Central Europe

Smartphones remain the most popular gaming platform among Germans

Published

5 years ago

June 26, 2020

George Miller

Reading Time: 3 minutes

• 19.5 million Germans play games on smartphones

• PCs back in second place

• German games industry tops the 6-billion-euro mark

European Gaming Congress 2024 (Warsaw, Poland)

Smartphones remain the most popular gaming platform among Germans. Puzzles, brain-teasers or building games: 19.5 million people in Germany use smartphones to play games. That’s 900,000 more gamers than in 2018. These are the figures released today by game – the German Games Industry Association, based on data collected by the market research company GfK. This means smartphones are now Germany’s most popular gaming platform by an even wider margin; they hit the top spot for the first time in 2018. The number of PC users increased as well: in 2019, around 16.3 million people played on computers, which is an increase of 2.9 million gamers compared to 2018. Reasons for this growth include the release of hotly anticipated games such as city-building strategy game ‘Anno 1800’ or the western epic ‘Red Dead Redemption 2’, as well as the launch of new subscription services such as the Xbox Game Pass for PC or Ubisoft’s Uplay+.

By contrast, fewer people used consoles such as the Nintendo Switch, the Sony PlayStation, or the Microsoft Xbox to dive into the digital world in 2019. Approximately 15.9 million people played console games in 2019 – around 800,000 fewer gamers than in the previous year. However, the planned launches of the follow-up consoles to Sony’s PlayStation 4 and Microsoft’s Xbox One at the end of the year are expected to breathe new life into the console sector. As game announced in March, one third of Germans are greatly looking forward to the release of the coming generation of consoles. Tablets, on the other hand, gained approximately 300,000 additional users in 2019, amounting to a total of 11.3 million gamers. Overall, more than 34 million Germans play computer and video games. The average age is 37.5 years.

Felix Falk, Managing Director of game, says: ‘At home or on the go, alone or with friends: Germans play games all the time and everywhere. At times like these, in particular, we can see why so many people in Germany love games: they’re fun, they bring people together, and they allow us to escape for a little while, even when we’re sitting at home.’

German games market grows by 6 per cent

As already reported by game, the German games market grew by 6 per cent in 2019, to around 6.2 billion euros. Sales of games hardware, including consoles, gaming PCs and accessories, dropped by 2 per cent from the previous year, to 2.4 billion euros. In contrast, the market for games software showed a gain of 11 per cent: in 2019, a total of about 3.9 billion euros was spent on computer and video games and the charges for the respective online services.

About the market data
The current data take into account further dedicated games hardware like gaming PCs and the corresponding accessories, resulting in a larger market size than previously reported. This is true also of the adjusted data for 2018, which accordingly differs from that reported last year.
The market data is based on statistics compiled by the GfK Consumer Panel and App Annie. The methods used by GfK to collect data on Germany’s digital 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 digital 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.

Central Europe

Relax Gaming celebrates twenty-one Mega Jackpot winners as Hungarian player hits Dream Drop prize

Published

3 weeks ago

May 29, 2025

George Miller

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Reading Time: 2 minutes

Relax Gaming, the iGaming aggregator and supplier of unique content, has announced its 21st Dream Drop Mega Jackpot winner after a Hungarian player landed a cool €2.9 million prize from a €0.30 spin.

The incredible win occurred at Vegas.hu, the first legally operating online casino in Hungary. The jackpot was hit playing Money Train Origins Dream Drop, a high-octane release that blends the gritty aesthetic of the original Money Train with the legendary Dream Drop jackpot.

Released in June 2023, Money Train Origins Dream Drop is part of Relax Gaming’s growing portfolio of jackpot titles. With engaging features and the proven popularity of the Money Train franchise, the title has delivered on every front, offering a compelling experience for both new and returning players.

This latest win marks the 21st time the top prize has been triggered since the jackpot launched, reaffirming Relax Gaming’s position as a leader in jackpot innovation. It also comes hot on the heels of the supplier’s recent upgrade to the product, with fast-paced Daily Jackpots added to the Dream Drop network earlier this month.

Martin Stålros, CEO of Relax Gaming, said: “This latest Mega Jackpot hit is another brilliant moment for Relax Gaming and for one very lucky player.

“We’re especially pleased to see the jackpot drop at Vegas.hu, a key partner and a trailblazer in regulated online gaming in Hungary. With the addition of Daily Jackpots to our network, Dream Drop continues to lead the way in offering the most exciting jackpot experience in the industry.”

Laszlo Siba, Online Casino Director at Vegas.hu, added: “We are absolutely thrilled to have hosted Hungary’s first Dream Drop Mega Jackpot win here at Vegas.hu. Delivering standout moments like this is exactly what we strive for. Long may Relax Gaming’s innovative content continue to engage and excite our players, especially the Dream Drop series!”

The post Relax Gaming celebrates twenty-one Mega Jackpot winners as Hungarian player hits Dream Drop prize appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Central Europe

HIGHLIGHT GAMES LIVE ONLINE WITH FORTUNA

Published

1 month ago

May 13, 2025

George Miller

highlight-games-live-online-with-fortuna

Reading Time: < 1 minute

London-based video virtuals and instant win games specialist Highlight Games Limited today announces that its flagship products are now live online in Poland with the Fortuna Entertainment Group.

Highlight’s flagship soccer products which feature genuine archive footage from some of the biggest leagues and teams in football are now available to Fortuna’s online customers. Iterations of the product include Italian Football featuring Serie A, Spanish Football featuring LaLiga and English Football featuring English Premier League teams. Additional content featuring ATP Tennis, MotoGP and other premier associations will be launched in the near future.

Steven Holmes, CEO, Highlight Games said: ‘I’m delighted to announce that Highlight Games’ premium video virtuals are now live online in Poland with our valued partners at Fortuna. It’s always an exciting time as we introduce our award-winning products to new customers, and we look forward to bringing additional content to Fortuna’s channels in the future.’

Erik Klems, Group RNG Product Manager, Fortuna Entertainment Group added: ‘Highlight Games’ exclusive soccer games featuring archive video footage are an incredibly exciting addition to our virtual sports offering and we can’t wait for our online customers to enjoy them. Highlight Games’ reputation as an innovator in the virtual sports market is undeniable, and we’re delighted to be working with them to bring their content to Poland.’

The post HIGHLIGHT GAMES LIVE ONLINE WITH FORTUNA appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Central Europe

EGT will be a gold sponsor of Casino Operations Summit 2025

Published

1 month ago

May 8, 2025

George Miller

egt-will-be-a-gold-sponsor-of-casino-operations-summit-2025

Reading Time: < 1 minute

Euro Games Technology will partner with the Casino Operations Summit for another year in a row. The Bulgarian gaming equipment manufacturer will be a gold sponsor of this year’s event, taking place from May 13 to 15 in Nova Gorica, Slovenia.

The conference is tailored to European multi-channel casino operators and will traditionally bring together keynote speakers who will elaborate on the latest topics in the industry. This year’s main themes will focus on how land-based casinos can successfully address the challenges of the modern world, remaininng relevant and attractive to players, and navigate the ever-growing importance of Casino Online Systems and Casino Management Systems.

In addition, attendees will be able to enjoy a selection of EGT’s newest high-potential products. Among the highlights will be the S 32-32 ST cabinet, which is part of the latest Supreme slot series. Following the contemporary design trends with its 2 high-resolution 32-inch UHD 4K monitors and a frameless UHD 4K display, this model will offer visitors an engaging gaming experience thanks to its numerous ergonomic features. It will also present the Supreme Red Selection and Supreme Bonus Prize Bonus Buy Selection multigames. The mixes offer a rich variety of well-known and brand-new slot titles from the company’s portfolio, allowing everyone to find their preferred type of game.

The slot display will be complemented by the jackpot top performer Bell Link with the multigame Bell Link 2, Bell Link Boost, as well as the popular cabinet G 50 J2 ST.

The post EGT will be a gold sponsor of Casino Operations Summit 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.