Poland’s Gaming Market: An Overview

  • With the largest gaming market in Eastern Europe, Poland’s average annual growth is projected to increase to 8.7% for the following 10 years, from 2018 to 2027.
  • In 2023, revenue in the Polish gaming market exceeded USD 468 million (approximately KRW 630.5 billion.)
  • Notably, the mobile gaming sector of the market has experienced significant growth, becoming the top performer in 2024, reaching 5.94 million users
  • A combination of advancements in Poland’s internet networks, the increasing market penetration of smart devices, and the rising popularity of esports all seem to factor into this growth.
  • Another major factor for this top position is the constant release of new mobile games, as well as the regular updates from existing mobile games to meet users’ needs.
  • K, a representative from a gaming company in Poland, explained the secret to a game’s local popularity lies in continuously understanding the users’ evolving needs and actively updating the games to sustain their appeal.
  • Furthermore, the explosive growth of mobile gaming has attributed to regular updates and enhancements in user convenience and accessibility.
  • KOTRA’s Warsaw Trade Representative has declared, “Korean game developers should take an interest in the Polish gaming market. As the online and mobile gaming markets are rapidly evolving, it is essential to understand user needs and provide convenient updates accordingly.” They also added, “A key consideration is to find a professional translation company with deep cultural understanding of Poland who can deliver natural sounding translations”

Source; Global Industry Trends, The Guru

The Game Consumption Traits of Polish Gamers

1. Adventure Genre Games: A Powerhouse

  • According to a survey, conducted by Statista, of 1,572 users, between the ages of 18-64, from January to December 2023, Polish gamers showed a very strong preference for games categorized as adventure genre.
  • When ranking the genres, Adventure ranked first with a 40% favorable response rate, followed second by Action-Adventure at 34%, and Strategy came in third at 30%.

2. The Highest-Rated Games in Poland

  • The highest-rated game in Poland for February 2024 was <Granblue Fantasy: Relink)>, which ranked first with a perfect score of 10 out of 10.
  • <Granblue Fantasy Relink>, a spin-off game by Cygames, transforms the turn-based mobile RPG <Granblue Fantasy> into a 3D action experience.
  • This game has received positive reviews for its compelling story, battle system, detailed background graphics, and its thrilling combat driven by outstanding AI.

3. Games with the Highest In-App Purchase Sales in Poland

  • In 2023, <Coin Master> was the mobile game with the highest in-app purchase sales in Poland, at USD 12.84 million (approximately KRW 17.3 billion.) <Roblox>, came in second, generating USD 6.03 million (approximately KRW 8.1 billion,) came in second, which was less than half of what the <Coin Master> had brought in.
  • <Coin Master> is a game where each player builds their village, attacks the villages of other players, and gathers items.
  • What sets this game apart is that every action is determined by the results from a slot machine.
  • Players must spin the slot machine to progress, and in-app purchases are required for more frequent spins. In <Roblox>, a player purchases the in-game currency called Robux, and uses it to unlock various in-game features, such as paid game passes, avatar customization items, game passes, etc.

Source: Global Industry Trends

Outlook for Major Game Developers and the Gaming Industry in Poland

  • When it comes to the highest revenue earner in 2023, according to Statista, the Polish game developer CD Projekt took the crown.
  • CD Projekt is a major Polish developer, publisher, and distributer with revenues of PLN 8.98 billion (approximately KRW 2.969 trillion.) It is credited with establishing the Polish gaming market, developing such titles as <The Witcher> and <Cyberpunk 2077.>
  • CD Projekt is one of the world’s most significant game developers. Through Korean dubbing support and the establishment of a dedicated Korean team, the company has become a household name to Korean users. Well-regarded by gamers, with high expectations due to its gamer-friendly policies, they boast an outstanding track record of never having commercially failed when producing a game.
  • In second is Ten Square Games. A developer specializing in mobile games, with <Fishing Clash> as its flagship title, the company brings in PLN 4.865 billion (approximately KRW 1.655 trillion) in sales.
  • Playway comes in at third, recording revenues of PLN 2.633 billion (approximately KRW 868.9 billion.) They primarily develop simulation games such as <Car Mechanic Simulator> and <House Flipper.>
  • Through such major game developers as these, Poland’s gaming industry has evolved into a leading export sector for the country.
  • Currently, there are around 500 game development and publishing companies in Poland, a figure that has doubled in the past decade.
  • The portfolios of CD Projekt, Ten Square Games, and Playway have become widely known throughout the world, catching the attention of the global gaming market, and suggesting the Polish gaming market has promising prospects for future development.
Source: Global Industry Trends, Trade.Gov.PL