Serbia’s gaming industry reached €214 million in revenue in 2024, marking a 22% increase from the previous year. Kristina Janković Obućina, senior manager for the SGA ecosystem, shared these findings during the presentation of the annual report at the Serbian Chamber of Commerce (PKS). The industry employed over 4,500 professionals, with more than 100 gaming teams and companies operating in Serbia.
The main hubs for the gaming sector are Belgrade, Novi Sad, and Niš, with an estimated 130 new jobs expected to open this year, though this represents the lowest increase in employment in recent years. Interestingly, 49% of the workforce in Serbia’s gaming industry consists of foreign nationals from Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus. Janković Obućina also pointed out that around 78% of companies in the industry use artificial intelligence (AI), primarily for game development, 2D art and animation, game design, and marketing.
Mihajlo Jovanović-Džaril, Director of SGA, highlighted the emergence of negative trends for the first time, despite the growth in revenues and employment. He noted a decline in the founding of new companies, particularly those owned by Serbs. Jovanović-Džaril emphasized the importance of Serbia maintaining its position as a destination for global gaming companies while fostering the growth of domestic firms and supporting local talent.
The SGA’s report also revealed that women make up 31% of the gaming workforce and lead one-third of all teams in the sector. In 2024, Serbian-developed games were downloaded nearly 300 million times, with 44 new games published and 84 currently in development.
Teodora Rodić, Manager for Digital Solutions, Startups, and Innovations at PwC Serbia, noted a decrease in the influence of domestic companies, with foreign companies gaining a larger share of the market. She also mentioned the influx of Russian talent into Serbia’s gaming industry since 2021, with Russian citizens now making up two-thirds of the workforce in the top 15 gaming companies.
