09.08.2023 Make Germany the best location for games! As of: August 09, 2023 The ten demands of the games industry game – The German Games Industry Association is committed to the comprehensive improvement of the framework conditions for the games industry in Germany. This is necessary to make Germany internationally competitive and successful as a games location. The core points of the political work are the following 10 demands: 1. Sustainably promote Germany as a games location Games are a cultural asset, an economic factor and a guarantor of digital innovation. If Germany wants to benefit from the resulting opportunities for the economy and society, it must catch up with international competition as a games location. The federal government’s games strategy is an important basis for this. The creation of internationally competitive framework conditions for games development is crucial for the future viability of Germany as a games location. The basis for this is reliable and internationally comparable games funding. The funding for this must be increased to 125 million euros in the short term. In addition, tax-breaks for the games industry must be introduced. Independently of this, games “made in Germany” and the games location as a whole need better visibility and networking here and internationally. 2. Games for better learning, at school and throughout life Games are more than entertainment. They can have a supporting effect in almost all areas of life, they create new approaches and encourage even better performance. Our education system must use the opportunities offered by games for digital education in schools, vocational schools, universities, in further education and for lifelong learning. The development of games for teaching must be specifically supported and promoted. Media competence and programming skills are elementary for pupils in the digital age and must be a compulsory part of teaching. 3. Strengthening games in science, research, teaching and training Research and teaching around games urgently need recognition and academic equivalence as an independent scientific discipline in the canon of established sciences. This includes more and better equipped professorships, degree programmes and research clusters, support for education and research networks, uniform accreditation standards, doctoral and post-doctoral opportunities and the establishment of a lighthouse institution “Games University” for a special international top level of games research and teaching in Germany. Such a stronger anchoring not only ensures urgently needed specialists, but also secures know-how in areas such as artificial intelligence, 3D simulation, gamification and other games technologies and concepts with which most economic sectors are already working today. 4. More commitment for games professionals The German games industry lacks highly specialised, experienced professionals. Since they are not available in sufficient numbers in Germany, the training situation must be improved and the influx of these professionals from abroad must be facilitated. In addition to simplified access conditions and active recruiting for these professionals, a positive welcoming culture is necessary with which the international experts are also received by the authorities in this country. 5. Digital infrastructure for all For successful games development, the numerous games companies in the entire ecosystem and the millions of video game players, Germany as a games location must have nationwide gigabit capability. This applies to high-performance broadband internet connections and a strong 5G network: Germany must quickly catch up on all highspeed networks and make a future-proof digital infrastructure accessible to all. 6. Youth protection: modern, convergent and internationally connectable For a modern German system for the protection of youth, the responsibilities of the federal and state governments must be fundamentally reviewed. Only in this way can we succeed in creating uniform, modern and convergent legal provisions for the protection of youth that fit the media reality of children and young people and ensure international compatibility. Many modern protection systems and technical facilities from the games industry can be a model for this. 7. Start-up support and infrastructures for games development Games hubs, with incubation and accelerator programmes, are important entrepreneurial homes for founders and an opportunity for regional business locations. They promote exchange between games companies and cooperation with other sectors that want to profit from the potential of games development. These economic and innovative effects require strong commitment and support from the states and municipalities. At the federal level, existing programmes for start-ups must be adapted for the games industry and a separate scholarship programme must be set up. 8. Provide investment security, create value As a games industry, we have developed innovative business models that are primarily geared to the needs of the video game players as well as to practicability and take into account the trust of the users in our products as a decisive factor for success. New digital business models need freedom, which is why a fair balance of interests between consumer rights and entrepreneurial freedom must also be found in the digital world. The empowerment of responsible and sovereign users must take precedence over new regulation. 9. No chance for haters, trolls and pirates: Making security authorities digitally fit too As a games industry, we stand up for diversity and tolerance every day. All video game players must resolutely work together to counter hate speech and brutal and sometimes illegal behaviour in our digital society. For effective and efficient solutions, the digital competences of the authorities must also be expanded. 10. Make Germany the best esports location We want to make Germany the best esports location. In view of the high social, cultural and economic relevance of esports, the framework conditions must be designed in the best possible way. In particular, the valuable work of clubs offering esports must be promoted and not further disadvantaged. They must therefore be recognised as non-profit organisations in the tax code. Whether esport is a sport or not is not decisive. At the same time, there needs to be more support for young talent and events in the states and local communities so that we in Germany can participate in this international phenomenon at a world level.
1. Sustainably promote Germany as a games location Games are a cultural asset, an economic factor and a guarantor of digital innovation. If Germany wants to benefit from the resulting opportunities for the economy and society, it must catch up with international competition as a games location. The federal government’s games strategy is an important basis for this. The creation of internationally competitive framework conditions for games development is crucial for the future viability of Germany as a games location. The basis for this is reliable and internationally comparable games funding. The funding for this must be increased to 125 million euros in the short term. In addition, tax-breaks for the games industry must be introduced. Independently of this, games “made in Germany” and the games location as a whole need better visibility and networking here and internationally. 2. Games for better learning, at school and throughout life Games are more than entertainment. They can have a supporting effect in almost all areas of life, they create new approaches and encourage even better performance. Our education system must use the opportunities offered by games for digital education in schools, vocational schools, universities, in further education and for lifelong learning. The development of games for teaching must be specifically supported and promoted. Media competence and programming skills are elementary for pupils in the digital age and must be a compulsory part of teaching. 3. Strengthening games in science, research, teaching and training Research and teaching around games urgently need recognition and academic equivalence as an independent scientific discipline in the canon of established sciences. This includes more and better equipped professorships, degree programmes and research clusters, support for education and research networks, uniform accreditation standards, doctoral and post-doctoral opportunities and the establishment of a lighthouse institution “Games University” for a special international top level of games research and teaching in Germany. Such a stronger anchoring not only ensures urgently needed specialists, but also secures know-how in areas such as artificial intelligence, 3D simulation, gamification and other games technologies and concepts with which most economic sectors are already working today. 4. More commitment for games professionals The German games industry lacks highly specialised, experienced professionals. Since they are not available in sufficient numbers in Germany, the training situation must be improved and the influx of these professionals from abroad must be facilitated. In addition to simplified access conditions and active recruiting for these professionals, a positive welcoming culture is necessary with which the international experts are also received by the authorities in this country. 5. Digital infrastructure for all For successful games development, the numerous games companies in the entire ecosystem and the millions of video game players, Germany as a games location must have nationwide gigabit capability. This applies to high-performance broadband internet connections and a strong 5G network: Germany must quickly catch up on all highspeed networks and make a future-proof digital infrastructure accessible to all. 6. Youth protection: modern, convergent and internationally connectable For a modern German system for the protection of youth, the responsibilities of the federal and state governments must be fundamentally reviewed. Only in this way can we succeed in creating uniform, modern and convergent legal provisions for the protection of youth that fit the media reality of children and young people and ensure international compatibility. Many modern protection systems and technical facilities from the games industry can be a model for this. 7. Start-up support and infrastructures for games development Games hubs, with incubation and accelerator programmes, are important entrepreneurial homes for founders and an opportunity for regional business locations. They promote exchange between games companies and cooperation with other sectors that want to profit from the potential of games development. These economic and innovative effects require strong commitment and support from the states and municipalities. At the federal level, existing programmes for start-ups must be adapted for the games industry and a separate scholarship programme must be set up. 8. Provide investment security, create value As a games industry, we have developed innovative business models that are primarily geared to the needs of the video game players as well as to practicability and take into account the trust of the users in our products as a decisive factor for success. New digital business models need freedom, which is why a fair balance of interests between consumer rights and entrepreneurial freedom must also be found in the digital world. The empowerment of responsible and sovereign users must take precedence over new regulation. 9. No chance for haters, trolls and pirates: Making security authorities digitally fit too As a games industry, we stand up for diversity and tolerance every day. All video game players must resolutely work together to counter hate speech and brutal and sometimes illegal behaviour in our digital society. For effective and efficient solutions, the digital competences of the authorities must also be expanded. 10. Make Germany the best esports location We want to make Germany the best esports location. In view of the high social, cultural and economic relevance of esports, the framework conditions must be designed in the best possible way. In particular, the valuable work of clubs offering esports must be promoted and not further disadvantaged. They must therefore be recognised as non-profit organisations in the tax code. Whether esport is a sport or not is not decisive. At the same time, there needs to be more support for young talent and events in the states and local communities so that we in Germany can participate in this international phenomenon at a world level.
