Regional Association Calls For an Own Identity in Games and XR in Saxony

Just a few days ago, the association drew up a list of demands for Thuringia. Now, Games & XR Mitteldeutschland has presented a position paper for Saxony. The paper was prompted by the opening of the R42 Games Hub in Leipzig. The hub had already been partially opened in recent months but is now fully operational. In the regional association’s view, this also marks the completion of the industry’s initial development phase in Saxony. The future of games and XR in Saxony therefore requires consistent strategic development.

“Saxony is on the rise. We are bucking the national trend of studio closures and, through a long-term, astute location policy, are succeeding in maintaining a stable environment for businesses in the Free State. But we cannot rest on our laurels!” says Friedrich Lüder, Chairman of the Board of Games & XR Mitteldeutschland.

The association considers five points to be essential for building on the sector’s distinct profile in Saxony:

• Anchor Applied Interactive Technologies as a key future technology within the Free State of Saxony’s digital and innovation strategy – particularly at the interfaces with Saxony’s key industries
• Further develop targeted funding – introduce a multi-tiered funding system
• Consolidate and strategically expand the games and XR sector in Saxony – with a clear commitment to games as an independent medium and driver of economic value creation
• Build a cluster structure with regional focal points, e.g. Leipzig (games & XR productions), Dresden (XR/Deep Tech), Chemnitz (industrial applications)
• Secure skilled workers and increase international visibility (expansion of training and global location marketing)

Within the Central Germany region, which also includes Thuringia and Saxony-Anhalt, Saxony has the highest number of companies in the games industry. At gamescom 2025, Saxony also had its own booth, where it presented the ‘Next Level: Saxony’ platform.