What Game Only does

Game Only is a non-profit industry association headquartered in Lyon, France, that represents the video game industry cluster of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. It serves more than 124 member organizations — including AAA studios such as Ubisoft Annecy, Arkane Lyon, Bandai Namco, and EA France, as well as indie studios, training schools, and partner institutions — acting as their collective representative to regional and national public authorities.

The association operates a portfolio of member-facing services built around the video game value chain. These include the Club RH HR support service, the Bertie professional training center (co-developed with Capital Games and now extended to Paris), the Let's GO startup incubator (launched January 2021), the Jyros environmental-impact calculator, and export-support programs. It also produces owned content and events, notably the Game Only Day annual conference launched in 2024 and Game Créalab.

Its business model is that of a French industry association: recurring membership dues from 124+ member organizations, supplemented by fee-for-service or co-funded activity through programs such as Let's GO and Bertie, and by regional public funding tied to initiatives such as the €5M Région Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes industry fund. Revenue mechanics are therefore diversified across membership, services, and public co-financing rather than concentrated in a single commercial product line.

Name

Game Only

Legal name

Association Game Only

Website

https://gameonly.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Game Only is a non-profit industry association based in Lyon, France, representing 124+ video game studios, schools, and partners in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region through collective advocacy, training, incubation, HR, and event services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Video Game Industry Association Services

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Accessibility & Compliance Services (A11y Testing, Ratings, Privacy/Regulatory) (MPAFAKAO)

Keywords

• Video game association
• Industry consortium services
• Studio incubation programs
• Carbon footprint calculator
• Professional training center

Headquarters

HQ city

Lyon

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Game Only collects annual membership fees from active members (video game companies based in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes) and partner members (advisors, schools, training organizations). Fee tiers are based on company revenue, ranging from €250 HT (under €50K revenue) to €5,500 HT (over €10M revenue). Partner fees range from €320 HT (universities/associations) to €1,800 HT (companies/counsels).
2. Incubator Programme Fees: The Let's GO incubator charges €390 HT per month per structure. The first year of membership to the Game Only association is included in the incubation package.
3. Club RH Subscription: The Club RH membership is priced at €429 HT per year, offering HR resources, bimestrial sessions, newsletters, a private LinkedIn exchange group, shared drive, annual Club RH day, and an HR hotline via GlobalPaie.
4. Public Grants and Support: Game Only receives operational support from public bodies including the Région Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, the DREETS, and participates in national consortium projects funded under France 2030 and Europe Creative MEDIA programme.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels13 records

Core offering

Game Only is a non-profit industry association serving video game companies in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of France. It provides membership-based collective services spanning financing navigation, international export support, HR resources (Club RH), professional training (Bertie), environmental impact measurement (Jyros), and a studio incubator (Let's GO). The association represents the regional ecosystem to public authorities and operates national consortium projects with peer associations.

Product overview

Game Only is a regional video game industry association (not a product company) serving companies engaged in video game design, development, and commercialization in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France. Its portfolio of services includes the Let's GO incubator for independent studio creators, the Club RH HR membership service, the Bertie training center (co-created with Capital Games), and the Jyros environmental measurement tool (developed through a national consortium). The association also organizes professional events including the annual Game Only Day conference, Meet-ups Métiers professional meetups, Game Créalab creative residency, and seasonal social events (Winter & Summer Parties).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Let's Go: Incubator dedicated to video game studio creators
• Club RH
• JYROS
• Bertie
• Greentober

Products and services

• Let's GO Incubator An annual incubator programme for early-stage video game studio founders, providing personalized mentorship, masterclasses on financing, business strategy, production, and communication, plus studio visits and professional event attendance. Priced at €390 HT per month per structure, with the first year of Game Only association membership included.
• Club RH An HR resources and networking subscription service for HR professionals and CFOs in video game studios, offering 6 bimonthly thematic sessions, bimestrial newsletters, a private LinkedIn exchange group, a shared drive, an annual Club RH day, and an HR hotline in partnership with GlobalPaie for absences, contracts, payslips, and formalities. Priced at €429 HT per year.
• Bertie Professional Training Center A professional training centre co-created by Game Only (Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes) and Capital Games (Île-de-France), offering inter-company, intra-company, and bespoke training programmes for video game and animation professionals across France, primarily in Paris and Lyon. Includes training on Jyros usage and environmental transition.
• Jyros Environmental Impact Calculator A self-serve carbon accounting and environmental impact measurement tool specifically designed for the video game industry. Enables studios to measure and report greenhouse gas emissions across development, distribution, and gameplay usage phases. Aligns with SGA methodologies and ADEME standards and supports CSRD compliance. Used by 355 companies with 1,000+ carbon accounts created.
• Game Only Day Annual Conference An annual one-day conference bringing together 100+ video game industry actors from Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and across France for thematic roundtables (e.g., small games market trends, platformization, IP power, AI impact on production chains), networking, and inspiration. Features 4+ conferences and 10+ speakers per edition.
• Meet-ups Métiers Recurring professional meetup events connecting video game professionals around specific technical and business topics (e.g., technical debt, architecture). Includes professional encounters, co-development sessions, and expert roundtables for peer-level exchange.
• Game Créalab A video game concept writing residency in Lyon hosting creative teams with projects at the conception stage. Accompanies project carriers to evolve their initial proposal toward greater coherence and maturity before presentation to the video game ecosystem.
• Winter & Summer Parties Annual social networking events celebrating summer and winter with association members, providing opportunities for relaxed networking and exchange among video game industry professionals in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes.

Quantifiable outcome

• 800M€ industry revenue and 8,500+ full-time jobs in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes (2023)
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers33 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and support.

• Sustainable Games Alliance (SGA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Game Only became a member of the Sustainable Games Alliance (SGA), a global non-profit organization bringing together studios, publishers, associations, and experts to reduce the environmental impact of the video game industry. Present in more than 10 countries (7 in Europe), SGA defines carbon reporting methodologies aligned with the EU CSRD, centralizes carbon data, facilitates best practice sharing, and advocates for sustainability in policy discussions. For Jyros, SGA membership enables participation in the standardization of GHG measurement and reporting, particularly on game distribution and usage, and contributes to European and global expansion of the tool.
• Playing for the Planet (P4P)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Game Only joined Playing for the Planet (P4P), supported by the UN Environment Programme. P4P brings together major industry players (from Rovio to Ubisoft to Supercell) committed to reducing their environmental footprint. Game Only has joined the eco-design working group and participated in workshops on game usage evaluation. P4P publishes practical guides (including on responsible gaming events), runs thematic working groups (eco-design, environmental storytelling, decarbonization, sustainable packaging/marketing), develops tools (a simplified emissions calculator, comparative carbon solution analysis), and organizes Green Game Jams where participating studios integrate environmental awareness content into their games.
• Capital Games (Île-de-France)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Bertie is a professional training centre created by Game Only (Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes) and Capital Games (Île-de-France). It offers training dedicated to video game and animation professionals across France, primarily located in Paris and Lyon. Bertie provides inter-company, intra-company, and bespoke training programmes, covering Jyros environmental measurement training and broader industry skill development.
• National Consortium (8 regional associations + SELL + SNJV)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe National Consortium for the Video Game Industry brings together 8 regional associations (Game In, Capital Games, East Games, Push Start, SO Games, Collectif Bouftang, Atlangames, Game Only) and two national trade unions (SELL, SNJV) to create coordinated national impact. The consortium launched Jyros (environmental calculator) and Bertie (training), conducts a national skills diagnosis, and coordinates industry positions for national policy advocacy.
• GlobalPaiesupportImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGame Only's Club RH offers an HR Hotline in partnership with GlobalPaie, providing members with expert HR support (absences, contracts, payslips, formalities) and social law guidance. The service offers personalized assistance, expert support, 4 hours of shared monthly assistance, and guaranteed response within 48 working hours, Monday to Friday 8:30–17:30.
• Business FrancesupportGTM or Marketing PartnerBusiness France is an international investment and export agency. Game Only collaborates with Business France on the Discovery Tour (2-day immersive visits of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes video game ecosystem for Business France delegations), international missions (Lithuania), and export promotion. Game Only also trained Business France's international business development staff on the French video game industry and ICC sector.
• Aderly (Agence de Développement Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes)supportGTM or Marketing PartnerAderly is the regional development agency for Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. It partners with Game Only to promote the region as a destination for video game investment and talent attraction, including through the Discovery Tour and export support missions.
• Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes EntreprisessupportGTM or Marketing PartnerAuvergne-Rhône-Alpes Entreprises is a regional business support organization. It partners with Game Only on the Plan de Développement International (PDI), providing up to 50% reimbursement of eligible expenses (accommodation, transport, accreditation) for member companies participating in international trade show missions.
• Jyros (tool developed by the Consortium)coreTechnology or IntegrationJyros is the environmental impact calculator developed under the National Consortium (funded by France 2030). Game Only leads the Jyros project and employs Geoffrey Marmonier (Responsable du projet Jyros) and Chloé Coudray (Chargée de promotion et commercialisation) to drive adoption. Jyros centralizes carbon measurement for the French video game industry, with 1,000+ accounts created and 355 companies using the platform (55% studios).
• Ambition Jeu VidéosupportStrategic or Co-development PartnerAmbition Jeu Vidéo is an association created to address the lack of social and gender diversity in the video game industry. Founded by Game In and supported by the national consortium, it conducts diagnostic studies of the sector and promotes inclusion. Game Only participates in its initiatives and references it as part of its national consortium actions on diversity.
• GamesplanetsupportTechnology or IntegrationGamesplanet (pioneer French digital game distributor) is a partner in Jyros eco-design methodology development and the Eco Gaming Score initiative. Pierre Forest (co-founder) collaborates with Game Only on ecodesign measurement standards and the ADEME methodology for environmental impact of video games.
• Push Start / SNJVsupportStrategic or Co-development PartnerPush Start and SNJV (Syndicat National du Jeu Vidéo) co-produce the national skills and training diagnostic with the consortium. Game Only participates in this diagnostic initiative supported by France 2030 (Caisse des Dépôts).

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• SELL (Syndicat des Éditeurs de Logiciels de Loisirs): National French publisher trade body. Member of the National Consortium alongside Game Only and the regional associations; operates at the national level with a publisher-focused mandate.
• SNJV (Syndicat National du Jeu Vidéo): National trade union for the French video game industry. Co-participant in the National Consortium with Game Only and a broader policy advocate at the national level, providing complementary (not directly competing) industry representation.
• UKIE: UK Interactive Entertainment trade body representing the British video game industry. International peer offering a comparable suite of industry services (advocacy, export, training, sustainability) at a national scale.

Direct peers

• Capital Games: Île-de-France regional video game industry association and co-developer of the Bertie training center with Game Only. Most direct peer given shared mission, national consortium partnership, and joint product ownership.
• Push Start: Regional video game association for Nouvelle-Aquitaine, part of the National Consortium. Provides directly comparable services to studios in its region and competes for national funding and visibility.
• Game In: Regional video game industry association covering Bretagne and Pays de la Loire. Sister association in the National Consortium offering the same suite of services (financing, export, RSE) to studios in its territory.
• SO Games: South-West France regional video game association, also part of the National Consortium. Directly comparable service offering targeting studios in its territorial scope.
• Atlangames: Atlantic-region video game trade association, National Consortium member. Comparable regional model providing collective services to video game studios in its area.
• East Games: Grand Est regional video game industry association, fellow National Consortium member. Comparable mission supporting studios with funding navigation, networking, and ecosystem development.

Regional players

• Collectif Bouftang: Regional video game collective focused on independent studios in northern France, part of the National Consortium. Comparable grass-roots model but with a smaller indie-focused scope than Game Only.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/GameOnlyFr
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@gameonly8850
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php?id=100063545439886
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/game-only

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Game Only