Central Europe

game’s industry barometer: the German games industry looks confidently to the new year

Published

5 years ago

December 11, 2020

Reading Time: 2 minutes

• 7 in 10 games companies in Germany expect positive economic development for their own business operations over the next 12 months

• 45 per cent of games companies surveyed plan additional hires in the coming year

• Every third company has postponed projects or publications due to the Covid-19 pandemic

The Covid-19 pandemic notwithstanding, the vast majority of games companies in Germany are confident heading into 2021: 7 in 10 companies anticipate positive economic development for their own business operations in the coming 12 months. 1 in 5 companies (19 per cent) expects to maintain a steady course at its current level; just 1 in 10 companies (10 per cent) anticipates a business downturn. These are the results of game’s first industry barometer, based on a survey of association members, which were published today on the occasion of the general meeting of game – the German Games Industry Association. The confidence of the German games industry can also be seen in the area of personnel planning, with 45 per cent of the surveyed companies intending to hire new employees in the coming year and just 6 per cent anticipating having to make lay-offs. Overall, every second company expects to maintain steady personnel numbers.

‘Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, the German games industry is looking towards the coming 12 months with great confidence: almost 1 in 2 companies even plans new hires,’ says Felix Falk, Managing Director of game. ‘Not even the numerous challenges posed by the pandemic – like frequent project delays, deferred investments or the search for additional sources of financing – are dampening the games industry’s great optimism about the future. And that’s exactly the right attitude when it comes to achieving our shared goal of moving Germany closer to the global leaders as a games location.’

A look at the current development among games companies in Germany explains this confidence. More than 1 in 4 companies surveyed (28 per cent) say they are coping with the ongoing coronavirus pandemic very well, while a further 67 per cent state that they are coping well. Just 5 per cent of companies say that they are currently coping rather poorly with the crisis. However, the Covid-19 pandemic is having significantly greater effects on games companies than might be expected based on the positive data at first glance. Every third company surveyed (33 per cent) has had to postpone projects or game publications because of the pandemic. In addition, almost 1 company in 5 (18 per cent) has deferred investments due to the pandemic. Furthermore, nearly one fifth of the companies surveyed (19 per cent) have been forced to seek other means of funding as a response to the pandemic.

Information on game’s industry barometer
The members of game – the German Games Industry Association are surveyed once a year for game’s industry barometer. Our 320-plus members include game developers, publishers and many other games industry actors such as esports event organisers, educational establishments and service providers.

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

Gaming Realms expands into Switzerland through tie-up with Swiss Casinos

Published

2 days ago

February 12, 2026

Wladimir P.

gaming-realms-expands-into-switzerland-through-tie-up-with-swiss-casinos

Gaming Realms, the inventor of the distinctive Slingo format, has strengthened its international standing by launching its market presence in Switzerland with top operator Swiss Casinos.

The provider’s renowned Slingo game is now accessible to local players for the first time, offering an engaging gaming experience that combines the thrill of slots with strategy.

Games with demonstrated worldwide success and a large fanbase, like Slingo Sweet Bonanza, Slingo Da Vinci Diamonds, and Slingo Gold Cash, are now accessible to patrons of Swiss Casinos, a top online casino brand in Switzerland.

The latest market entry represents another significant accomplishment for Gaming Realms, as the provider has recently broadened its presence to new areas in Europe.

Mariachiara Lagravinese, Regional Account Manager at Gaming Realms, said: “Entering the Swiss market for the first time marks another milestone in our global growth strategy across regulated markets.

“Swiss Casinos is a renowned operator with a deep understanding of the local landscape, making them the ideal partner to introduce our unique content to Swiss players.”

Patrick Mastai, Managing Director Online Casino at Swiss Casinos, said: “Partnering with Gaming Realms is a testament to our commitment to delivering world-class gaming content to our customers.

“Their Slingo titles have a proven track record of global success, and we are proud to be the first operator offering these games in Switzerland. Titles like Slingo Sweet Bonanza and Slingo Gold Cash provide exactly the kind of high-quality, engaging variety our players have come to expect from us, and we look forward to a successful partnership.”

The post Gaming Realms expands into Switzerland through tie-up with Swiss Casinos appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Central Europe

Hölle Games Partners with DAZN Bet

Published

3 days ago

February 11, 2026

Wladimir P.

Hölle Games has expanded its footprint in the German online gaming market through a new partnership with DAZN Bet (daznbet.de), an innovative sports betting and entertainment platform.

This collaboration marks a significant milestone in Hölle Games’ ongoing growth within Germany. Having already established a strong presence in the regulated market, the addition of DAZN Bet as a distribution partner ensures that even more players will have access to Hölle Games’ portfolio of visually striking, character-driven slot titles.

Through daznbet.de, German players can now enjoy a broad selection of Hölle Games’ top-performing titles, which blend classic slot inspiration with contemporary visuals and smooth, intuitive gameplay. Developed in Germany, Hölle Games’ content is known for its attention to detail, local market resonance and commitment to player entertainment.

Robert Lenzhofer, CEO of Hölle Games, said: “We’re incredibly proud to see our games featured on DAZN Bet, a brand that is revolutionizing how fans engage with sports and entertainment. This partnership is another step in strengthening our local presence and making our uniquely German-crafted slots more accessible to players nationwide. At Hölle Games, we take great pride in combining creativity with compliance — building experiences that resonate with players while meeting the highest regulatory standards.”

Daniel Berthold, EVP Growth Markets at DAZN Bet, said: “We’re thrilled to enhance our offering with Hölle Games’ impressive portfolio. Their content is a perfect match for our mission to deliver high-quality, engaging, and locally relevant entertainment to the German market. We’re confident our players will enjoy the unique craftsmanship that Hölle Games brings to the table.”

The partnership underlines Hölle Games’ commitment to strengthening its relationships with key regulated operators in Europe and reinforces DAZN Bet’s reputation for delivering diverse, premium gaming content tailored to local preferences.

The post Hölle Games Partners with DAZN Bet appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Central Europe

Poland to Classify Gambling Streaming as Serious Crime

Published

2 weeks ago

February 3, 2026

Wladimir P.

poland-to-classify-gambling-streaming-as-serious-crime

The Polish Parliament is considering a landmark draft law to curb harmful digital content, specifically targeting the phenomenon known as “patostreaming.”

Patostreaming is recognised as a new term to categorise criminal offences related to the broadcasting of online violence, abuse and sexually degrading content.

The proposed legislation would criminalize the broadcasting of violence, abuse, and sexually degrading material. Additionally, the bill seeks to outlaw the promotion of online gambling by social media influencers. By amending the Penal Code, supporters aim to bridge the legal gap between digital behaviour and offline criminal acts, ensuring online offenders face the same accountability as those in the physical world.

The bill carries the backing of ministers of Poland’s new Civic Coalition (KO) government, formed in late 2025 by the union of the Citizens Platform (PO), Modern (Nowoczesna) and the Polish Initiative (iPL).

Supporters call for clearer enforcement powers to treat the online broadcasting of serious criminal acts as a punishable offence, aligning digital conduct with crimes already sanctioned offline.

If adopted, the legislation would introduce prison sentences ranging from three months to five years for individuals who publicly share real or staged content depicting serious criminal acts via online platforms.

The same penalty range would also apply to influencers found to be illegally promoting online gambling activity that remains heavily restricted under Poland’s state-controlled gambling regime.

KO ministers have framed the initiative as part of a broader effort to strengthen online protections for Polish youth, citing rising exposure to violent digital content and illegal gambling promotions across social media platforms.

The post Poland to Classify Gambling Streaming as Serious Crime appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.