EU games industry generated €24bn in 2024, studios reached 6,600 and workforce exceeded 95,000

Europe’s games industry continued to expand in 2024, generating €24 billion in turnover across more than 6,600 studios and a workforce of over 95,000 people. The studio base grew 5% year over year, but employment largely flattened, with layoffs and consolidation offsetting gains in several markets.

The numbers come from the European Video Game Industry Insights Report, compiled by EGDF and Video Games Europe from national association data. Because of the reporting timeline, the figures reflect 2024 activity. The report also adds Cyprus and Bulgaria to the dataset for the first time, giving a broader view of the continent’s development footprint.

Poland remained the EU’s largest game-dev and publishing employer and also led in new releases, with 450 titles published. The UK workforce reached 28,516, while Finland, Italy, and Czechia saw modest employment growth. Cyprus was highlighted as a major revenue hub at €4.3 billion, and Bulgaria was positioned as a regional center surrounded by talent from Romania and Türkiye.

For developers, the headline is mixed: the business side is still growing, but headcount is no longer keeping pace. That usually means tighter hiring, more pressure on teams to do more with less, and a market where studio formation is outpacing stable long-term employment. The report’s data points to a healthy ecosystem, but one still absorbing the effects of restructuring.