Central Europe
Germany: Sales revenues from paid online services for games rises significantly once again
• 461 million euros generated by fees from online services
• More than 5 million people in Germany pay for online services
• German games industry tops 6-billion-euro mark
Sales revenue generated by fees from online services in Germany rose significantly once again. The segment grossed approximately 461 million euros in 2019, which is an increase of 30 per cent compared to 2018 (353 million euros) – and even that year, the segment had nearly doubled, with growth of 97 per cent. These are the figures released today by game – the German Games Industry Association, based on data collected by the market research company GfK. Fee-based online services are currently available in multiple versions and for a range of different gaming platforms. For example, services on consoles including Nintendo Switch Online, PlayStation Plus and Xbox Live Gold offer options such as playing online with and against other players, saving games in the cloud and receiving discounts on games and expansions. Subscription services for PC such as Origin Access Premier (EA) and Uplay+ (Ubisoft) allow players to pay a fixed monthly fee to access a huge rotating library of games and to play some new games before the release date. With cloud gaming services such as Google Stadia Pro and PlayStation Now, on the other hand, gamers no longer need high-performance hardware to play titles with their full range of graphics, as the computing power to run the games is provided in the cloud. Monthly fees for online services can range from 4 to 10 euros, depending on the provider. Last year, a total of approximately 5.1 million gamers paid for these fee-based services, which is around 300,000 people more than in 2018 (4.8 million).
In Germany, growing numbers of gamers are discovering fee-based online services that give them access to an enormous selection of the latest hot titles, offers and discounts for a monthly fee. The strong growth in this segment also indicates how much the games market is currently changing: long-term access and usage rights for games are becoming much more important than purchasing individual titles,’ says Felix Falk, Managing Director of game. ‘Cloud gaming services are an interesting option for many gamers, particularly if we consider future trends and blockbuster titles that require a lot of processing power. All the heavy processing takes place in data centres, so the players themselves no longer need particularly high-performance hardware. There’s a lot going on in this budding market segment at the moment, and we expect to hear much more about it in future.’
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 takes 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 GfK, 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
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.
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.
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.
-
Esportes da Sorte4 weeks agoEsportes Gaming Brasil, the group behind Esportes da Sorte and Onabet, announces Hugo Baungartner as Executive Director for Institutional Relations and Partnerships
-
Africa4 weeks agoCross Switch Bolsters African Footprint with Strategic Partnership with Pesawise
-
Australia4 weeks ago
ACMA Imposes Fine of $500,800 on PointsBet
-
Baltics4 weeks ago
Modern Oracles & Smart Payments: Finrax’s Vision for Blockchain, AI & Beyond
-
Australia3 weeks ago
ACMA Imposes $1 Million Fine on Unibet
-
Africa3 weeks ago
QTech Games wins Leader in Online Casino at the 2025 SBEA+ Eventus Awards
-
Balkans3 weeks ago
EGT Digital at Belgrade Future Gaming 2025: Get ready to be fascinated
-
Compliance Updates4 weeks ago
Missouri Officially Begins Accepting Applications for Sports Betting Licenses
