At a visit to Nintendo of Europe's HQ in Frankfurt, Hesse Economy Minister Kaweh Mansoori met representatives of game and game Hesse and emphasised the importance of games as Hesse's biggest creative industry branch.
The German Federal state of Hesse isn’t one of those with the biggest game funding budget, but the rich state has taken several steps to further its own gaming presence. And the state has a certain location advantage to offer: With Frankfurt am Main, Hesse does not only host the German financial industry, but also important game industry companies such as Deck13 and, crucially, the Nintendo of Europe headquarters. Hesse’s Minister of Economic Affairs Kaweh Mansoori has visited Nintendo of Europe in Frankfurt at the end of last week to meet with representatives of the gaming industry in Hesse. The focus was on topics such as skilled worker development and entrepreneurship, favorable conditions for investment and growth, gaming promotion in Hesse, and the demand for tax incentives (“tax credits”) for game production in Germany. Attending were not only the managers of Nintendo of Europe, but also representatives of the German and Hessian game industry, such as Claudia Stricker and Jan Klose from game Hesse and Lars Janssen of game.
Minister of Economics Kaweh Mansoori emphasized the importance of the industry for Hesse as a center of business and technology: “With a turnover of €6.14 billion, the software and games industry is the largest submarket in Hesse's creative industries. Around 44,000 well-trained people find work here,” said the minister. “With a view to international competitiveness, we must continue to improve the framework conditions for game development, especially at the national level. In addition to regional funding, this also includes tax incentives at the federal level with the participation of the states. The Hessen Serious Game program has been very well received.” Just this August, Hesse has funded seven games with 300,000 euros in said program Hessen Serious Game.
With a turnover of €6.14 billion, the software and games industry is the largest submarket in Hesse's creative industries.
“Hesse has the potential to become one of Germany's leading gaming locations. Together with Minister of Economic Affairs Kaweh Mansoori, we want to leverage this great potential in a targeted manner. Our four demands published in February form the central basis for this,” say Claudia Stricker and Jan Klose, contact persons for the regional representation of game Hesse.
"Whether it's clear support for the introduction of tax incentives for games at the federal level, which would also significantly strengthen Hesse as a games location, or the improvements to the framework conditions announced in the Hesse coalition agreement between the CDU and SPD: games have arrived at the Minister of Economic Affairs in Hesse. This is an important signal, for which I would like to thank Minister of Economic Affairs Kaweh Mansoori, as well as for the constructive exchange," says Lars Janssen, CEO of game – the German Games Industry Association.
Mansoori’s visit at Nintendo isn’t Hesse’s last item on the games agenda in 2025. In Frankfurt and Darmstadt, two Game Hub talk series will be held in December and well into January: at kompass Frankfurt and Hub31, respectively.
