The video game sector in Catalonia is advancing faster than many analysts predicted. A brighter-than-expected outlook from the Generalitat in 2021 nudges the industry’s growth forecast higher. According to the most recent White Papers on Catalan game development, companies in the sector that EL PERIÓDICO of the Prensa Ibérica group has access to registered revenues of 660 million euros, up 20% from 2020 and surpassing the 2020 figure by 9 million. Based on these numbers, the sector’s turnover could reach about 780 million euros in 2022 and might exceed 900 million by the end of the current year.
This assessment rests on the fact that 196 companies operate in the region, a figure slightly lower than last year due to unofficial project creation, which means many video game initiatives are still in development before market release. In contrast, nine active studios have emerged recently (132 in total), marking the strongest growth in five years and the best count to date.
In 2021, the workforce rose by 7%, bringing total employment to about 4,250 people, with roughly a quarter being women. If the projection prepared by the Government Directorate-General for Innovation and Digital Culture, in collaboration with the industry group International Video Game Development, holds, employment could top 5,000 by year-end.
Thus, although the sector remains modest in its macroeconomic footprint (the 900 million turnover represented less than 1% of Catalonia’s GDP), the ecosystem is increasingly dynamic. “The data show a consistently growing industry and stronger companies,” notes Marisol López, General Manager of Innovation and Digital Culture for the Catalan government. She adds that the sector is unlikely to exceed 200 companies in the near term, but regards this trajectory as positive: a sign that the industry is growing solidly and not projecting a speculative bubble, while individual companies continue to expand.
International players and in-house content
The White Paper confirms that Catalonia is home to a growing number of large studios: although the majority still fall below 200,000 euros in annual turnover, there is a rising cohort producing between 200,000 euros and 10 million euros.
The latest industry news reinforces this trend with international studies establishing a foothold in Catalonia and contributing to job creation. Rovio has opened a new Southern Europe headquarters in Barcelona and plans to hire 30 professionals in the first half of 2023. IO Interactive has announced a plan to recruit 150 staff at its local office. In 2022, foreign studios further diversified the landscape, as projects like Novarama showcased Catalan innovation with ventures such as Invizimals and a development project supported by Tencent’s stake.
The analysis for 2022 also highlights a growing number of studios producing original content in the region. Evidence of this shift is that 91% of companies report owning their own intellectual property, up seven percentage points from the previous survey.
Funding as the main hurdle
On financing, the share of studios receiving public aid to advance their projects remains lower than in the pre-pandemic era.
“Financing remains the principal challenge for Catalan studios in day-to-day operations. Many projects launch only after securing funds, and some studios need capital to start a second project in parallel or to accelerate development. The report also highlights the difficulties studios face when competing with larger players to attract skilled professionals.
Nevertheless, ecosystem supporters point to Barcelona’s brand as a magnet for talent and investment, underscoring that this geographic advantage strengthens the region’s overall appeal for the sector.