New Study Shows Growth and Baseline of Austrian Game Industry
71.3 per cent more game companies than 2018, a turnover of 188.7 million euros in 2023 and a massively important academic game landscape: A new study by the Austrian WKO's association for IT (UBIT) shines a spotlight on the Alpine republic's game industry.
from left: Wolfgang Koller (IWI), Reanne Leuning (Außenwirtschaft Austria), Alfred Harl (UBIT) and Martin Filipp (PGDA). Strasnik/FV Ubit
There is new data on the Austrian gaming market to know: a new Game Development Study 2024 by the Institute of Industrial Research (IWI) on behalf of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce's (WKO) Association for Management Consultancy, Accounting and IT (UBIT). The study is not public, but the WKO has published specific numbers in their press release from yesterday.
There is new data on the Austrian gaming market to know: a new Game Development Study 2024 by the Institute of Industrial Research (IWI) on behalf of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce's (WKO) Association for Management Consultancy, Accounting and IT (UBIT). The study is not public, but the WKO has published specific numbers in their press release from yesterday.
According to the study, around 150 companies are actively involved in game development in Austria, which corresponds to growth of 71.3 per cent over the past six years, according to a comparative study from 2018.
Strong Growth Since 2018
Austrian game developers thus generated a total economic turnover of 188.7 million euros in 2023. Around 2,260 domestic jobs are directly or indirectly initiated by Austrian game developers. Austrian game workers are mostly between 25 and 34 years old. About 80 per cent of them have a university degree.
Austrian game studios develop primarily for PC and mobile, 35 per cent say they develop for VR, 20 per cent for AR devices. Every third company in the industry has applied for public funding in the last 24 months.
Universities are Important for Austrian Juniors
The academic landscape has also been analysed in the study. There are a total of 25 university programmes for game development in Austria. Focus regions can be found in Puch near Salzburg, Hagenberg in Upper Austria, Vienna and Carinthia’s capitol Klagenfurt. Puch and Hagenberg train around 50 per cent of graduates in the Austrian gaming industry.
“Game development is a young and dynamic industry. In Austria, it is characterised by predominantly small and micro companies with an above-average number of young, well-trained and highly motivated specialists. The economic performance and impetus as well as the economic effects of the industry on the domestic economy are characterised by growth,” comments Wolfgang Koller of the IWI.
“Being an enabler means recognising the value of our companies‘ work,” Alfred Harl, Chairman of the UBIT trade association, says. “Austria will only be fit for the future in the course of digitalisation if the transformation is also successful in terms of jobs. In order to combat the shortage of skilled labour, policymakers need to turn many screws. From training to attractiveness to protect against emigration to retaining valuable key employees.”
“Skilled workers and companies from Austria in the gaming sector are in high demand worldwide. Austria already has a high level of training in this area. Keeping these graduates in Austria is a great opportunity for the location and the economy,” says Reanne Leuning, Außenwirtschaft Austria, on the export quota and the international importance of the industry.
“Austria is still a very traditional country - also on the labour market. Many young, well-educated people are now entering the labour market with new dynamism in areas that will reshape the economy and industry in the future. This includes the gaming industry,” adds Martin Filipp from the Pioneers of Game Development Austria (PGDA) association. “But we don't just have game developers and programmers. We provide expertise and technology to rethink and develop cross-industry processes.”
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According to the study, around 150 companies are actively involved in game development in Austria, which corresponds to growth of 71.3 per cent over the past six years, according to a comparative study from 2018.
Strong Growth Since 2018
Austrian game developers thus generated a total economic turnover of 188.7 million euros in 2023. Around 2,260 domestic jobs are directly or indirectly initiated by Austrian game developers. Austrian game workers are mostly between 25 and 34 years old. About 80 per cent of them have a university degree.
Austrian game studios develop primarily for PC and mobile, 35 per cent say they develop for VR, 20 per cent for AR devices. Every third company in the industry has applied for public funding in the last 24 months.
Universities are Important for Austrian Juniors
The academic landscape has also been analysed in the study. There are a total of 25 university programmes for game development in Austria. Focus regions can be found in Puch near Salzburg, Hagenberg in Upper Austria, Vienna and Carinthia’s capitol Klagenfurt. Puch and Hagenberg train around 50 per cent of graduates in the Austrian gaming industry.
“Game development is a young and dynamic industry. In Austria, it is characterised by predominantly small and micro companies with an above-average number of young, well-trained and highly motivated specialists. The economic performance and impetus as well as the economic effects of the industry on the domestic economy are characterised by growth,” comments Wolfgang Koller of the IWI.
“Being an enabler means recognising the value of our companies‘ work,” Alfred Harl, Chairman of the UBIT trade association, says. “Austria will only be fit for the future in the course of digitalisation if the transformation is also successful in terms of jobs. In order to combat the shortage of skilled labour, policymakers need to turn many screws. From training to attractiveness to protect against emigration to retaining valuable key employees.”
“Skilled workers and companies from Austria in the gaming sector are in high demand worldwide. Austria already has a high level of training in this area. Keeping these graduates in Austria is a great opportunity for the location and the economy,” says Reanne Leuning, Außenwirtschaft Austria, on the export quota and the international importance of the industry.
“Austria is still a very traditional country - also on the labour market. Many young, well-educated people are now entering the labour market with new dynamism in areas that will reshape the economy and industry in the future. This includes the gaming industry,” adds Martin Filipp from the Pioneers of Game Development Austria (PGDA) association. “But we don't just have game developers and programmers. We provide expertise and technology to rethink and develop cross-industry processes.”
