Michael Kretschmer assumes patronage of Saxony’s games industry

Ministerpräsident Michael Kretschmer als Schirmherr der sächsischen Games-Branche (Foto: GECKO)

25. August 2026

Saxony’s Minister-President Michael Kretschmer has assumed patronage of the games industry in the Free State of Saxony. For Games & XR Mitteldeutschland, this represents recognition of the progress made in recent years – and a mandate to build on Saxony’s existing strengths over the long term.

Recognition for Saxony’s games industry

At the start of gamescom 2026, Saxony is sending a strong signal for the future development of its games ecosystem: Michael Kretschmer, Minister-President of the Free State of Saxony, has assumed patronage of Saxony’s games industry.

The patronage applies to the industry as a whole. It therefore recognises not a single project or event, but the broader development of Saxony’s games ecosystem – from studios and companies to universities, start-ups, networks, funding institutions and other partners.

Michael KretschmerMinister-President of the Free State of Saxony
“I am very pleased to assume patronage of Saxony’s games industry. A great deal has emerged in Saxony in recent years: creative studios, innovative companies, strong universities and a committed network. Games combine creativity with technological innovation and offer significant economic potential. This commitment deserves recognition and visibility. Next Level: Saxony! brings the different players together and showcases what Saxony has to offer as a games location. I want to help ensure that we continue to advance this development together.”

From individual successes to a shared strategic perspective

For Games & XR Mitteldeutschland e. V., the patronage is an important recognition of what numerous organisations and individuals across Saxony have built over the past years.

At the same time, we regard it as a mandate to continue this development. Saxony today has creative studios and growing companies, a strong university landscape, regional games funding, new structures supporting start-ups and growth, and an increasingly connected community.

Through Next Level Saxony, we bring these activities together on a shared platform and make companies, universities, projects, events as well as funding and support opportunities more visible.

The next step, however, should go further: Saxony’s existing strengths as a games location should be developed strategically and sustainably over the long term.

Friedrich LüderManaging Director of Games & XR Mitteldeutschland e. V.
“The Minister-President’s patronage is an important recognition of Saxony’s games industry as a whole and of everything that has been built here together over the past few years. At the same time, we see it as a mandate to continue this development. We need to connect the many strong initiatives across the Free State even more closely – from studios and start-ups to universities, funding institutions, cities, business and politics. With Next Level Saxony, we bring these activities together on a shared platform. The next step should be to develop a joint strategic perspective for Saxony as a games location: how can we build on our existing strengths in the long term and create better conditions for development, start-ups and growth?”

Rather than starting from scratch, the focus should be on connecting existing strengths more effectively, identifying remaining gaps and working together with industry, politics, academia and other partners to determine how Saxony can further strengthen its games ecosystem.

Turning creative ideas into sustainable companies

One important element of the next phase is ensuring that creative ideas can develop into sustainable businesses and that existing studios have the opportunity to grow in Saxony.

Alongside funding, visibility and networking, structures supporting entrepreneurship and business development are therefore becoming increasingly important.

Christopher Siebenhünerinitiator of R42 | Games Hub & Accelerator
“The decision to choose Saxony, and Leipzig in particular, was a very deliberate one. This is our home. We know the key stakeholders and understand the enormous potential of the digital economy in particular. With the R42 Games Hub and the R42 Games Accelerator, we are playing an active role in shaping this development. With a great deal of personal commitment, our own investments and the support of policymakers, we have been working for years to expand the structures of Saxony’s games industry. The fact that Michael Kretschmer, Minister-President of the Free State of Saxony, is now assuming patronage of Saxony’s entire games industry is a special recognition of this development for us. At the same time, it provides the momentum needed to continue this progress successfully. The next step is to turn the existing potential into more successful start-ups and growing, successful companies.”

The accelerator is one example of how Saxony’s games ecosystem has expanded in recent years. The broader challenge now is to connect such structures even more effectively and create strong long-term conditions for the industry as a whole.

Saxony at gamescom 2026

The announcement of the patronage comes at the start of gamescom 2026 in Cologne. From 26 to 28 August, Saxony will once again present itself with a joint booth in the Business Area, while further Saxon studios, companies and organisations will be represented across the trade fair.

For us, gamescom is therefore more than an opportunity to showcase individual projects. It is an international stage for Saxony’s growing games ecosystem – and a fitting moment to look ahead to its next stage of development.

The patronage of Minister-President Michael Kretschmer gives this development additional political visibility.

The next task is to build on Saxony’s existing strengths for the long term.

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