We have published the annual report on the gaming industry in Serbia – growth in revenue and the number of employees
The latest research provides a detailed insight into the domestic gaming industry. It tracks the growth and development of this ecosystem from 2017 onwards. Although the global gaming industry was marked by instability in 2023, we are pleased that there were no major closures of studios or projects in Serbia.
Here are some of the most interesting data points:
- Games produced in Serbia have been bought or downloaded over a 100 million times
- A record number of 475 new positions will be opened this year
- 28% of employees are women
- 57% are developing original IP
- 150 companies, studios, and teams
- Total revenue exceeds 175 million euros
DOUBLE THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES
The biggest change compared to the previous year is the rarely seen increase in employment of 98%! The explanation for such growth is simple – a large number of gaming professionals and their families from Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus moved to Serbia last year. Some of the leading global companies now have their largest representations in Serbia – Wargaming, Playrix, and Sperasoft are some of them.
Such a significant influx of knowledge and experience will undoubtedly change the domestic gaming industry. We estimate that there are now 4.300 gaming professionals working in Serbia.
OTHER DATA
The report contains more detailed data on revenues, companies, employees, games, and the ecosystem. The vast majority of companies and studios earn the most through direct sales, meaning that games are successful enough to provide independence to the studios, expand their teams, and work on new projects.
In collaboration with the PwC Serbia team, we conducted an analysis of the revenues and other performance information of the largest gaming companies in our market. Additionally, their team of experts has written an article that explains all the collected information.
The main development centers are Belgrade, Novi Sad, and Niš. In the industry, 28% of all employed are still women, and even half of all teams are led by women. The top three areas in terms of employment are programming, artistic professions, and quality control.
A record number of teams are preparing applications for local and European funds. The majority of respondents this year also cite lack of funding opportunities, high taxes, and complex bureaucratic procedures as the biggest obstacles in business.
In addition to data, the report also includes guest articles from experts in the domestic and global industry, focusing on business topics and ecosystem development. We also share news about advancements in education and various programs within the industry.
