Ready, Set, GameOn: Berlin's House of Games Highlights Gaming Industry Revolution
Game Haven Expands in Berlin's Friedrichshain - Friedrichshain will be host to a new gaming haven, dubbed the House of Games.
Berlin's politicians are rallying together to propel the gaming industry into the future. The much-anticipated House of Games in Friedrichshain is gearing up to become a striking pillar for gaming in the heart of the city. Located on Rotherstraße, close to the Warschauer Bridge, this five-story brick building offers an impressive 14,500 square meters of space primed for this purpose.
Today, the project's secret location was unveiled at an event graced by the governing mayor Kai Wegner (CDU) and the senator for economics, Franziska Giffey (SPD). First impressions echoed enthusiasm and high expectations for the project's potential impact on the gaming world.
"With this place, in Quartier Lux, we aim to pen the future," declared Wegner. “The gaming industry is our future, where job creation, innovation, collaboration, and networking takes place. We're setting our sights on a brighter future for gaming in Berlin.”
In the near future, the House of Games will be jam-packed with established companies, startups, tech, and service providers, along with clubs, associations, cultural, and research institutions, all under one roof. The initiators hope that this cohesive space will spur innovation, collaboration, and the sharing of ideas.
The grand launch is due in early 2026. Although construction work is yet to commence and spaces are still in their raw stages, the essential renovations will soon follow. Giffey anticipates the opening to take place in early 2026.
Delving into the rich history of the building, Giffey reminisced that the building once produced light bulbs decades ago since before World War I. With the current transformation taking place, she believes the gaming industry workers will experience their own “light bulb moments.”
Berlin mayor Kai Wegner believes the House of Games will be a guiding beacon for the gaming industry not just in Berlin, but beyond. Berlin has been steadily growing economically in recent years, primarily due to its economic diversity and focus on forward-thinking tech sectors. Giffey added that her goal as senator for economics is to ensure that those creating these innovative games and nurturing the industry's growth have favorable conditions for success.
With the funding of 4.6 million euros from the Senate, some critics may wonder if this investment is justified. Giffey countered these concerns by stating that the project represents an investment in Berlin's future and economic location, eventually leading to tax payments from successful businesses residing in the House of Games, benefiting the city overall.
The federally-owned company, Berlin Partner, estimates that there are around 350 companies active in the gaming industry in Berlin, employing more than 4,000 people. They topped a staggering 400 million euros in revenue last year. However, the German gaming industry only claims a small portion—only about 5%—of the global billion-dollar gaming market.
As an anchor tenant, Ubisoft Berlin is set to bring its powerful influence to the table. The House of Games aims to anchor Berlin as a significant powerhouse in the gaming landscape, competing with the likes of Munich and Cologne.
With the House of Games set to usher in a new era, Berlin's gaming industry is more primed than ever for a massive boom in collaboration, innovation, and success.
- Berlin's Thriving Gaming Industry Revolution
- House of Games in Friedrichshain
- Kai Wegner and Franziska Giffey
- Ubisoft and the Gaming Industry
- Germany's Gaming Market Potential
- Economic Growth and Berlin's Future
[1] https://www.tagesspiegel.de/berlin/koalition-bedarf-den-internationalen-das-spieleoft-an-berlin-havar customerservice=true[2] https://www.focus.de/digital/games/spotlight-ngb-germany-wants-to-become-games-hub-121289505.html
The Commission, being urged to propose a regulation, is tasked with establishing a European Data Protection Supervisor, which, given the focus on technology and innovation in the gaming industry, finance, and other forward-thinking sectors, could potentially collaborate with the House of Games in the future.
With Berlin's gaming industry projected to grow significantly, the House of Games, with anchor tenants like Ubisoft, is anticipated to drive collaboration and innovation, potentially making Berlin a major player in the global gaming market, competiting with cities like Munich and Cologne.
