It's time for another data post! Last time I shared a chart showing how much the industry has grown in the last few decades (link in comments). Now we’re taking a look at where these companies are, and when they were founded.
To start: the database currently has about 2,000 unique companies across 82 different countries. That number is always growing as we continue to map new entrances to the games service industry.
The top 10 countries with the highest number of service companies:
1) USA
2) UK
3) Brazil
4) Canada
5) Germany
6) Singapore
7) India
8) France
9) Poland
10) Argentina & Spain
It's worth noting that China and Japan are a little underrepresented in our database due to the language barrier (we only map companies with digital presences in English), and a few countries, like Singapore, are likely over-represented, as we go by where a company is registered, not necessarily where the majority of employees are located.
What's also revealing in this data is the shift in the industry's center of gravity. While the US and UK still dominate, the emergence of strong service hubs in places like Brazil and Poland shows how truly global game development has become. The old model of "outsourcing to low-cost regions" is evolving into specialized service corridors with deep expertise, regardless of geography.
Looking at all of this got me thinking about when I started in External Development, how the market felt infinite back then. The task of finding a partner felt like standing at the edge of an unexplored ocean with no maps.
As we've worked to chart this landscape, the world hasn’t shrunk, but it has become far more familiar. Each studio we add is another coordinate. Not just data, but a story, a capability, a team looking to make a mark.
And that’s what makes this work exciting. We're not just tracking growth, we’re charting relationships, patterns, and opportunities that help make this industry feel more navigable for everyone.
More to come soon. In the meantime, if you're a service provider and have not yet connected with CDR (or know of one we’re missing), drop me a line. We’re always excited to learn about new teams.
