The future of the gaming industry in Estonia

EVENTS and NEWS

2020

31.10.2020: POSTPONED!! Workshop "Cybersecurity for Entrepreneurs"
23.10.2020: Future City hackathon
08.10.2020: 8th annual EUAS entrepreneurship conference
23.09.2020: sTARTUp Gaming 2020
16.09.2020: Entrepreneurship conference will be held on 8 October 2020
10.09.2020: Achievement of the Year 2019 – Cleveron Academy
08.09.2020: Preventive measures to control the spread of COVID-19
04.09.2020: Important information and FAQ about the COVID-19 virus situation for student
18.08.2020: The future of the gaming industry in Estonia

The global gaming industry has now grown to encompass 2.7 billion gamers – a figure that translates to 35% of the world’s total population – as of April 2020, according to a recent Finbold report. The gaming sector is estimated to generate USD 159.3 billion in revenue in 2020.
This growth can be attributed to the coronavirus pandemic as gaming offers a convenient escape for those in lockdown. Home entertainment is among the few available options while in lockdown as cinemas and theatres remain closed. This scenario gives gaming a higher priority. The rapid growth of the gaming industry can also be linked to the emergence of cloud technology, which has given rise to cloud gaming – a form of online gaming that allows players to stream games on remote servers rather than having to download a game onto their system or owning a physical copy. Smartphone mobile gaming is also expected to contribute to the gaming explosion as the accessibility of smartphones allows users to quickly download and play new games with ease.
As the gaming population continues to rise, the gaming industry is expected to continue its upward trajectory for the foreseeable future. By 2022. Newzoo’s annual Global Market Report estimates that the global games industry will be worth USD 196.0 billion.
We also asked some questions from our lecturer’s and partners about the trends and future of the Estonian gaming industry:
What is the current state of the Estonian gaming industry and what does the future hold for us?
Estonia's game industry has completely transformed in the last 10 years but there is a lot of room for improvement. The greatest problem is the shortage of skilled professionals. "Disco Elysium" was a runaway success but there needs to be a lot more success stories and committed people to create a sustainable game industry.
Does a game design university degree give an advantage to future developers and designers?
While everybody can start making a game in their bedroom, there is a lot of knowledge you can't attain this way. University provides a safe learning environment, where you are allowed to fail, ask for help and gain valuable experience about working with others.
Careers can be long, and it's good to build your working life on a good foundation.
Rein Zobel
Creative Director @ Maru VR Productions

What is the current state of the Estonian gaming industry and what does the future hold for us?

In the last decade, Estonia has produced multiple companies that established themselves on the international scene. Thanks to a combination of strong engineering and design tradition as well as a lively entrepreneurial scene, we have the necessary ingredients to make an impact on the global scene. Fortunately, we are still in an age where a product developed by a relatively compact team can become a cultural phenomenon. Games can also be a powerful medium, introducing vast audiences to local culture or promoting choices that shape our future, such as the Playing for Planet initiative. However, the global nature of gaming industry sets a very high standard. Assuming a major role in an industry worth $150b is no easy feat. Anyone entering the playing field must realize that they'll face competition from the very best, and will need to demonstrate excellence, listen to their customers, and support an inclusive and respectful culture. The future of our industry will be determined by our ability to pursue extremely ambitious goals while staying humble and supportive.

Does a game design university degree give an advantage to future developers and designers?
One of the fundamental challenges of our industry is marrying product thinking with business savvy. Some of the greatest gaming companies were built around business ideas rather than just game ideas. Anyone can learn to code and create content with enough dedication, but a multi-faceted curriculum provides an opportunity to match hard skills with a wider view of the business.
Vladimir Funtikov
CEO @ Creative Mobile
09.07.2020: 2020 best theses and graduates with honours
24.06.2020: The Student World Fair
21.06.2020: The Lecturer of the Year 2020 title won...
20.06.2020: Virtual Graduation Ceremony of EUAS
17.06.2020: Graduation in a new way
09.06.2020: Study: Ülemiste City has the fifth-largest economy among Estonian cities
28.05.2020: Conference “Entrepreneurship and Innovation: How To Avoid Getting Stuck In Today’s World” - Call for Papers
22.05.2020: EUAS student story: Fletima Andrianne Dias
21.05.2020: Ülemiste City announces a thesis scholarship competition for the development of a future campus
13.05.2020: Eric Kwayisi: Alumni story
04.05.2020: Study and work organization from May 4
22.04.2020: How we are coping at the hostel with the coronavirus crisis
21.04.2020: EUAS #StayHomeChallenge
17.04.2020: Applicants invited to apply for Ülo Pärnits Scholarship Fund grants
08.04.2020: Digital Challenge Accepted
26.03.2020: Measures of blocking the COVID-19
18.03.2020: ABB scholarship program candidacy
10.02.2020: Opening ceremony for the 2020 academic year
31.01.2020: Global Game Jam 2020
29.01.2020: Public lecture: FLOW is the New Place - Revolution in the Customer Journey