More initiatives of the Hamburg Kreativ Gesellschaft
De
More initiatives of the Hamburg Kreativ Gesellschaft

Hamburg - the "Gamecity"

Hamburg is the economic center of northern Germany - and one of the most vibrant hubs of the games industry in Europe. More than 2,450 people work in the 200 games companies in Hamburg. With the initiative Gamecity Hamburg, the City of Hamburg actively suppports the industry and devs in Hamburg.

In this article: 


Did you know, that....
1) ... Hamburg has more bridges than Venice?
2) ... every ship that enters the port get's a personal greeting?
3) ... the city is one of the most vibrant games industry hubs in Europe? 

Now you know!

The city has a lot to offer to the media and games industry and anyone who aspires to join it. Four of the ten biggest employers in the games sector are located in Hamburg, namely Bigpoint, gamigo, Goodgame Studios and InnoGames. The city is also home to a vibrant indie scene and different games-related companies, such as rose-engine with their international indie bestseller SIGNALIS, Mooneye Studios with their breakout hit Lost Ember, Exit Games and their game-changing Photon Engine and the Rocket Beans with their award-winning shows on games and culture. You can find an extensive overview of the games-related companies in Hamburg right here. There are also 12 different educational facilities to teach the next generation of devs and designers. The Games Master at the HAW Hamburg is one of the few national Master programs for the industry. 

In total, there are more than 200 games companies  and 2,450 people work in Hamburg's games sector.

What is Gamecity Hamburg?

The location initiative Gamecity Hamburg is designed to support and uplift the local games sector. We're funded by the City of Hamburg and part of it's creative industries development agency, Hamburg Kreativ Gesellschaft. As such we can grant a total of 520,000 Euros of funding per year. This is split into the Prototype Funding Program, which enables Hamburg-based studios to realise high-quality projects, as well as the Games Lift Incubator. The Incubator is a unique program in which seed funding is combined with a variety of targeted workshops and mentoring programs, to prepare five teams per year for the challenges of developing and marketing their (first) project.
 

Photo by Selim Sudheimer
Photo by Selim Sudheimer

In addition, Gamecity Hamburg offers plenty of opportunities to connect with the industry and look into new topics. The Gamecity Treff is a relaxed meet-up at which the entire industry can mix and mingle. In the spring we also co-organise the Hamburg Games Conference, a key event for making new business contacts and catching up. 
At our talks and panels, we open up conversations on diversity, new marketing tools or interesting job profiles with local and international experts. Check out our different event series, such as the Game Starter, XP Boost, or Impulse. In 2023, we have also signed the GAME:IN manifest against discrimination in the industry and started our FLINTA* Games Meetup (FLINTA* means female, lesbian, intersex, non-binary, trans, agender).  

Photo by Thomas Ertmer
Photo by Thomas Ertmer

(Games-)Culture in Hamburg


Hamburg also has a lot to offer for the games community and culture: in 2022 the community convention POLARIS opened its doors for the first time, welcoming 10,000 people in Hamburg. The event will resume in 2023 with even bigger plans, such as a plans for a record-breaking cosplay event. And right after that, the PLAY Festival celebrates creative gaming culture in Hamburg.
The eSports scene is also thriving in the city, with the popular teams Unicorns of Love and Mouz as well as the eSports hub Play Bay. 

On top of all of this, Hamburg is one of the top 20 most liveable cities in the world and charms visitors and locals alike. The city is known for its greenery, impressive sights like the Elbphilharmonie and the harbour and many cultural highlights like music festivals, museums, restaurants and cinemas. A trip to Hamburg is always worth your time! Who knows, perhaps the vast opportunities in games might make your stay just a bit more permanent.

Photo by Patrick Rosenkranz
Photo by Patrick Rosenkranz

More about Gamecity Hamburg

Cookies are used to make this website work and to enhance your experience.

To learn more about the types of cookies this website uses, see our Cookie Policy. You can decide for yourself which categories you want to allow. Please note that based on your settings, not all functions of the website may be available.

Cookies are used to make this website work and to enhance your experience.

To learn more about the types of cookies this website uses, see our Cookie Policy. You can decide for yourself which categories you want to allow. Please note that based on your settings, not all functions of the website may be available.

Your cookie preferences have been saved.