Film- und Medienstiftung NRW

Film und Medien Stiftung NRW➝Media Region NRW➝Media Branches NRW➝Games

Major international publishers and a strong developer scene provide the backbone for NRW as a game hub. The picture is completed by the gamescom and the German Developer Award as top events for the video games industry. The Film- und Medienstiftung NRW supports the development of innovative game products. Aware of the industry’s cultural and economic importance, the Land of NRW also supports the transfer of innovative game technologies into classical industries.

Facts and figures

games hub with high turnover
global players: Electronic Arts, Ubisoft Düsseldorf
gamescom in Cologne: the world‘s largest games trade fair
diverse developer scene with long-established studios and newcomers
stronghold for eSports: ESL Gaming, professional football clubs, esports player foundation
numerous events and awards ceremonies, annual Games Summit as an exchange between the worlds
of politics and industry
games.nrw, Cologne Game Haus, Indiecenter Rüttenscheid, Cologne Game Lab, Games Competence Centre
outstanding games funding at the Film- und Medienstiftung NRW

More information:

Games in NRW
Funding of the Film- und Medienstiftung NRW: Digital Games and interactive content

Jens Kosche

Country Manager DACH Electronic Arts

NRW is home for the world’s largest event for digital games - the gamescom -, enormous eSports tournaments are organised for here, and world leaders in games publishing have their German headquarters here: an ideal place for new media!

Ralf Wirsing

Managing Director Ubisoft Germany

Due to its games-minded university structures, the trade fair gamescom, and numerous companies in related entertainment fields, NRW is an attractive location for national and international games publishers.

Dr. Olaf Coenen

Vice President and General Manager International Publishing Electronic Arts

Authors, directors, designers, programmers, actors and musicians need a creative, networked environment in order to create computer games. That is exactly what NRW and the area around Cologne have to offer.

Benedikt Grindel

Managing Director Ubisoft Blue Byte

With its dynamism and good educational landscape, NRW yields creative talents for the games industry. The local developers' scene must be supported with specific funding programmes so that games „made in NRW“ can become a trademark. .

Odile Limpach

Founder SpielFabrique

The location of NRW offers SpielFabrique numerous opportunities for supporting young companies in the games industry. Local strong partners like the Medienstiftung NRW and the City of Cologne are doing their bit for the growth of this creative industry.

Thomas Rössig

Founder & Managing Director, Flying Sheep

The number of highly skilled people, the range of other studios and start-ups with whom we could build up networks, and the gamescom, of course, make NRW into an unbeatable initial location for games developers.

Dr. Holger Sprengel

Founder & Chairman Nurogames

NRW is increasingly developing itself into the most important hub for the German games industry and is an attractive location for developers and publishers who can bank on attractive suport from the federal state. Keep up the good work!

Felix Falk

Managing Director of game - German Video Games Industry Association

North Rhine-Westphalia is one of the hot spots of the German games industry: small and large developers are just as much at home here as publishers, universities, eSports organisers and the gamescom are! This diversity is NRW's great strength.

Linda Kruse

Founder & Managing Director the Good Evil GmbH

We took the right decision a few years ago and founded the Good Evil in NRW! As a young company, we were really able to benefit from the productive and cooperative location. Gamescom makes the difference along with the mix of international and local as well as small and large developers.

Katharina Glowka

Managing Director Golden Orb

Living and working as a media professional in NRW not only provides us with a colourful and creative network as well as diverse funding opportunities, but also cosmopolitan and genial lifestyles - no matter whether it is in the Rhineland or the Ruhr region.