German games market rose 4% in 2025 to €9.4bn, driven by hardware sales

March 28, 2026 - 01:44

The German video game market experienced a significant upswing in 2025, with total revenue climbing by 4% to reach €9.4 billion. This positive growth was primarily driven by a surge in hardware sales, which offset a slight decline in revenue generated from game software and in-game purchases.

Industry analysts point to the highly anticipated launches of major new gaming systems as the key catalyst for this expansion. The arrival of the Nintendo Switch 2 console and devices like the ROG Ally, which offers portable access to the Xbox ecosystem, created substantial consumer excitement and spending. These new products spurred both upgrades from existing gamers and attracted new entrants to the market.

While hardware sales provided the momentum, the software segment, encompassing both physical and digital game sales, saw a modest contraction. This trend reflects a market in a transitional phase, where consumers are investing in new platforms with the expectation of a strong software lineup to follow. The overall health of the market remains strong, demonstrating the enduring appeal of interactive entertainment in Germany. The successful hardware cycle of 2025 is expected to lay a solid foundation for continued growth in software and services in the coming years.