The gaming market In Finland

Affiliate marketing company Inovatiq writes for Esports Insider to provide a detailed outlook of the gaming market in Finland.

There’s no doubt about it, Finland is a great country for gaming. Esports Insider reported on the developments in Finland back in 2017 — centuries ago in esports terms —  so now is the time for an update. With the COVID-19 pandemic increasing time spent at home, a lot has changed in the years since we first touched on Finnish game developers.

We will look at what makes the Finnish gaming market unique, and we will also take a closer look at some of the top players in the industry.

The Finnish gaming market is booming, with new games and genres constantly emerging. This growth is being driven by a number of factors, including the increasing popularity of mobile gaming, the rise of esports, and the continued success of traditional console and PC gaming. And with Finnish studios such as Rovio, Remedy Entertainment, and Supercell leading the way, it’s clear that this is a country with a vibrant and thriving gaming industry.

Game developer Rovio rules the popular sub-€10 games segment, or ‘minimitalletus 10’ as it’s known in Finland. Remedy’s Alan Wake 2 will be going after the more lucrative action games segment this year.

The games of luck segment is also very popular, with local Monopoly Veikkause leading the charge. However, it is expected that casino games might get a competitive license in the next 2 years so international players can enter. Whatever your preferences, there’s bound to be something for you from Finnish game developers.

In recent years, there has been a resurgence in interest in console gaming, particularly among older gamers. This is evident in the Finnish gaming market, where sales of console games have increased steadily over the past few years. While PC gaming still dominates the market overall, consoles are increasingly becoming the platform of choice for casual and older gamers.

This is partly due to the increasing popularity of digital distribution platforms such as Steam and GOG, which make it easy to purchase and play games on a console. Many Finnish console game developers are entering the market, the most popular ones being Mainframe, Redhill Games, Return Entertainment and Surrogate. About 37% Finnish households own a gaming console, though this data is from 2018, so this might have changed considerably in the last four years.

The Finnish gaming market is fascinating because it’s one of the few places in the world where PC gaming is still dominant. In most other countries, console gaming is now a bigger revenue driver than PC. But in Finland, PCs are still the number one choice for gamers of all ages. This is due in part to the fact that Finnish people are extremely passionate about technology and computers. 

They’re early adopters of new technologies, which means that they’re often ahead of the curve when it comes to gaming trends. As a result, the Finnish gaming market is an important one to watch for any company that wants to stay ahead in the gaming industry.

The gaming market in Finland is highly competitive, with a variety of genres represented. Action games are the most popular, followed by shooters and racing games. However, there is also a strong market for strategy games, role-playing games, and sports games. Finnish gamers are well-known for their love of challenge, and many of the most popular games are those that offer a high level of difficulty.

In addition, Finnish gamers are also willing to pay for quality games, and the country has a thriving industry of independent developers producing high-quality titles. As a result, the gaming market in Finland is both diverse and dynamic, offering something for everyone. 

What’s also interesting to note is that esports is also still growing in popularity in Finland. This is evident in the number of Finnish teams that have been formed to compete in international tournaments. In addition, the Finnish government has also been supportive of the esports industry, investing in a number of initiatives to promote the scene.

As a result, it’s clear that the Finnish gaming and esports market is one that is constantly evolving and changing, making it an exciting place to be for both gamers, companies and developers alike. On a related note, gambling-type games are also a growing trend in the country. These games, which include casino-style games and sports betting, are legal in Finland.

According to a report from 2020, the Finnish gaming market is worth an estimated €2.4bn (~£2.0bn) per annum. This figure includes both mobile and traditional console games. The mobile gaming market is growing rapidly, with an estimated value of €1.05bn (~£0.88bn)in 2021. This represents a year-on-year growth of 23%. The majority of mobile gamers in Finland are aged 25-34, and male gamers make up the largest demographic.

The most popular genres are puzzle, strategy, and racing games. In terms of revenue, the top three games are Candy Crush Saga, Clash of Clans, and Angry Birds. All three of these games are published by Finnish companies. The success of the Finnish gaming industry is due in part to the fact that Finnish developers have been able to tap into the global market.

In recent years, a number of Finnish companies have been acquired by foreign publishers. For example, Supercell, the company behind Clash of Clans, was bought by Chinese conglomerate Tencent for $8.6bn (~£7.3bn)in 2016. Finnish developers have also found success by partnering with international companies. Rovio, the studio behind Angry Birds, has partnerships with leading brands such as Coca-Cola and Lego. 

The Finnish gaming market is at an interesting crossroads. On the one hand, the traditional console gaming market is on a steady incline, with older gamers buying consoles each year. On the other hand, there is a growing market for mobile and online games, which are typically cheaper and more convenient than console games.

As a result, it is unclear where the Finnish gaming market will go in the future. Some believe that mobile and online games will eventually overtake console games as the primary form of gaming, while others believe that there will always be a place for console gaming. Regardless of what happens, it will be fascinating to see how the Finnish gaming market develops in the years to come.

Written in collaboration with Inovatiq