It is fairly uncommon to dive into the topics related to games in Estonia or Finland. This is due to the fact that those countries are located at the very edge of Europe and nobody really heard of them
Yet, I would like to give you some little sneak peak into gaming in those countries as I am a native Estonian and pretty well experienced in the industry.
Mild summers cold winters
If you think about the reasons for people playing video games or any other type of entertainment online then you do not have to look far. It is fun and extremely engaging as you can escape from reality and spend time doing something fun out of your ordinary daily routine.
In Estonia especially we have extremely dull winters and the weather keeps pushing you inside the closed doors. So what do you do? Obviously, you try to find some activity online. Games are an option.
Online games in Estonia
Gaming can not be associated with one country only. Everything online has a global touch to it so is it with the games.
Game manufacturers are located all over the world, yet, game manufacturing requires extremely high-qualified workforce. Therefore, the gaming companies are all over the world, mostly in the countries with more favourable taxes, rather than cheap labor.
Taxes in Estonia
Estonia is a fairly new country. After we were liberated from the iron grip of Soviet Union, we needed to attract investments from abroad, take a loan from our international partner countries and push our own people to be active and grow the economy.
Part of the growing fase is to keep the taxes low to attract foreign investors and to favor the emerge of new businesses by our own people.
Now, in 2024, Estonia has became a quite robust economy, yet we have to import most of the important good from abroad, mainly from the industrial countries in Europe like Germany and Poland.
Foreign capital flow in Estonia
Many Nordic companies are taking advantage of the low taxes in Estonia and decide to start a company in our jurisdiction. Their key target market may still be in their own country like Norway, Sweden, Finland or even in Taiwan or United States.
Those examples are just brought out here to illustrate the global reach of some of the Estonian start-ups and foreign enterprises.
Our tax system is built to serve both the local companies and foreign enterprises.
Trends reflect the dynamic nature of the gaming industry and its intersection with technology, culture, and society in Estonia
Estonia, like many other countries, experiences trends influenced by global gaming patterns. Here are some trends that might be prevalent in the Estonian online gaming scene:
Mobile Gaming Dominance Estonia has a high mobile penetration rate, and mobile gaming is likely a dominant trend. Games like “Clash of Clans,” “Among Us,” and “PUBG Mobile” could be popular among Estonian gamers due to their accessibility and social aspects.
Esports Growth Esports has been growing globally, and Estonia is no exception. The country has seen increased interest in esports tournaments, both locally and internationally. Games like “Counter-Strike: Global Offensive” (CS:GO), “League of Legends,” and “Dota 2” might have active eSports scenes in Estonia.
Indie Game Development Estonia has a thriving tech industry and a supportive startup ecosystem. This could lead to a rise in indie game development, with local developers creating unique and innovative games.
Platforms like Steam and itch.io provide opportunities for Estonian indie developers to showcase their work to a global audience.
Virtual Reality (VR) Gaming With advancements in VR technology, Estonia might see a growing interest in VR gaming. VR arcades and gaming lounges could emerge, offering immersive gaming experiences to players. Games like “Beat Saber,” “Half-Life: Alyx,” and “Superhot VR” could gain popularity among Estonian gamers.
Cross-Platform Gaming Cross-platform gaming allows players to play together regardless of the platform they’re using. This trend could be significant in Estonia, where players might prefer games that offer cross-platform compatibility.
Games like “Fortnite,” “Minecraft,” and “Rocket League” support cross-platform play and could be popular choices among Estonian gamers.
Cloud Gaming Cloud gaming services like Google Stadia, NVIDIA GeForce Now, and Xbox Cloud Gaming (formerly known as Project xCloud) could gain traction in Estonia.
These services allow players to stream games over the internet, eliminating the need for high-end hardware. This trend could appeal to gamers looking for flexibility and convenience.
Gamification in Education and Work Gamification, the application of game design elements in non-game contexts, could be integrated into education and workplace training programs in Estonia.
Serious games and gamified learning platforms might see increased adoption, enhancing engagement and motivation among students and employees.
