The gaming industry in Poland continues to be a key area of growth, attracting significant attention from foreign companies. While there were no specific reports from September 2024 detailing employment figures for foreign firms in this sector, several trends shed light on the general state of the gaming market in Poland and its growing global importance.

Overview of the Gaming Industry in Poland

1. Industry Size: As of 2024, the gaming industry in Poland boasts nearly 500 companies, employing over 15,000 professionals. The majority of growth is concentrated in small and medium-sized enterprises.
2. Employment Trends: A notable increase in hiring has been observed, especially within smaller studios. In 2020, 79% of gaming studios employed up to 16 employees. Today, that figure has dropped to 66%, indicating growth in the number of employees per studio.
3. Hiring Foreign Specialists: An emerging trend is the increasing employment of international talent by gaming studios. This is helping to improve the quality of game production and strengthen the industry’s competitive edge.
4. Market Consolidation: The industry is also experiencing consolidation, with larger firms absorbing smaller studios. This trend could potentially slow down the establishment of new gaming studios in Poland.
5. Future Outlook: In the coming years, the gaming sector in Poland is expected to see further expansion, particularly in console gaming and cloud gaming. These segments are predicted to drive industry growth, attracting more foreign investments and collaborations.

Key Foreign Companies in Poland’s Gaming Market

Several foreign gaming companies have established a strong presence in Poland, contributing to employment and industry development:

1. Ubisoft: The French gaming giant is well-known for blockbuster franchises such as Assassin’s Creed and Far Cry. Ubisoft has established offices in Warsaw and Kraków, where it continues to expand its local development teams.
2. Electronic Arts (EA): This American multinational is a leader in the gaming world, known for titles like FIFA and Battlefield. EA has operations in Poland focused on localization and marketing.
3. Activision Blizzard: Another American heavyweight, responsible for global hits like Call of Duty and World of Warcraft. In Poland, the company primarily handles regional marketing and support.
4. Take-Two Interactive: Owners of blockbuster franchises like Grand Theft Auto and NBA 2K, Take-Two handles distribution and localization of its titles in Poland.
5. Tencent: While the Chinese conglomerate does not have studios in Poland, it has made significant investments in Polish gaming companies, contributing to the sector’s growth.
6. Epic Games: Known for Fortnite and the Unreal Engine, Epic Games supports Polish developers through various assistance programs, fostering innovation and collaboration in the local market.

Polish Companies and Their International Partnerships

Several Polish studios collaborate with foreign companies, strengthening Poland’s role in the global gaming industry:

• CD Projekt Red: Despite being a Polish company, CD Projekt Red’s partnerships with international distributors and its global reach – especially with its Witcher and Cyberpunk series – make it a key player on the world stage.
• Techland: Known for Dying Light, Techland works with foreign publishers and maintains a significant international presence.

Conclusion

Though specific employment reports for September 2024 are not available, it is clear that foreign companies play a major role in shaping Poland’s gaming industry. The influx of international talent, combined with increased foreign investment, continues to drive growth and development within the sector. With the ongoing collaboration between local and international players, Poland is well on its way to becoming one of Europe’s most important gaming hubs.

Sources: 

[1]https://strefainwestorow.pl/artykuly/gaming/20230718/the-game-industry-of-poland-raport-2023

[2] https://itwiz.pl/rosna-wydatki-na-gaming-a-juz-12-graczy-korzysta-z-chmury/

[3] https://marketingprzykawie.pl/espresso/polacy-wydaja-coraz-wiecej-na-gaming/

[4] https://www.isbtech.pl/2024/10/przeglad-gamingowy-30-ix-4-x/

[5] https://en.parp.gov.pl/component/publications/publication/the-game-industry-of-poland

[6] https://gamedevunion.pl/raporty/

[7]https://www.bankier.pl/wiadomosc/GAMING-FACTORY-S-A-Terminy-publikacji-raportow-okresowych-w-2024-roku-8675123.html

[8]https://www.pb.pl/gielda/all-in-games-s-a-zmiana-terminu-publikacji-skonsolidowanego-raportu-za-i-polrocze-2024-roku-8818700