Swedish GameS industry: game Developer Index
Reports are also available in Swedish.
Illustration: Alice Persdotter Rydberg
Despite concerns about delays after the pandemic, the report shows an increase in revenue and the number of new companies and employees. 44% of new recruits were women. In total, games made in Sweden have been downloaded nearly seven billion times, and major Swedish game titles regularly top the download and sales lists.
"Swedish video games is an export industry that operates on a largely global market. Growth in the industry occurs both in established companies, in new businesses, and in creating new games and IP. This year's numbers show how well the Swedish industry is doing in this global economic situation," says Johanna Nylander, Head of Policy & Analytics at the Swedish Games Industry.
The video game industry has grown by 1,348 employees to a total of 7,944 employees in Sweden, an increase of 20%. For the first time ever, Swedish game companies have a higher turnover through their foreign subsidiaries than in the domestic industry. In 2021, Swedish companies' sales from foreign subsidiaries amounted to SEK 31.4 billion compared to sales of SEK 27.5 billion in Sweden. These numbers also mean that Swedish-developed video games now account for 4.1% of Sweden’s total service exports.
The annual report Game Developer Index shows Sweden reaching new heights. The 2020 numbers, aggregated and analysed in this report, shows 40% growth in volume compared to 2019.
• Sweden is famous for many games such as Minecraft, Battlefield, Candy Crush and many many more, as every 8th person in the world has played a game made my Swedes.
•Swedish games industry revenues grew to EUR 2.3 billion in 2019, an increase of 24%.
• Almost every fifth employee in game development in Sweden is a woman, 1,226 in total. Overall, the game companies employ 2,079 women, representing 23% - an increase of 22% compared to last year.
• A majority of companies are profitable and the sector in total is profitable for the eleventh year in a row.
• Swedish game companies are growing and employing a total of 9,178 people, of which 5,925 are employed nationally. The difficulty in recruiting Swedish staff remains and many companies are expanding through acquisition of foreign development studios. In Sweden, the number of employees increased by 605, an increase of 11%.
• There are 51 new companies, making the total 435 active companies, an increase of 13%.
• 46 new mergers and acquisitions, with a known total value of EUR 425 million, were reported in 2019. Swedish companies were the purchaser in 36 of the deals and in 21 cases the seller.
• Between January and November 2020, 38 investments and acquisitions with a total approximate value of EUR 1.3 billion were reported. Thirty-five of the deals included a Swedish company as purchaser and in only 9 cases a Swedish company was the seller.
• The 15 largest companies paid a total of EUR 578 million in tax on profit.
• The 15 largest companies that have reported social security contributions in their accounts have paid wage taxes of over 100 million EUR in total.
The Swedish Games Industry increased with 33% in 2018! The latest analysis of Swedish Game Companies.
Over 1.000 new jobs within a year! The latest growth analysis of Swedish game companies 2017-2018.
Analysis of the Swedish game industry 2016-2017.
Swedish game developers continue to grow. Read about key figures, growth and industry trends in the latest Game Developer Index.
Swedish game developers continue to grow. Read about key figures, growth and industry trends in the latest Game Developer Index.
The Swedish video game boom continues with almost 80 percent growth. Every tenth person in the world has at one point played a Swedish game.
Where is 2013? Starting with this report, we decided to change the numbering to signify the publishing year rather than the year the figures are taken from.
Swedish game development continues its incredible growth, amassing a 60% inrease in turnover to well over 414 million euro.
Swedish game developers turnover nearly doubled in 2011 with a 96 % growth to 2,32 billion SEK.
This report provides an analysis of the industry and the people that work in it.
Game Developer Index 2009 covers 101 Swedish studios with a total turnover of 1 billion and 1100 people working in the industry.
Game Developer Index 2008 covers 104 Swedish studios. The turnover for the game developers increased with 21 percent to 1,2 billion SEK.