House of Games Berlin Makes Progress and Responsibility for Games Policy Consolidated

The House of Games Berlin is now in the implementation phase. As planned, Wista, a state-owned company and property operator, has taken over full responsibility for the project since the beginning of the year. The lighthouse project is scheduled to open in 2026. At the start of the new year, responsibility for games policy within the Berlin Senate was centralised within the Senate Department for Economics, Energy and Public Enterprises. Currently, construction work is underway and discussions with potential tenants are taking place. According to the current planning, the first spaces should be ready for occupation in the second half of the year.

Since 2022, medianet berlinbrandenburg e. V. (medianet), acting as project coordinator on behalf of the Senate Chancellery, has been working alongside game - the German Games Industry Association and Ubisoft Berlin as anchor tenants to make the project possible. The Senate Chancellery was responsible for the conceptual development of the preparation and construction phases, as well as providing the financing. During the preparation phase, Wista was brought on board as the developer and operator of the House of Games Berlin.

Kai Wegner, Governing Mayor of Berlin, said: "The games and development industry is already an important economic factor in Berlin, with an annual turnover of around €250 million and over 3,000 employees. We want to harness this potential and secure Berlin's position as Germany's leading games location in the long term. With the House of Games, we are creating a hub in Berlin for games companies, publishers and creative minds from Germany and around the world. I would like to thank everyone who has made the House of Games Berlin possible - I look forward to its opening soon!"

Franziska Giffey, the Mayor and Senator for Economics, Energy, and Public Enterprises, said: "The Berlin games industry has long been an important and highly innovative sector of the economy. It is therefore a logical step for the Senate to now place Berlin's games policy entirely under the aegis of the economic administration. With the House of Games Berlin, we are creating a place where all the key figures in the industry can come together, not only in Berlin, but as a nationwide contact point. Through initiatives like the House of Games and substantial games funding from the Medienboard, we aim to further solidify Berlin's standing as a leading location for the games industry. I would like to thank everyone involved for their successful work on the House of Games Berlin so far, particularly the medianet network association, the game association and Ubisoft. We are in the final stages of opening this unique landmark for GamesCapitalBerlin and Germany."

Jeannine Koch, Chairwoman of medianet berlinbrandenburg, says: "Over the past four years, medianet berlinbrandenburg has strategically designed and led the operational implementation of the House of Games Berlin on behalf of the Berlin Senate Chancellery, thereby laying the central foundations for this flagship Berlin project. Through targeted national and international networking and intensive public relations work, we have successfully positioned the House of Games Berlin as a prominent future project for the games and creative industries in the capital region from an early stage. With Wista GmbH taking over the future operation of the House of Games Berlin, an important next step in the implementation of this Berlin project has been taken."

Roland Sillmann, Managing Director of Wista Management, says: "After carrying out decisive preparatory work for the House of Games Berlin in the preparatory phase, we are delighted to now take the helm for the concrete implementation. Together with the two anchor tenants, game and Ubisoft, as well as many other prospective tenants, we will take the final steps towards opening and establish the House of Games Berlin as a beacon for the games industry."