The CDU and SPD in Berlin agree in their coalition agreement that the games industry should be supported in a variety of ways. This includes the new forward-looking project under the working title "House of Games," which is to open in the capital in 2026 and strengthen the "games location Berlin and Germany" both nationally and internationally. The project is led by the network association medianet berlinbrandenburg e.V. together with game - Association of the German Games Industry. More than 20 companies and institutions in the computer and video games industry are initiating partners.
With the "House of Games", a contact point, exchange point and anchor point for companies, institutions, service providers, initiatives and communities from the games sector in Berlin and throughout Germany is to be created under one roof on an area of around 15,000 m². On several floors, it will provide access to central institutions and services of the industry, with office and studio space, recreation and production areas, such as motion-capturing, sound and streaming studios, as well as event and conference rooms that can be shared. The House of Games will also become a focal point for the public, such as international experts, media and tourism. Among other things, it will be home to the Computer Games Museum and the International Computer Games Collection (ICS). As part of the "House of Games", a flexible co-working space is also planned, especially for young and small companies. In addition, it will be home to incubator and accelerator programs to support founders. More than 20 companies, institutions, agencies and e-sports players from Berlin-Brandenburg have already confirmed their participation and interest in the "House of Games".
Jeannine Koch, CEO of medianet, emphasizes the importance of this project: "The games industry in the capital region stands for diversity and internationality and develops trends that contribute significantly to the success of this economic sector in our region. It is time that this rapidly growing industry is finally united under one roof. We are particularly pleased about the prospect of the start-up funding we applied for, which the new state government included in its coalition agreement. It's great that we can now take on the realization of the 'House of Games' in a leading role, together with the game association and many partners in the industry from business, culture and science as well as politics."
Felix Falk, Managing Director of game - Association of the German Games Industry: "The House of Games in Berlin has enormous potential to become an international beacon for the German games industry. Here, the public sector and the games industry are pulling together to create a widely visible focal point. With places like this, we as a games industry show our great diversity and enormous importance in technologies, as a cultural asset, and as an economic force."
May 2023