German Games Industry Association

What German Games Industry Association does

game – Verband der deutschen Games-Branche e.V. (the German Games Industry Association) is a registered industry association (eingetragener Verein) headquartered in Berlin, founded in its current form in 2018 through the merger of BIU and the predecessor GAME association. It represents 500+ member companies across the German games value chain — including game development studios, publishers, esports organizers, and educational institutions — and serves as the unified political voice of the German games industry, advocating for improved framework conditions, federal funding programs, and youth protection regulation. The association is a recognized shareholder in five industry institutions: USK (the state-recognized age rating self-regulation body), Stiftung Digitale Spielekultur, the esports player foundation, its wholly-owned event subsidiary game events GmbH (formerly devcom GmbH), and the collecting society VHG (founded May 2023).

The association's core offerings center on event organization and market intelligence rather than technology products. Flagship events include gamescom — the world's largest gaming event co-organized with Koelnmesse in Cologne, drawing 357,000 visitors and 1,568 companies from 72 countries in 2023 — gamescom dev (Europe's largest developer conference), and the Deutscher Computerspielpreis (German Computer Game Awards, €800,000 prize pool co-funded with the Federal Ministry). Supporting platforms include gamesmap (company profiles), gamecampus (study programs and careers), and game Charts (monthly sales rankings based on Video Games Europe GSD data). The organization also runs the Press Start startup scholarship (€8.5M federal funding), market research publications through YouGov and Sensor Tower partnerships, and the game Sales Awards program.

Revenue is generated primarily through recurring membership dues from 500+ members, supplemented by event-related income via the game events GmbH subsidiary and federal co-funding for programs such as the DCP and Press Start. With 24 employees in its Berlin headquarters and 11 regional offices across Germany, the association operates a lean administrative structure relative to the scale of events and advocacy work it coordinates. Go-to-market is event-driven: the organization reaches its members and the broader gaming community primarily through flagship events, supplemented by its website, monthly newsletter, press releases, and active social media presence on LinkedIn, Instagram, Bluesky, Threads, and Twitch. The association does not develop proprietary technology and operates without a parent company, governed instead by an elected Executive Board and member voting.

Name

German Games Industry Association

Legal name

game – Verband der deutschen Games-Branche e.V.

Website

https://game.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

game – Verband der deutschen Games-Branche e.V. is the Berlin-based registered industry association representing 500+ German games companies, co-organizing gamescom and the German Computer Game Awards while advocating for the sector politically and publishing authoritative market data.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industry Association Services / Gaming Trade Association

NAICS

Professional Organizations (81392), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events (7113), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Venue-Owned/Operated Event Organizers (In-House Promoters) (MPAKADAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Championship & Cup Organizers (MPAKADAB), Esports & Creator Sponsorship/Brand Partnerships (Influencer Marketing for Gaming) (MPAFAEAE)

Keywords

• Industry association services
• Games industry advocacy
• Trade fair organization
• Market data services
• Esports development

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Revenue model

1. Membership dues: The association generates revenue through membership fees from its 500+ members across the games ecosystem including developers, publishers, esports organizers, and educational institutions.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

game – Verband der deutschen Games-Branche e.V. is the registered industry association representing the German games ecosystem, providing industry advocacy, political representation, market data and research, and event organization (including co-organizing gamescom, gamescom dev, and the Deutscher Computerspielpreis). It serves 500+ member companies across development studios, publishers, esports organizers, and educational institutions, and operates market data services, member platforms (gamesmap, gamecampus), and industry support initiatives such as the Press Start founding scholarship and the VHG collecting society.

Product overview

game – Verband der deutschen Games-Branche e.V. is an industry association representing the German gaming ecosystem rather than a traditional product company. Its offerings consist of event organization (gamescom, gamescom dev, German Computer Game Awards), platforms (gamesmap for company profiles, gamecampus for education), market data services (game Charts, market research), award programs (game Sales Awards, German Computer Game Awards with €800,000 prize money), and initiatives including Press Start startup scholarship, E-Sports support, and VHG collecting society.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• gamescom: The world's largest games event, co-organized by game. Held annually in Cologne, Germany, combining trade fair and public event.
• German Computer Game Awards (DCP)
• game Sales Awards
• gamescom dev
• #gamechanger
• Handbuch Gameskultur

Products and services

• gamescom The world's largest trade fair and event for interactive entertainment, held annually in August in Cologne, Germany. Co-organized by game with Koelnmesse, combining trade fair and public event elements, and serving as the flagship industry gathering for game companies worldwide.
• gamescom dev Europe's largest developer conference for game creators, industry veterans, and rising talents, featuring talks, workshops, panels, networking sessions, and matchmaking opportunities, held alongside gamescom in Cologne.
• German Computer Game Awards (Deutscher Computerspielpreis, DCP) The most important award in the German gaming industry, endowed with €800,000 in 2025 (€400,000 from BMBFTR and €400,000 from game), with awards presented jointly by the public and private sectors across 15 categories including international categories.
• game Sales Awards Sales awards recognizing commercially successful computer and video games in Germany based on Games Sales Data (GSD) sales figures, awarded in tiers including Gold, Platin, Doppel-Platin, and Multi-Platin.
• gamesmap A platform for publishing and viewing company profiles within the German games industry, enabling visibility and connections across the gaming ecosystem for member and non-member companies.
• gamecampus A platform for study programs and career opportunities within the games industry, presenting study options and enabling universities and training providers to showcase their offerings.
• VHG – Verwertungsgesellschaft für die Hersteller von Games A wholly-owned collecting society enabling game developers and publishers to claim private copy remuneration and receive payments for permitted private copies of their games, founded in May 2023.
• Press Start: Gründungsstipendium Games (Games Startup Scholarship) A scholarship program offering financial and content-related support to game developers during their studio founding phase, funded by €8.5 million from BKM and co-organized with Stiftung Digitale Spielekultur, with 132 scholarship recipients receiving 240 workshops and 1,900 mentoring hours.
• International Trade Fair Program Program organized jointly with the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action to help German game companies connect with international partners through German Pavilions at trade fairs such as Tokyo Game Show, GDC, G-Star Busan, and gamescom asia.
• game Charts Monthly charts documenting the best-selling PC and console games in Germany based on Games Sales Data (GSD) from Video Games Europe, covering both physical and digital sales across the German market.
• Membership Services (industry advocacy, market data, networking) Recurring membership program providing 500+ member companies with industry representation, policy advocacy, market research data, networking events, funding guidance, youth protection support, and access to association-organized events.

Quantifiable outcome

• 500+ companies in the games ecosystem represented
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• USK (Unterhaltungssoftware Selbstkontrolle)coreOthersgame is a shareholder in USK, the voluntary self-regulation body of the computer game industry responsible for age ratings in Germany. USK is recognized by the state as the competent self-regulation body under the Youth Protection Act and for online games under the Interstate Treaty on the Protection of Minors in the Media.
• Stiftung Digitale Spielekultur (Foundation for Digital Games Culture)coreOthersgame is the shareholder of the Foundation for Digital Games Culture, which serves as an ambassador for games and their societal opportunities. Founded in 2012, it initiates projects highlighting how games can contribute to society and builds bridges between the gaming world and political institutions.
• esports player foundationcoreOthersgame is a shareholder in the esports player foundation which brings expertise from traditional sports promotion to esports. It enables talents to pursue esports careers through dual career planning, professional training, and lifestyle support while established players receive career transition assistance.
• game events GmbHcoreOthersgame events GmbH is a subsidiary of game focused on organizing key industry events including gamescom dev (Europe's largest developer conference), German Computer Game Award (DCP), and game summerfest. Founded in 2019 as devcom GmbH and rebranded in 2024.
• VHG - Verwertungsgesellschaft für die Hersteller von Games mbHcoreOthersgame is a shareholder in VHG, the collecting society for game manufacturers founded in May 2023. It enables developers and publishers to claim private copy remuneration for permitted private copies of their games.
• YouGovminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMarket research firm providing data for the association's reports on the German gaming market, including mobile gaming revenues and user-generated content statistics.
• Sensor TowerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMarket research firm providing mobile gaming market data for the association's reports on the German gaming industry.
• Koelnmesse GmbHcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerService provider for the organization and implementation of gamescom. Koelnmesse has one of the largest exhibition grounds in Germany with 284,000 square meters. Handles logistics and venue management for gamescom.
• Federal Ministry for Research, Technology and Space (BMBFTR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal ministry co-sponsoring the Deutscher Computerspielpreis (German Computer Game Awards) with €400,000 of the €800,000 total prize money. Also funds the Press Start founding scholarship program with €8.5 million.
• Stiftung Digitale SpielekulturcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organizer with game of the Press Start founding scholarship for game developers. Provides educational and networking program for 132 scholarship recipients, including 240 workshops and 1,900 mentoring hours.
• Video Games Europe (VGE)coreTechnology or Integrationgame Charts are based on Games Sales Data (GSD), a platform launched by Video Games Europe to measure physical and digital sales of video games. game is the German representative for this European industry data initiative.
• Geoff KeighleyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHost and producer of The Game Awards who hosts gamescom: Opening Night Live, kicking off gamescom with world premieres and new product announcements.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Computer Entertainment Supplier's Association (CESA): Japanese video game industry trade association best known for organizing Tokyo Game Show. Comparable in mission and event-driven model, but operates in a different geography (Japan) with a developer/publisher base rather than a national regulatory focus.
• Asociación Española de Videojuegos (AEVI): Spanish trade association for the video game industry. Comparable in representing a national ecosystem, running industry events, and conducting market data work, but focused on the Spanish market rather than German.
• Neogames Finland: Finnish game industry association promoting the national game developer ecosystem. Comparable in mission (advocacy, education, events) but focused on a different Nordic market and smaller developer base.

Direct peers

• Interactive Games & Entertainment Association (IGEA): Australian trade association for the interactive games industry. Directly comparable in scope: national advocacy, market sizing (Digital Australia), and representing publishers and developers to government.
• UK Interactive Entertainment (UKIE): UK trade body for interactive entertainment and video games. Directly comparable as a national association providing advocacy, market data, awards (BAFTAs partnership), and events for UK game developers and publishers.
• Syndicat National du Jeu Vidéo (SNJV): French national trade association for the video game industry. Directly comparable peer representing French studios and publishers, providing advocacy, market data, and Paris Games Week-style event support.
• Entertainment Software Association (ESA): US national trade association for the video game industry representing publishers and platform holders. Closest direct analog to game in mission (advocacy, market data, E3-style flagship events), with comparable membership and government relations functions.
• European Games Developer Federation (EGDF): Federation of national game developer trade associations across Europe, of which game is a member/peer association. Directly comparable in representing developers and providing policy advocacy at the EU level.
• Interactive Software Federation of Europe (ISFE): European umbrella trade association for video game publishers; game is connected to ISFE through Games Sales Data (GSD). Comparable in providing pan-European advocacy, market data, and ratings policy work.

Others

• Koelnmesse GmbH: Operator of the Cologne exhibition grounds and service provider/co-organizer of gamescom. Included as an ecosystem partner rather than a true peer: it provides venue and operational infrastructure that game relies on for its flagship event.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/game-verband
• Instagraminstagram.com/game_verband
• Xx.com/game_verband

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles27 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about German Games Industry Association