gamescom 2026: Immense Social Potential, Indie Success Stories and Real Excitement for the Future

• 4.2 billion euros were generated in Germany from games, games hardware and online gaming services in the first half of 2026
• 6 in 10 people in Germany believe games are driving forward the technologies of the future
• 57 per cent of people in Germany say believe policymakers have so far underestimated the potential of games for civic education
• 17 million gamers in Germany play indie games
• gamescom 2026 takes place from 24 to 30 August 2026 in Cologne and online

Berlin/Cologne, 18 August 2026 – Games, online gaming services and games hardware generated 4.2 billion euros in Germany in the first half of 2026. Revenue in the German games market therefore fell by 3 per cent compared to the same period last year. game – The German Games Industry Association announced the figures today at a press conference ahead of the start of gamescom next week. The data is based on surveys by YouGov Shopper and Sensor Tower. Revenue from online gaming services rose by 3 per cent to 556 million euros in the first six months of the year. Sales of games, together with in-game and in-app purchases, remained broadly flat year on year: at around 2.3 billion euros, revenue in this segment slipped by 1 per cent. Games hardware, by contrast, saw a marked decline. Game consoles, gaming PCs and related accessories generated around 1.3 billion euros – 8 per cent less than a year earlier. This drop is down to sharply rising prices for memory and hard drives, which have pushed up the cost of games hardware and made consumers more reluctant to buy.

„This year’s gamescom is a powerful demonstration of what video games can do – as a driver of innovation, as a force for social cohesion and as a creative playground for teams large and small. The fact that a clear majority of people in Germany recognise the positive effects the games community has on community spirit, tolerance and participation confirms one thing: games don’t just spark excitement for the future, they are an important part of our society. It is high time Germany made far greater use of the wide-ranging potential of games, which benefits so many areas of life“, says Felix Falk, Managing Director of game.

Games spark excitement for the future

Wherever you look at gamescom, everything revolves around the future and the will to shape it. This focus on the future is captured in this year’s central theme ‚Games spark excitement for the future‘, and it is a view shared by many people in Germany: 6 in 10 Germans (60 per cent) say, for instance, that video games are driving forward the technologies of tomorrow. Some 62 per cent of players under the age of 25 also feel motivated by games to get involved in building a better future. Overall, around two thirds of people in Germany (65 per cent) say that games will become even more important as an entertainment medium in the years ahead.

Saving the world through play

The games community’s passion is not confined to the games themselves – it goes far beyond that, as the multi-million-euro fundraising campaigns launched by video game players show. The gamescom trend ‚Saving the world through play‘ picks up on exactly this strong social commitment. Most people in Germany recognise it too: 85 per cent see positive effects from the games community in strengthening community spirit, 83 per cent in fostering tolerance towards others and 80 per cent in inclusion and participation. These positive social effects are central to our democracy. Accordingly, more than half of people in Germany (57 per cent) say politicians have so far underestimated the potential of games in fostering democratic engagement.

Small teams, huge success

Indie games have enjoyed particular success worldwide in recent years. The gamescom trend ‚Small teams, huge success‘ reflects this development. Games from independent developers are hugely popular in Germany too: 17 million players in the country play indie games. Some 82 per cent of players find it admirable what these mostly small teams can create using modern technology. What players value most in indie games are their creative gameplay concepts (73 per cent), their stories (68 per cent) and their often distinctive visual style (65 per cent).

Games politics at gamescom

A particularly large number of leading politicians are set to attend gamescom this year. Those taking part in the Political Opening on the Wednesday of gamescom include Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission, Vice-Chancellor and Federal Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil and Federal Minister for Research and Games Dorothee Bär, as well as Hendrik Wüst, Minister-President of North Rhine-Westphalia. On the Thursday of gamescom, Frank-Walter Steinmeier will become the first German Federal President to visit gamescom, opening the gamescom congress. For gamescom, game has published a declaration entitled ‚Inspiring a positive vision of the future: unlocking the potential of games‘, in which the association calls on politicians, business and society to make greater use of the cultural, technological and economic power of games, and to make Germany and Europe more internationally competitive as a games production location.

About the data

The survey data used is based on an online survey conducted by YouGov Deutschland GmbH, in which 2,105 people took part between 21 and 28 July 2026. The results were weighted and are representative of the German population aged 16 and over.

The market data cited is based on surveys by YouGov Shopper, Nielsen IQ and Sensor Tower. YouGov Shopper uses data collection methods for the German games market that are unique in both scope and quality worldwide. These include an ongoing survey of 25,000 consumers – representative of the entire German population – on their purchasing and usage habits for digital games. These methods offer a one-of-a-kind insight into the German market for computer and video games. Market data on app and in-app purchases is collected by Sensor Tower, a leading market research company in app data analysis. Market data for games hardware was collected via a retail panel by Nielsen IQ.

Please note: the service providers have revised their methodology for capturing games hardware and app and in-app purchases and applied this to previous years as well. As a result, the revenue figures given have changed retrospectively.

About gamescom:

gamescom is the world’s biggest gaming event and the most important business platform for the international games industry. From 24 to 30 August 2026, it brings together developers, trade visitors, companies and millions of fans from around the world – on site in Cologne and digitally across the globe. The week opens on 24 August with the developer conference gamescom dev. gamescom then opens to the public on the evening of 25 August with the major opening show gamescom Opening Night Live. Throughout the week, gamescom offers a unique blend of entertainment, business and community experience. Alongside gamescom in Cologne, gamescom latam in São Paulo and gamescom asia x Thailand Game Show in Bangkok have established themselves as further successful international gamescom editions.

About the gamescom congress

The gamescom congress is the world’s leading conference on the potential of games in a digitalised world, with connections reaching far beyond the digital and media sectors. Speakers from Germany and abroad present their topics in talks, seminars and panel discussions. The gamescom congress takes place every year as part of gamescom in Cologne and is organised by Koelnmesse GmbH and game – The German Games Industry Association. The gamescom congress is funded by the state of North Rhine-Westphalia.

game – The German Games Industry Association

We are the association of the German games industry. Our members represent the entire video game ecosystem, from development studios and publishers to esports event organisers, educational institutions and other related entities. We are co-organisers of gamescom, the world’s biggest event for computer and video games. We are a shareholder in the Entertainment Software Self-Regulation Body (USK), the Foundation for Digital Games Culture, the esports player foundation, game events and the collecting society VHG, as well as co-host of the German Computer Game Awards. Serving as a central point of contact for media, as well as political and social institutions, we provide comprehensive expertise in areas including market development, game culture and media literacy, and address any inquiries or concerns. Together we are making Germany the heart of gaming worldwide. With games, we enrich the lives of all people.

---