The video game industry is thriving in Paris Region, where artistic creativity meets cutting-edge technological innovation. As France’s leading gaming hub, the region is home to nearly half of the country’s production studios, publishers, and training programs. Many industry leaders enjoy global recognition, including for instance Quantic Dream, Don’t Nod, Amplitude Studios, Oh BiBi!, Spiders, Ubisoft, PulluP Entertainment, or Dotemu.
Paris and its region, the world’s top tourist destination, form a true gaming epicenter thanks to a dynamic ecosystem: renowned incubators (LINCC, Station F, Level 256…), key industry organizations (SELL, SNJV, Capital Games…), and cultural venues showcasing video games (BNF, Gaîté Lyrique, Cité des Sciences…).
Three major events shape the industry’s calendar: the Pégases, an awards ceremony celebrating the key players of the video game industry, Paris Games Week, gathering over 160,000 visitors annually, and Paris Game Biz, France’s leading international B2B video game event.
KEY FIGURES
- 🏢 44,3% of France’s 1000 video game companies
- 💻 82% of local studios are indie video game studios
- 🧑💼4000 employees from the video game industry
- 🏫14 specialized schools
- 📶 3 major events held annually
MAIN ACTORS
Studios : Don’t Nod, Quantic Dream, Amplitude Studios, Sloclap, Cyanide, Kylotonn, Spiders, Oh Bibi!, Playrion, Nadéo
Publishers : PulluP Entertainment, Ubisoft, Gameloft, Microid, Dotemu, Playdigious, Twin Sails Interactive, Nacon, Voodoo, TapNation
Service Providers: Apperture, Black Sheep Studio, Capsule Studio, Globant, Virtuos, Playruo, Not A Shark Company, Play Connection, Zero Games Studios
Schools : Autograf, E-Artsup, Gobelins, ECV, Georges Méliès, Gaming Campus, ICAN, IIM, Itescia, IUT Bobigny, ISART Digital, Lisaa, Telecom SudParis, 3IS
Incubators and Accelerators : Level 256, LINCC, C-19, Station F, BPI, Ubisoft Entrepreneurs Lab
Game Labs: SciFunGames, Leprince-Ringuet
REGIONAL PUBLIC FUNDINGS
In addition to the Paris Region Video Game Creation Support Fund , video game companies can also access regional grants that are not specifically dedicated to gaming but are open to it. Paris Region offers programs that support innovation (e.g. Innov’up, Innovation Lab), growth (e.g. TP’up, PM’up, Prêt Croissance TPE), and corporate social responsibility initiatives (e.g. support for women entrepreneurs to reduce inequalities).
KEY VIDEO GAME EVENTS
Pégases
Since 2020, the Pégases awards ceremony has been held annually to honour the best French and international video game productions, as well as artistic creations and talents in France. Its aim is to highlight the excellence of the national industry and establish video games as the Tenth Art within the cultural industries.
Paris Game Biz, The Iconic Business Experience
Launched in 2024 by Capital Games, the Paris Game Biz quickly established itself as France’s leading international B2B video game event, with a strong focus on collaboration between studios and publishers. The two-day event is designed to foster high-level networking and deal-making opportunities.
Paris Games Week,the French video game trade show
More commonly known as “PGW”, this is France’s leading trade fair dedicated to video games, pop culture and related products. At the heart of the show, PGW Business by CMS represents the major professional segment: a flagship B2B event. It brings together over two days industry experts, game creators, publishers, investors, and professional associations, with a dedicated program and spaces designed to foster networking and opportunities.
LOCATION & ATTRACTIVENESS
🚊Transport infrastructure: Gare du Nord, Gare de Lyon, Gare de l’Est, Gare Saint-Lazare, Gare Montparnasse, Gare d’Austerlitz / Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport, Orly Airport, Beauvais Airport.
💡Attractive cities for video game companies: Paris, Montreuil
🏳️Foreign companies established in the region: Square Enix, Sony, Nintendo, Microsoft, Konami, Plaion, Kepler Interactive, Virtuos, Maximum Entertainment, Capcom, Take Two, Riot Games, Warner Bros, The Sandbox
THE LOCAL ASSOCIATION
Capital Games is the association of video game professionals in the Paris area. For 20 years, it has supported over 120 members (studios, publishers, service providers) by facilitating networking, funding, training, and communication. A key player for local creators, it organizes major events such as Jeux Made in France, Paris Game Biz, and Games Made in Satellites, promoting the French video game ecosystem both domestically and internationally.