The first 20 years of video game developing in Sweden included work mostly done by separate individuals. Developing costs increased and the industry structure became more complex over time. Mapping the business of Swedish game developing history has been relatively problematic, because individuals were spread all over the country while working with different platforms in PDP, C64, VIC-20, Amiga, and IBM PC compatibles. Home computers became the focus for the creativity among often self-educated youths who got access during the 1980s.[1]
In 2018, the Swedish games industry generated €1.8 billion and it employed almost 8,000 people.[2]
For 2017, there were 4.2 million gamers in Sweden who spent $411.7 million.[3]
1980-1989
The colour-graphical VIC-20 home computer was released in 1981. The home computer Commodore 64 was released 1983. The game Space Action (1983) was developed by Arne Fernlund and published by Handic Software.[4]
After 20 years game development shifted towards project groups of game developers.[1]
Embracer Group AB (formerly Nordic Games Publishing AB and THQ Nordic AB) is a Swedish video game holding company based in Karlstad. The company was established under the name Nordic Games in December 2008, forming the video game publishing subsidiary of game retailer Game Outlet Europe.
EA Digital Illusions CE AB (DICE) is a Swedish video game developer based in Stockholm. The company was founded in 1992 and has been a subsidiary of Electronic Arts since 2006.
Fatalist Development AB, doing business asAvalanche Studios, is a Swedish video game developer based in Stockholm. Founded by Linus Blomberg and Christofer Sundberg in March 2003, Avalanche Studios focuses on developing open world projects and bases them on their proprietary Apex game engine (formerly known as Avalanche Engine).
Might and Delight is a Swedish video game development studio and publisher based in Stockholm. The studio was established in 2010 and is best known for the Shelter series.
Legendo Entertainment is a Sweden-based entertainment company, led by CEO Björn Larsson. Founded under the name "Iridon Interactive," in 1998, the company adopted its current title of “Legendo Entertainment,” in 2004.
Thunderful AB is a Swedish video game holding company based in Gothenburg. It was founded in December 2017 by Brjánn Sigurgeirsson and Klaus Lyngeled, in conjunction with Bergsala Holding, as the parent company for their Gothenburg-based game development studios, Image & Form and Zoink.
IO Interactive A/S (often shortened as IOI) is a Danish video game developer based in Copenhagen, best known for creating and developing the Hitman franchise.
Overkill Software is a Swedish video game developer based and founded in Stockholm in 2009 by Ulf Andersson, Bo Andersson and Simon Viklund, the founders and owners of now defunct game developer Grin.
The Sleeping Machine AB, formerly Cockroach Inc. till 2011, is an independent Swedish video game developer design & animation studio established in 2007 by Anders Gustafsson and Erik Zaring.
