More Than A Game
Manifesto 2024-2029
Our asks from the EU
Throughout the 2019-2024 mandate, the EU focused on a major overhaul of digital policy to make Europe fit for the Digital Age – to drive innovation and promote economic growth. In those five years, Europe’s video games industry grew 16%. In terms of our economic contribution, Europe’s video games industry is worth €24 billion and employs 110,000 skilled workers throughout the continent.
In terms of the role our sector plays in society, 53% of Europeans play our games, 46.7% of players are women and girls and the average age of a player is 32. Our games provide hours of entertainment, but they also provide young people with important digital skills. We know that girls who play video games are three times more likely to go on to study STEM.
For the 2024-2029 mandate, our sector calls on Europe’s policy makers to recognise video games as a sector on its own merits, with specific needs and requirements. This is important to unlock future potential growth that will be crucial to support Europe in attaining more sustainable growth and to support technological and digital transition.
Make Europe the best place to create and invest in games
01
Protect the status of video games as a unique combination of technology and creative works. Do not make the EU a global outlier by trying to force video games into sectors where it does not belong.
02
Maintain an open and competitive market: any form of additional or EU levy, tax or fee on the distribution of video games would disincentivise investment,
chill innovation, and distort the Single Market.
03
Adapt the Creative Europe programme and extend the General Block Exemption Regulation (GBER) to video games. Make them both fit for the video games sector and its unique needs.
Continue the self- and co-regulation success story
04
Recognise the value of the PEGI system and of self- and co-regulation to address consumer and business concerns in a fast and efficient manner,
keeping in step with the ever-evolving digital landscape. Self- and coregulation are an important complement to existing regulations.
05
Adopt our proposals to ensure transparent and fair purchases of in-game content, delivering clarity and certainty for players, consumers and parents. Work with us on ambitious education programmes to accompany parents in their awareness and use of parental tools to manage video Gameplay.
06
Give companies a fair opportunity to assess how they should comply with the unprecedented amount of new regulations. Assess if those regulations are fit for purpose, and do not produce unintended consequences. EU policy makers should monitor and avoid any fragmentation of the EU Single Market.
Create, attract and invest in skills and talent
07
Invest in education at the EU and Member State levels to tackle the digital skills gap. Build networks of excellence, promote life-long learning, encourage girls to join STEAM programmes, and upskill teachers.
08
Adopt strategies at the EU and Member State levels to attract and retain the best global and diverse talent.
09
Use Horizon programme funding for a project mapping the video game workforce, the availability of relevant education programmes, and the skills gaps that still exist, to help the sector’s success and growth.
Support innovation - You can make IP fun too
10
Uphold a strong framework for enforcement of intellectual property law to support innovation.
11
Adapt NACE codes to give the EU the tools to have a full picture of the economic value of our intellectual property intensive industry.
12
Protect the EU acquis through careful coordination of ICT standardisation activities in international fora.