On Monday 30 March 2026, the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) held the first Cluster Meeting on video games in the context of the Agency’s Feedback to Policy Plan.
The aim of this full-day event was to collect operational insights from video game projects funded under the Creative Europe Programme and to source that feedback back to Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology (DG CONNECT), ahead of the 2028-2034 Multiannual Financial Framework.
EACEA welcomed over 70 participants at its premises in Brussels, among which representatives of DG CONNECT, Directorate-General Research and Innovation (DG RTD), the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA), EACEA, the Creative Europe Desks and 32 beneficiaries selected under the 2022, 2023 and 2024 calls, of which 15 participated as panellists.
DISCUSSION
The day was structured around four interactive panels organised by key themes, each with room for audience questions.
- Highlights and achievements of current development support
- Lessons learned during MEDIA 2021–2027
- Opportunities for the future: Beyond development support
- Designing a resilient video game ecosystem: Financial strategies for sustainable growth
The idea was to capture:
- What’s working? Where have the EU support mechanisms genuinely made a difference to the video game sector’s ability to create, innovate, and compete? What elements of the current framework should we aim to preserve and expand?
- What’s not working? Where are the gaps, the bottlenecks, the mismatches between policy design and business reality? Where does bureaucracy get in the way without adding value? Where are the missed opportunities?
- What’s emerging? What trends are on the horizon that policy needs to prepare for? What challenges are coming that we should anticipate? What opportunities could Europe uniquely seize if we act strategically
Panellists included studios behind some of Europe’s recent standout releases, among which The Game Bakers (France), whose climbing game Cairn has sold over half a million copies since its January 2026 launch; Maru VR Productions (Estonia), whose VR title Bootstrap Island was released in March 2026 to critical acclaim; Cyborn (Belgium), winners of the Best XR Game at the Belgian Game Awards for Wall Town Wonders; Bird Island (Denmark), seven-time MEDIA beneficiaries; and CD Projekt Red (Poland), who confirmed that Creative Europe support for The Witcher 2 and 3 was an important stepping stone in the studio’s growth.
KEY FINDINGS
The discussions generated concrete, operational feedback including: the impact of grant ceiling and co-financing increases; the specific needs of video game development compared to other sectors; the increasing interest for support to marketing and self-publishing; and the structural challenges regarding distribution.
Participants also addressed the rapidly changing publisher landscape, the implications of current eligibility criteria, and the leverage effect of EU funding in attracting national and private co-investment.
Four main conclusions emerged out of the Cluster Meeting discussion:
- Effectiveness of existing support
The existing support to the video game industry under Creative Europe, which has been gradually increased and optimised, is considered highly relevant and for the sector’s development.
Demand for flexible funding models
There was a call for more flexible funding, notably to enable projects at varying stages to receive tailored support. Of course, resources are always finite, but the day’s discussion has identified some compelling opportunities worth exploring down the line.
Administrative efficiency
There remains room to improve the application and reporting processes, reducing administrative burdens and enhancing accessibility.
Promoting financial resilience
There is more out there than MEDIA grants: financial diversification is essential for companies to build resilience and ensure sustainable growth.
For more information on the meeting, feel free to reach out through the Creative Europe contact form. If you're looking for additional information about the programme, or if you have specific questions regarding your project, you can contact your local Creative Europe Desk.
- Publication date
- 11 May 2026
- Author
- European Education and Culture Executive Agency