this area increased to around 1.1 billion euros. Considering the many high-quality game releases, however, this rise seems rather low. Indeed, the number of games sold actually dropped by 8 per cent. This reveals that the growth in revenue here is attributable exclusively to higher average prices. Last year, many video game players appear to have purchased high-quality titles shortly after their release and not waited for discounts. Also, because many of the top titles of 2023 are especially time-intensive, they didn’t leave room for players to acquire a larger number of games. In contrast, the market development for in-game and in-app purchases was significantly more positive, showing a revenue increase of about 6 per cent, to 4.7 billion euros. From an upgrade in a player character’s armour, to a season pass with a lot of additional content, to completely new campaigns, it has become ever more common for the playing time of a game to be extended or individualised through additional content. This trend continued in 2023. In-game sales revenues contribute significantly to covering continuously rising game development costs.
After a number of years of strong growth, sales revenues from online gaming services stabilised at a high level. Among the categories in this segment are fee-based subscription services that provide access to a large selection of games, cloud-based gaming, online multiplayer functions and the ability to save game progress in the cloud. Examples of these services include EA Play, Nintendo Switch Online, PlayStation Plus, Xbox Game Pass and Ubisoft+. Revenue from these services fell by 1 per cent in 2023, to 860 million euros.
The post German games market in 2023: strong development in turbulent times appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Barbie Nerz Head of Online Games at Staatliche Toto-Lotto GmbH Baden-Württemberg
Peter & Sons Partners with Staatliche Toto-Lotto GmbH Baden-Württemberg for German Market Entry
The innovative iGaming studio Peter & Sons, based in Barcelona, has enhanced its presence in Europe by entering a new partnership with erwin, the virtual slot platform of Staatliche Toto-Lotto GmbH Baden-Württemberg, a prominent and well-established gaming operator in Germany.
Established in 1948, Staatliche Toto-Lotto GmbH Baden-Württemberg has earned a solid reputation for dependability, integrity, and creativity in Germany’s regulated gaming industry. The operator is key to the nation’s lottery landscape and is enhancing its digital entertainment services with authorized online gaming products. Since 2023, Staatliche Toto-Lotto GmbH Baden-Württemberg provides virtual slot games at www.lotto-bw.de/erwin. Here, you can explore a diverse range of fun and appealing slots that are refreshed frequently.
Additionally, Staatliche Toto-Lotto GmbH Baden-Württemberg seeks to provide gambling products in its range that cater to the changing requirements of its customers. By doing so, the organization emphasizes trust and safety. Ensuring adherence to measures for the protection of youth and players is consequently a foremost concern.
Famous for its collection of art-focused games, unique characters, and captivating game environments, Peter & Sons has gained global acclaim for advancing the limits of creativity in slot design.
Yann Bautista, Founder and Commercial Director at Peter & Sons, said: “We are delighted to partner with Lotto Baden-Württemberg, an operator that has earned enormous trust within the German gaming community. Germany represents an important regulated market for us, and working with such a respected partner allows us to introduce our games to a broad audience of players who appreciate high-quality entertainment and distinctive design.”
Barbie Nerz, Head of Online Games at Staatliche Toto-Lotto GmbH Baden-Württemberg: “Peter & Sons has developed a reputation for producing visually striking and highly engaging games, and we are excited to welcome their portfolio to our platform. Our goal is always to provide players with diverse, high-quality content, and this partnership represents another step forward in expanding the entertainment experiences we offer.”
The post Peter & Sons Partners with Staatliche Toto-Lotto GmbH Baden-Württemberg for German Market Entry appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Central Europe
Sportradar Extends its Data and Audiovisual Betting Rights Agreement with Deutscher Fussball-Bund
Sportradar Group AG announced a multi-year extension of its data and audiovisual (AV) betting rights agreement with Deutscher Fussball-Bund (DFB), the German Football Association. The rights were originally secured as part of the company’s acquisition of IMG ARENA in 2025.
Under the renewed agreement, Sportradar acquires exclusive data and streaming betting rights for Germany’s prestigious cup competition, DFB-Pokal, worldwide outside of the DACH region, in addition to non-exclusive global media data rights. For the first time in this competition, skeletal data will be introduced to fuel fan engagement products in the same way Sportradar provides for partners including UEFA, Bundesliga and the NBA.
The deal represents the first direct agreement between the parties relating to DFB’s premium cup competition. The new agreement begins at the start of 2026/2027 c and Sportradar will cover all 63 DFB-Pokal matches per season. Sportradar and DFB have previously enjoyed a longstanding partnership including content production and editorial services.
With global Gross Gaming Revenue in soccer betting expected to increase by approximately 50% over the next four years, Sportradar is uniquely positioned to support its clients capture further market share through next generation, hyper-personalized, hyper-immersive experiences.
Sportradar continues to innovate in soccer, combining deep data with proprietary AI technology to create new dynamic betting products such as micro markets and live player markets, which its sportsbook operator clients can leverage to engage customers and generate more revenue.
Moritz Gloeckler, EVP of Rights and Strategic Projects at Sportradar, said: “Our extension of the agreement with DFB is a key addition to our already strong portfolio of global soccer rights. With more than five billion soccer fans worldwide, there’s massive appetite for content. Through partnerships with FIFA, UEFA, AFC, Bundesliga, CONMEBOL and more, Sportradar is well positioned to create the next generation of tech driven products and services for clients to use to engage fans, reach new audiences and open fresh revenue opportunities.”
Kay Dammholz, Director Media Rights at DFB GmbH & Co. KG, said: “With this agreement, we are further advancing the international media rights distribution of the DFB-Pokal. Together with Sportradar, we are ensuring a professional and safe global distribution of our betting streaming rights outside the DACH region, while upholding the highest standards of integrity and unlocking additional commercial potential for our premium cup competition.”
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Wazdan, the results-oriented developer, has further grown its notable European presence through a partnership with Casino Interlaken, a top operator in Switzerland.
The collaboration offers players at Casino Interlaken’s StarVegas.ch online platform access to Wazdan’s dynamic slot collection, showcasing its best-selling Coins
and Hot Slot series, which emphasize engaging gameplay mechanics and consistently achieve high retention rates for compliant operator partners throughout Europe.
Inaugurated in 2020 by the renowned land-based Casino Interlaken, StarVegas.ch has emerged as a prominent online provider of engaging slot games, with its collection enhanced by numerous feature-rich titles from top global suppliers.
In addition to Wazdan’s launches, players at StarVegas.ch will be presented with the studio’s engagement-enhancing features, such as Hold the Jackpot, Cash Infinity, Collect to Infinity, Sticky to Infinity and Cash Out, which consistently enhance the slot experience with innovative improvements to gameplay.
Wazdan’s newest partnership strengthens its dedication to collaborating with reputable brands in regulated markets across the globe. Players throughout Switzerland are poised to gain from an enhanced content selection by merging its top-notch portfolio with StarVegas.ch’s standing for outstanding entertainment and technical proficiency.
Radka Bacheva, Head of Sales at Wazdan, said: “StarVegas has built a strong reputation for premium entertainment, making it a fantastic platform for our vast range of titles and engagement tools. Combining the company’s strong market positioning with our rewarding experiences ensures we can deliver measurable growth and rewarding entertainment for players nationwide.”
Mayke Wolf, Chief Operating Officer at StarVegas, said: “As one of the first licensed Swiss online casinos, StarVegas offers a wide selection of games from leading international providers. Players can access the full portfolio via Starvegas.ch as well as through the StarVegas mobile apps, which are among the most popular casino apps in Switzerland. With the addition of Wazdan’s content, StarVegas further expands its portfolio with innovative titles and new gaming highlights. This step underlines StarVegas’ commitment to continuously developing its offering and providing Swiss players with a diverse and high-quality online gaming experience.”
Oliver Grimm, Chief Executive Officer at Casino Interlaken, said: “Casino Interlaken stands for personal service and Swiss quality in the heart of the Alps, values that we carry into the online space with StarVegas through a technologically advanced and trusted platform. By partnering with Wazdan, we are further enhancing our offering with innovative slot content that delivers engaging experiences for players across Switzerland.”
The post Casino Interlaken teams up with Wazdan to bolster Swiss market presence appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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