Politics

Esports

Bundestag Approves Non-Profit Status for Esports, game and ESBD Celebrate

In today's tax amendment session of the Bundestag, the non-profit status for esports, in talks since 2018, has finally been approved. Now, only the final yes of the Bundesrat on 19 December is missing. ESBD president Flato and game MD Falk approve of the changes.

By Pascal Wagner • 1 min read

Business

Bisalina Speedruns Raises €16k, Breaking Annual Record

More than 16,000 euros for Amnesty International in one evening: The Bisalina Speedruns event on 22 November has raised more than the full event series collected over the course of 2024. Now organiser Lucina Hum is poised for the future.

By Pascal Wagner • 2 min read

Business

How Policymakers Are Researching The Environmental Potential of Games

Sustainable game development is no mere PR issue for the industry. Increasingly, the public recognises the need for one of the biggest, fastest growing industry and culture sectors to become greener. The basis for this is extensive research that could benefit the industry greatly.

By Pascal Wagner • 3 min read

Business

Bavaria Finances Its Own Games Location Study

Bavarian Digital Minister Mehring is awarding 42,000 euros additional funding to Games/Bavaria for a game location study about the state, as basis for coming funding strategies. Results are expected in 2026. The study will be outsourced to Goldmedia.

By Pascal Wagner • 1 min read

Business

Video Games Europe and USK Respond to EU Consultation on Digital Fairness Act

The Digital Fairness Act could bring about lasting change to the gaming business, particularly in the free-to-play segment. This is another reason why it is important for the industry to get involved in the legislative process, as Video Games Europe and USK have done.

By Stephan Steininger • 2 min read

Business

UK Government: Payment Processors Can Ban What They Want

After a petition reached the necessary signatures, Starmer's UK government commented on the NSFW bans payment processors pressured storefronts into. According to the UK treasury, payment processors are in the right and the government has no plans to step in. This puts the government in direct contrast to

By Pascal Wagner • 2 min read

Business

Games Bavaria Munich Welcomes the Increase in Funding for Games

Games Bavaria Munich e.V. is grateful to the Bavarian government for its clear commitment to the games industry. Doubling funding for games would stimulate growth and innovation at Bavarian studios. Games Bavaria Munich e.V. welcomes the recent announcement of an increase in funding for the Bavarian games industry,

By Marcel Kleffmann • 1 min read

Esports

Esports Clubs to Be Treated as Non-Profit Organisations From the Beginning of 2026 in Germany

Following initial issues with the first draft at the start of the week, the final government draft on the non-profit status of esports has been met with widespread approval from game - Verband der deutschen Games-Branche, the E-Sport-Bund Deutschland (ESBD) and the Landessportbund Nordrhein-Westfalen. From 1 January 2026, esports clubs

By Marcel Kleffmann • 3 min read

Esports

"The Draft Bill on Esports Non-Profit Status Creates More Problems Than It Solves."

The draft bill on the 2025 Tax Amendment Act, prepared by the German Federal Ministry of Finance, contains an approach to the non-profit status of esports in Germany for the first time. However, according to game - the German Games Industry Association, the E-Sport-Bund Deutschland e.V. (ESBD) and the

By Marcel Kleffmann • 2 min read

Campus

Bertelsmann Stiftung Study Explores the Democratic Potential of Gaming Communities

"Gaming communities are anything but apolitical" is one of the findings of the Bertelsmann Stiftung's study, "Spielräume für Demokratie - Potenziale und Spannungsfelder im Gaming" (Room for Democracy: Potential and Areas of Tension in Gaming). In Germany, gaming is generally regarded as either an

By Marcel Kleffmann • 3 min read

Campus

bpb Launches Handbook Gaming & Rightwing-Extremism

German Federal Agency for Civic Education bpb has officially released their Handbook Gaming & Rightwing-Extremism today in a presentation hosted by the Peace Research Institute Frankfurt. The German Federal Agency for Civic Education (Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung, bpb) has officially launched their anthology called Handbook Gaming & Rightwing-Extremism  today in

By Pascal Wagner • 1 min read

Business

Update: UK Boosts Creative Industries, UKIE and TIGA Welcome Commitment

The 10-year vision for the UK as a modern industrial location presented on 23 Juni brings concrete funding commitments for the British creative and games industries. Both industry associations, UKIE and TIGA, are delighted. As we have only just discovered, in addition to its press release on Friday, the British

By Stephan Steininger • 4 min read