Polish Gaming Industry Overview

Poland is an important player in the world gaming industry. From small studios and communities of enthusiastic developers to well-established companies, the gaming scene in Poland is diverse and dynamic. It contributes to the country's economy and the global gaming landscape.

But was it always like this? Let's see where the beginnings of this thriving industry come from, who are the top game publishing companies, and which are the best-selling games of all time. Let's look a little further and see how promising the future of the Polish game industry is.

Poland's Gaming Industry Takes Off in the 1990s

If we look back to the 1970s and then to the present, we will see a considerable evolution in the gaming industry in Poland. 

1970s-1980s: Pioneering Era

During the 1970s and 1980s, the gaming industry in Poland faced many challenges such as the lack of infrastructure, limited resources, and government restrictions. However, despite these challenges, there were some early technological developments such as the Odra 1300 and the Commodore 64. Some universities and technical schools also began offering computer science and programming courses during this time, which laid the foundation for future game developers.

1990s: Tech Advancements and Growth

The 1990s saw an increase in technological advancements and reforms. These led to a better environment for the gaming industry development. Polish gaming companies started distributing foreign games, as well as developing their own. PC gaming was the dominant platform at that time. Additionally, the 1990s saw the rise of renowned Polish game development studios such as CD Projekt (established in 1994) and People Can Fly (originally known as Epic Games Poland, rebranded in 2002).

2000s-Present: Global Recognition

In the 2000s and beyond, Polish game developers gained international recognition for their work. CD Projekt Red, especially, achieved global success with "The Witcher" series. Polish game developers diversified their portfolio during this period, exploring various genres and platforms, and embraced technological advances, including virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR).Investment in Polish games has also increased, leading to the expansion of existing studios and the establishment of new ones, making Poland one of the leading European countries in terms of game development.

Top Game Developers in Poland

Many Polish game development studios create innovative and beloved games. Let's discover some of the top ones!

CD Projekt Red

CD Projekt Red is a leading video game development studio based in Poland, which specializes in creating engaging and story-driven RPGs (role-playing games).

The company was founded in 1994 by Marcin Iwiński and Michał Kiciński and became popular through its successful "The Witcher" series, based on the fantasy novels by Andrzej Sapkowski. The series is famous for its deep characters, and great story of Geralt of Rivia, a monster hunter for hire, in a dark and immersive fantasy world. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is their big hit and is considered one of the best-selling video games ever.

Apart from "The Witcher," CD Projekt Red is also known for Cyberpunk 2077. The game was released in late 2020 but had technical issues, which led to criticism from players and industry observers.  Despite the challenges faced, CD Projekt Red is a respected name in the gaming industry with numerous awards throughout the years, including multiple "Game of the Year" for The Witcher 3. 

 CD Projekt is also a distributor and owner of GOG.com, a popular online game store.

Techland

Techland is the second-largest game development company in Poland, with a valuation of around $2 billion (USD). Founded in 1991 by Paweł Marchewka and headquartered in Wroclaw, is famous for creating popular and successful video game franchises, often with horror or action-adventure elements.

With over 30 years of experience, they have a lot of fans and are internationally recognized for their technical expertise, engaging narratives, and game design. Their most popular games are the Call of Juarez series (including Bound in Blood), "Dead Island" and "Dying Light". Last year, Techland earned approximately $205 million from their game, Dying Light 2.

In 2016, Chinese tech giant Tencent acquired a majority stake in Techland, creating an important partnership in the gaming world, but despite this, Techland has maintained its independence and continues to operate as a separate studio.

11 bit studios

Another leading gaming company in Poland is 11 bit studios . It was founded on September 11, 2010, in Warsaw, Poland, by the creators of CD Projekt. They are known for their unique approach to gaming, narrative-driven games featuring strategy, survival, and the RPG genre.

The most popular games of 11-bit studios are Warzone Earth, This War of Mine, and Frostpunk. These games approach serious themes like wartime survival and societal collapse, resonating with players emotionally.

Their games have been praised by The Guardian, The New York Times, and TIME Magazine. The many awards they won were for innovative storytelling and impactful themes. 

11 bit studios stands out for their commitment to creating "GAMES THAT MATTER", as their slogan suggests, which has garnered them a loyal fan base and critical acclaim.

“We are brave and want to make a mark.

We are all here to make meaningful games!

We earn trust! We act smart!”

Polish Game Devs: Meet 3 More!

In the same sense, we can also mention the following top Polish game development companies:

• Bloober Team specializes in psychological horror games. They created "Layers of Fear", "Observer" and "The Medium". Bloober team is known for its 3D story and atmospheric gameplay. Players feel like they are right there in the middle of the game's story.
• The Farm 51 was founded in 2005, focusing on both traditional games and virtual reality applications. Known for games like Chernobylite, a sci-fi horror experience set near the Chornobyl disaster zone.
• People Can Fly was originally founded in Poland (although it now with offices globally), popular for its work on games like "Painkiller," "Bulletstorm," and more recently, the critically acclaimed "Outriders." They are renowned for their expertise in creating high-intensity action games.

Now that we know the most successful Polish gaming companies, let’s find out which are the best-selling games of all time in Poland.

Top-Selling Polish Games 

It's widely known that Polish game developers create exceptional gaming experiences with stunning visuals and captivating stories. As a result, Polish games have won the hearts of players from all over the world.

Now we will present the best-selling Polish games of all time, which highlight the talent of Polish developers in this industry.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 

• Release date: 2015-05-18 
• Genre: Action role-playing 
• Developer: CD PROJEKT RED
• 50 million copies sold

A vast and detailed fantasy world, where your decisions impact the story and characters' fates.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is one of the best-selling and most acclaimed RPG games of all time. With over 50 million copies sold, it was awarded for its richly detailed world, engaging story, and well-developed characters. The soundtrack and visuals are top-notch, while the fighting system is considered strategic and rewards the player's skill. Recently, a next-generation update brought graphical improvements to the game and additional content inspired by the Netflix series.

Cyberpunk 2077

• Release date: 2020-12-10 
• Genre: Action & Cyberpunk 
• Developer: CD PROJEKT RED
• Over 25 Million Copies Sold

Explore Night City,  create your character,  take on missions, engage with random events, or just soak up the atmosphere.

Cyberpunk 2077 was highly anticipated before its release, but the initial game's bugs and performance issues were met with criticism. Later, the developers released patches that improved the game's stability. Despite these challenges, the game sold over 25 million copies and received praise for its story, setting, and visuals. In September 2023, a new expansion called "Phantom Liberty" was released.  It adds a new storyline to the game.

Dying Light 2 Stay Human 

 

• Release date: 2022-02-04
• Genre: Action & Adventure, RPG
• Developer: Techland
• 5 million Copies Sold in its first month of release

Run, jump, fight! Uncover the secrets of a city as Aiden, a parkour expert in search of his sister in a zombie apocalypse!

Dying Light 2 Stay Human is a popular game that follows the original Dying Light. It is available on various platforms such as PlayStation, Windows PC, and Xbox, and a version for Nintendo is in the works. Players and reviewers liked the game, especially for its open world, parkour mechanics, and engaging combat. However, some critics noted a lack of innovation compared to the first game and occasional technical issues. But this did not stop the game from selling 5 million copies in the first month after its release, which highlights the popularity of the game.  The franchise as a whole, including both Dying Light 1 and 2, has sold more than 30 million copies.

This War of Mine

• Release date: 2014-11-14
• Genre: War Survival
• Developer: 11 bit studios
• 9 million Copies Sold 

In This War of Mine, you manage civilian survivors in a war-torn city, facing difficult choices between survival and morality day and night. Steal for survival? Risk all for hope?

The game is heavily inspired by the siege of Sarajevo during the Bosnian war in the early 1990s. The main theme is the impact of the war on people and everyday life. The game received critical acclaim for its powerful emotional impact, challenging decision-making scenarios, and a new kind of gameplay. Originally designed as a PC game, but now also adapted for consoles and mobile devices. This War of Mine has sold over 9 million copies across all platforms, which is a great success. 

Growth and Trends Ahead: Poland's Gaming Market

According to Statista the video game market in Poland is expected to grow by 2027, with online games. Mobile and download games will see steady growth, while physical game sales (Gaming Networks) are expected to decline slightly. The average revenue growth of video games in Poland across all segments from 2020 to 2027 is 8.34%.

Thus, the main trends expected to shape the future of the gaming industry in Poland are: 

More Games Online

Multiplayer experiences are growing in popularity as players prefer to play online games together, from competitive eSports tournaments to collaborative multiplayer adventures.

More Mobile Gaming 

Most games will be played on phones and tablets, as people are looking for entertainment on the go mobile gaming can offer this.

VR & AR in Games

New technology will make games feel more real, with advanced sound design, high-resolution graphics, and special controllers that vibrate and move in ways that match what's happening on screen.

Focus on Localization Cultural Identity 

Game developers will tend to focus on local stories, folklore, and traditions to create games that emphasize cultural identity in game development.

Indie Game Development

This direction is expected to continue to grow, with lots of small developers creating cool and unique games,  gaining fans around the world.

This way gaming industry will see a rise in online and mobile gaming along with the adoption of VR/AR and a focus on celebrating local culture.

In Conclusion

Poland's gaming industry has come a long way from overcoming initial challenges to gaining global recognition. Gifted with talent and innovation, the Polish gaming industry has transformed from a small scene into a global powerhouse. 

Some of the best game companies like CD Projekt Red, Techland, and 11 bit have produced best-selling games like 'The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt', 'Dying Light 2 Stay Human' and 'This War of Mine', here in Poland, featuring - talent and creativity.

Looking ahead, the Polish gaming market will continue to grow, captivating players from all over the world.