Games industry threatened despite a record year
On 12 November 2025, the annual industry report the Swedish Games Industry 2025: Game Developer Index will be presented, the twentieth annual compilation of data. Despite a continuing difficult economic situation, the Swedish games industry remains strong and has had another record year. However, the industry is threatened by both ill-considered regulations and reduced access to capital.
Swedish game companies increased their revenue by 6.4% to SEK 36.8 billion in 2024. This represents growth of just over SEK 2 billion since 2023. Including subsidiaries abroad, the Swedish industry had a total revenue of SEK 73 billion. Swedish games account for 3% of Swedish service exports.
Game companies paid over two billion in corporate tax on their profits and an additional 3.7 billion in payroll taxes during the year. Employees contribute an estimated three billion in income tax and consumers contribute 1.6 billion in VAT. In total, this amounts to over ten billion SEK in tax revenue from the games industry in Sweden.
Sweden produces excellent games that players all over the world love. This is particularly evident now that we can take stock of 2024 and see that the figures are actually pointing upwards, despite the fact that it has been one of the toughest years for the industry in a long time. – Johanna Nylander, Head of Analytics at the Swedish Games Industry Association.
More companies and employees
In 2024, 105 new game companies were started in Sweden, bringing the total number of game companies to 1,101 during the year. Of these, 202 game studios had five or more employees.
Employment in the industry remained largely unchanged during the year. The global economic situation led to negative headlines about restructuring, redundancies and layoffs in 2024. Despite this, the year ended with a marginal increase of 0.5% in the number of employees. The number of women in the industry remains unchanged, and in 2024, an estimated 2,150 positions (23.5%) at game companies in the country will be held by women.
The industry is threatened by ill-considered regulations
It is not only reduced access to capital that threatens the industry. Its success is based on the state of the global games market. New companies are regularly emerging that can reach almost the entire world's audience via digital channels. This situation is now threatened by several different proposals that could lead to fragmentation, with different territories having different rules. In Sweden and Europe, consumer authorities are pushing for new rules for in-game purchases that go against previous regulations. This poses major difficulties, as over 80% of revenue from Swedish games comes from companies that offer in-game purchases. Historically, concerns and criticism have been successfully addressed by market players.
The proposal from the EU consumer authorities would force game developers to compromise the overall player experience. We believe this would be detrimental to players, the industry and, where applicable, parents. The authorities should be working with the industry, but instead they are now posing a threat to the games industry. – Per Strömbäck, Head of Secretariat at the Swedish Games Industry Association.
What else has been happening in the industry?
In addition to figures and statistics, the report also covers important topics, trends and external developments in the games industry.
Swedish Achievements During the Year – about the biggest game releases, awards and cultural events.
Sustainability – about the industry's climate impact, parental tools and the positive effects of playing games.
Dreams for the Future – about how some of the game developers in Sweden view the industry's development in twenty years' time.
Threats and Challenges – about the challenges the industry needs to address in order for growth to continue.
About ‘Swedish Games Industry 2025: Game Developer Index'
The ‘Swedish Games Industry 2025: Game Developer Index’ is an annual industry report that maps, reports, and analyses Swedish game developers’ activities and international trends by compiling the companies' annual reports. The report compiles the Swedish companies' most recently reported operating year (2024).
About the Swedish Games Industry
The Swedish Game Industry Association is the trade organisation for video game companies in Sweden. We represent the industry as a whole from game developers, publishers, distributors, education, academia, and supporting functions.
Download the report here or click on the image below.
