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Image: Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty – CD Projekt Red
According to the latest report on the state of the games industry in Poland, the country ties with France at second place after the UK for biggest European games industries. With a workforce of 15.290 people (24% female), Poland is still well behind the UK’s 21.000.
If you compare revenues however, we find Poland quite a few places lower. With a revenue of €1286 million, it compares to the Turkish and Spanish industries. To put this in perspective, you have to realise that local game dev giant CD Projekt Red was responsible for half of all Polish game revenues in 2021 with the release of Cyberpunk 2077. This year however The Witcher-developer only accounts for a third of all revenues. So, the rest of the companies are generating more revenues.
494 Game companies
But Poland has plenty to be pleased with. There are 494 game companies (developers and publishers). The number of studios with a team size of 100+ employees is expected to rise to 25 this year. 16 companies hire 200+ employees, and 56 studios have a 50+ team. Though 78% of teams are smaller than 25 people. The industry hires 2200 foreigners, with Ukrainians taking the lion share. Employment growth is estimated at 23%-27% year over year since 2017, which is the fastest rate in Europe.
Some interesting tidbits from the report
- Interestingly More than 65% of games produced in Poland are translated into more than two languages compared to only 29% outside Poland.
- According to CD Projekt, less than 30% of Cyberpunk 2077 copies were sold in physical form, compared to a remarkable 68% for The Witcher 3, in its premiere year seven years earlier.
- When developing games Polish studios declare PC as leading platform (68.4%), with mobile trailing behind in second place (12.8%).
- Last year some 530+ games from Poland were released