Swedish studios grin as turnover climbs 21%

Swedish game studios have bucked recession trends with positive gains in turnover and workforce, according the nation’s industry body.

A study of 104 game development companies in Sweden shows that, collectively, the sector enjoyed a 21 per cent increase in turnover during 2008, reaching 1.2 billion kronor.

The report also notes a “spike in staff recruitment”, climbing 17 per cent to 1353 total employees.

The report was published by the Swedish Games Industry in its 2008 annual game developer’s index.

Questions remain whether Sweden can repeat the same feat for 2009; the year where its flagship studio GRIN went bankrupt due to an “unbearable cashflow situation.”

“The big developers solidified their international standing last year, which is made apparent by foreign investment in the form of acquisitions and an increasing development budget,” said a spokesperson for the Swedish Games Industry.