A new edition of the Games Monitor was presented today at INDIGO, the largest game business event in the Benelux. The report shows that while the global games industry has faced major setbacks in recent years, the Dutch sector continues to grow. Between 2021 and 2023, total revenue rose by 10.5%, reaching a record €763 million.
The number of active game companies increased slightly to 614, mostly driven by growth in small studios. However, despite this rise, the total workforce declined by 269 people, bringing the number of jobs in the Dutch games industry to 4,291.
The report highlights several ongoing developments. Generative AI is being adopted by nearly half of Dutch game studios, mainly for programming and concept development. Final game content, however, remains largely created by humans. Dutch developers also continue to focus primarily on PC and web-based games, with mobile titles playing a smaller role due to strong competition from international publishers. Serious and applied games remain a key part of the industry, with about a quarter of developers working on projects for healthcare, education, and law enforcement.
Although revenues are up, confidence in the future is declining. Fewer than a quarter of studios are optimistic about the outlook for the Dutch games industry. Many cite uncertainty in the global market and ongoing structural changes as reasons for concern.
The Games Monitor 2024 was commissioned by the Dutch Games Association and funded by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science.
Read the full report here: Games Monitor