Gamescom 2025 will see the showcase of Land

Games BW Shines at Gamescom 2025, showcasing the Thriving Baden-Württemberg Games Industry

Baden-Württemberg, a German state known for its rich cultural heritage and technological innovation, is making waves in the global games industry. With an annual funding volume of around 1.2 million euros, Games BW, an initiative supported by the Ministry of Science, Research and the Arts Baden-Württemberg and the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Labor and Tourism Baden-Württemberg, is at the forefront of this movement.

The Baden-Württemberg games industry is a vibrant ecosystem, home to around 150 companies and over 1,400 employees. This thriving sector is dedicated to retaining game developers in the region and promoting new studio foundations. Games BW, established in 2020, plays a crucial role in this endeavour.

In 2025, Baden-Württemberg is supporting a select group of companies through the Games BW initiative. At the prestigious Gamescom 2025 in Cologne, Germany, nine well-known local game studios—including impressive indie developers—will present their latest games and developments, under the theme "Games & Virtual Worlds Made in Baden-Württemberg".

The digital economy, with virtual realities and games playing a central role in innovation, is a leading medium of our time. Games BW funding supports innovations in the field of games and gamification, contributing to a diverse and innovative creative economy.

The software/games industry is the largest sub-sector of the cultural and creative economy in Baden-Württemberg, with a turnover volume of around 16.57 billion euros and a growth of around twelve percent compared to the previous year. This growth is a testament to the sector's potential and its ability to create new markets, provide job security, and increase competitiveness through gamification and immersive technologies.

Virtual worlds offer new possibilities for interactive gaming experiences, social networking, and innovative business models. Games BW attracts studios from within and outside Germany to settle in Baden-Württemberg through attractive funding conditions.

The Baden-Württemberg government aims to specifically promote the innovative capacity of the games industry as a future sector. The Games BW funding and strategy, offered by the Baden-Württemberg Film and Media Foundation, provides financial funding programs, training, start-up programs, networking, and mediation offers for the games industry.

The next deadline for Games BW project applications is August 31, 2025. All necessary information and application forms can be found on the MFG website.

At Gamescom 2021, the Baden-Württemberg THE LÄND stand focused on "Games & Virtual Worlds Made in Baden-Württemberg". Nine prominent Baden-Württemberg studios presented their games and developments at the event. Outstanding indie games from the region were also presented at the Indie Arena Booth in the public area of Gamescom 2021 for the first time.

The funding provided by the state for game funding in Baden-Württemberg as part of "Games BW" is 1.2 million euros. This funding plays a significant role in strengthening the digital audiovisual sector and the production and development location of games in Baden-Württemberg, Germany, and Europe. Games BW aims to foster a healthy and sustainable games ecosystem, ensuring the continued growth and success of the Baden-Württemberg games industry.