The fact that US-based studios haven’t won Game of the Year since 2020 indicates a shift in the industry’s balance, but the most striking data comes from the Scandinavian region. According to a 2025 report published by Alinea Analytics, Sweden, with a population of approximately 10 million, has quietly begun to dominate the global gaming industry. The country achieved a historic feat by holding an incredible 20% of total gross revenue on Steam in 2025.

The overwhelming dominance of the capital and the surprise leader

The lion’s share of this 20% market share belongs to the capital city, Stockholm. The capital alone accounts for a massive 16% of global revenue. However, the biggest surprise of the year came from Uppsala. R.E.P.O., developed in this region, managed to shake up the charts by accounting for a significant 3% of all games sold on the Steam platform in 2025.

The Swedish gaming map isn’t limited to the capital alone. While Skövde is home to Abyssus and the best-selling independent game RV There Yet, Gothenburg has produced notable titles like The Midnight Walk and Keep Driving. Uppsala, besides the success of R.E.P.O., has proven its production power with the PS5 version of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle and the The Order of Giants expansion pack.

Stockholm, where revenue records were broken, is a hub for big-budget productions. Titles like Arc Raiders, from Embark Studios (founded by former DICE employees), and the highly anticipated Battlefield 6 have further strengthened the capital’s power. Furthermore, Arrowhead, which offers regular updates with Helldivers 2, and Ubisoft Massive studio, the studio behind The Division series, continue to play a key role in the rise of the Swedish gaming industry.

So, what do you attribute this success of Swedish developers to? Did you know that some of your favorite games are Swedish-made? Share your thoughts with us in the comments!