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The Swedish videogame industry is still going strong, according to a report from industry organization Dataspelsbranchen.
At the beginning of 2024, we spoke to Per Strömbäck, head of operations at Dataspelsbranchen, about how the industry was doing after the Covid-19 pandemic boom. The answer: fairly well. While things had slowed and some studios had layoffs, the industry as a whole remained resilient and experienced growth both in terms of net sales and number of studios.
Now, two years later, despite global persistent financial challenges globally, the Swedish videogame industry continues to grow. Dataspelsbranchen’s latest report, Swedish Games Industry 2025, shows that revenue continued to grow to record heights in 2024, and there are more studios making games than ever before.
“We make very good games in Sweden. There are developers here with successful titles on all major platforms, creating games across many different genres. This breadth in game development exists thanks to a healthy ecosystem of educational programs, a strong local community, and a combination of craftsmanship and entrepreneurial spirit that provides a solid foundation for reaching a global audience,” explained Johanna Nylander, acting managing director at Dataspelsbranchen.
However, the industry did not see an increase in employee numbers in 2024. The report states that Swedish labor laws and small-business regulations make it challenging to acquire and retain skilled talent from abroad.
It’s difficult to prognosticate future employment numbers, Nylander said, but they are likely to remain largely unchanged in the coming years.
A notable trend in 2024 was a decrease in investment by Swedish videogame companies in foreign studios and games.
“Previous investments were acquisition-driven, not least thanks to strong capital linked to share prices. This has tapered off due to the changed global economic situation. Investments being made now tend to be more long-term and strategic,” she said.
A difficult investment climate, geopolitical uncertainty, and a tougher job market for new graduates mean that the coming years may prove challenging for the Swedish videogame industry. But there is a silver lining, Nylander noted.
“There’s a real opportunity right now for the Swedish industry to make its mark, and you can see that clearly in the games that have had a major impact over the past year.”
