Polish gamedev in crisis. The government will develop a development strategy for the industry
The Ministry of Culture will develop a development strategy for the gaming industry, said the head of the ministry, Marta Cienkowska, on the occasion of the publication of a report on pre-consultations after a round table with the industry.
Gamedev in crisis
“For the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, these findings will serve as the basis for starting work on a sectoral strategy for the development of the Polish gaming industry, the creation of which has been postulated for a long time. We are currently developing a broad strategy for the entire cultural sector with a long-term perspective. I want it to be extended and its goals made more specific by sectoral strategies for individual priority industries – with the greatest development potential – which Polish gamedev can certainly be included in,” wrote Cienkowska.
The report says that the lack of systemic support in Poland limits the ability of studios to implement larger, more ambitious projects, while competitors can reduce risk and scale productions based on public funds.
“As a result, there is a growing advantage of countries that not only support exports and foreign marketing, but also actively reduce the financial risk of the industry, enabling it to expand more aggressively globally than Polish studios,” it was written.
“The effects are already visible in our national industry research. Analysis of Top 200 Steam Wishlist trends (games most expected by players) in subsequent editions of The Game Industry of Poland report shows ina clear divergence between Poland, where subsidy support ended, and Germany, which launched such support“- it was written.
Poland dropped in the rankings
The report stated that in 2021, at the end of the GameINN program's effects, Poland was the global leader: in August, there were 38 Polish titles in the Top 200, clearly more than in the United States, Canada or Great Britain. It was the moment of highest visibility of Polish indie and AA productions on Steam. In the 2023 edition, this number dropped to an average of 30.5 titles, which still gave Poland a very strong position, but already meant a clear downward trend. During the same period, Germany recorded a sharp increase: from a few titles in 2021 to 10.5 titles in 2023, which the authors of the report described as an increase of approximately 350 percent and one of the most dynamic shifts on the list.
In the latest report from 2025, this difference becomes even more pronounced. Poland drops to 12 titles in the Top 200 – from global leader to seventh – while Germany reaches 14 titles and enters the top five. This means a total increase of over 460% in the number of German games present in the Top 200 from 2021, while Poland sees a permanent decline.
“There is no doubt today that the Polish gaming industry is in crisis. The latest report, The Game Industry of Poland 2025, including data prepared by the Game Industry Conference, provide the first full picture confirming the scale of this phenomenon. Employment in the industry decreased from 15.3 thousand to 14.5 thousand people, this is the first such decline in its history. The industry's revenues dropped from approximately PLN 6 billion to PLN 5.5 billion within two years, and this is again the first such decline independent of growth caused by the premieres of the largest titles. At least 120 studios disappeared, which means that within two years about a quarter of previously active game development companies disappeared,” it was written.
Causes of the crisis
According to the report's authors, the causes of the crisis are at least threefold.
Firstly global market collapse caused by oversaturation of production and previous investment overheating, which limited access to both markets and foreign financing.
Secondlyin Poland there was a sharp reversal of sentiment on the stock exchange, and domestic investors transferred their interest from the gaming sector to a new wave of “fashionable” investments, primarily in the production of weapons and ammunition.
Thirdlyexactly in the same period, the last large support program for the gaming industry expired, which means that the sector was deprived of any significant public instruments.
“All these processes overlapped over time, creating a cumulative effect. Consequently, without reversing at least one of these factors, and preferably two, the industry may take a very long time to recover from the current crisis,” they wrote.
The authors of the report propose that, as part of future national and regional European Funds programs, the launch of a new edition of the GameINN program, dedicated to the video game industry.
“GameINN 2.0 should function as a specialized sector program, providing constant support for research, development and implementation projects in the gamedev industry. GameINN 2.0 is an investment that will pay off many times over – in innovation, jobs and international prestige,” it was written.
The new program should be embedded in strategic government documents, such as the Strategy for Innovation and Efficiency of the Economy, the National Strategy for the Development of Creative Industries, and the Digital Policy of the Republic of Poland.
“The inclusion of GameINN 2.0 in these documents will enable permanent financing from national and EU funds and ensure the continuity of the instrument in the coming years,” it was written. (PAP Business)
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