BW Moves Forward to the Next Stage in Games
Baden-Württemberg, a region in southwest Germany, is stepping up its support for the gaming industry with the introduction of a new funding program under the label Games BW. This program offers financial aid, talent and startup programs, networking, and matchmaking opportunities for digital game developers and interactive media projects with game-like characteristics.
The new guidelines now extend funding to digital games that incorporate game-specific elements in non-game contexts (gamification). This move is aimed at promoting high-quality digital games and innovative projects that blend gaming elements with real-world applications.
The Games BW program, funded by the Ministry of Science, Research and the Arts Baden-Württemberg and the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Labor and Tourism Baden-Württemberg, also provides a range of events and initiatives. These include the annual Gamestate Festival Baden-Württemberg conference, regular Open Stages Games BW, and the Developer Boost startup program. Additionally, Baden-Württemberg has a booth at Gamescom in Cologne, one of the world's largest trade fairs for interactive entertainment.
A total of 1.2 million euros has been allocated for the Games Promotion 2025, a joint initiative by the three funding bodies: the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Labour and Tourism, the Ministry of Science, Research and the Arts, and the MFG Media and Film Society BW.
The gaming industry in Baden-Württemberg has seen significant growth, with a total turnover of €190 million in the 2022 fiscal year, marking an increase of at least 90% compared to 2015. The region hosts approximately 150 companies with over 1,400 employees in the gaming sector.
The goal of the Games BW program is to further promote Baden-Württemberg's games industry and strengthen its position as an innovation-driven media location. Particular attention is given to culturally, pedagogically, and cross-industry relevant games.
Since 2016, the Games BW funding program has supported 52 productions, 45 prototypes, and 28 concepts. This includes indie game studios and established games companies, with studios like Studio Seufz, whose game "Lucky Tower Ultimate" was supported by MFG Baden-Württemberg, being among the recipients.
The next deadline for project applications is August 31, 2025. All required information and application forms can be found on the MFG website. For further queries, both the Ministry of Science, Research and the Arts Baden-Württemberg's Press Office and Citizen Representative, as well as the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Labour and Tourism Baden-Württemberg's Press Office and Citizen Representative, have their contact details available online.
