Sweden's Gaming Boom: 2024 Revenue Hits SEK 36.8 Billion
As the PGC Summit Malmö approaches on May 27th and 28th, alongside the PGC Nordics conference in Helsinki on October 20th and 21st, a fresh report on the Nordic games industry is around the corner, in collaboration with Xsolla. This report will unveil the Top 30 Nordic Game Makers list, but even without this intel, it’s clear that Sweden is a powerhouse in the gaming world. Hit titles like Landfall's Peak, Embark's Arc Raiders, and DICE's Battlefield 6 have showcased the country's remarkable output across various platforms.
According to the Swedish trade association Dataspelsbranschen’s report, the Swedish games sector saw a revenue spike of 6.4% in 2024, reaching SEK 36.8 billion. This remarkable figure represents a staggering 7,500% growth over the past two decades. When factoring in revenue from overseas subsidiaries, the total soars to SEK 73 billion, with Swedish games accounting for 3% of the nation’s service exports.
Notably, industry giants like King, the creator of Candy Crush Saga, and Mojang, the minds behind Minecraft, generated a combined revenue exceeding SEK 11 billion in Sweden for 2024. The landscape is also evolving, with 105 new gaming companies founded in 2024, bringing the total to 1,101—a 9% increase from the previous year. However, the report also highlights that around 70 companies either shut their doors, merged, or transitioned out of the gaming sector during the same period.
The industry employed 9,130 individuals in Sweden, with women making up approximately 2,150 of the workforce. The employee count saw a modest rise of 0.5% compared to 2023. Beyond Sweden, these companies employed more than 11,000 staff globally. In terms of company size, 19 firms boasted over 100 employees, while 122 had 10 or more, and 202 offered jobs to five or more individuals. In 2024, ten companies reported revenues exceeding SEK 1 billion, and 46 surpassed SEK 110 million in sales—an increase of six companies compared to the previous year.
Why it matters
Geographically, Stockholm remains the epicenter of Sweden's gaming scene, hosting 464 companies and employing 5,897 people by the end of 2024. Following closely is Skåne with 146 companies and 1,536 staff, and Västra Götaland with 156 companies and 800 employees. Despite ongoing challenges in the global gaming industry, including economic fluctuations and an increasingly competitive mobile market, Sweden's gaming sector continues to thrive with new titles and live games rolling out into 2025 and beyond. This overview is part of our upcoming Nordic games industry report, in partnership with Xsolla, where you can discover the latest regional trends and connect with leading Nordic firms at the PGC events.
Original source
PocketGamer.biz
