CAEN Codes for GameDev
CAEN codes state which activities your entity is officially allowed to carry out. You have one main code, which describes your core activity, and several secondary codes that cover related activities.
For game development, it pays to pick codes with an eye on what you do now and what you might do later: publishing games, software on demand, liveops, websites, your own platforms, design, marketing or services for other clients.
The codes below follow the CAEN Rev. 3 classification, per INS Order no. 377/2024.
The full official list is on ONRC: the CAEN nomenclature. Every code, with the complete CAEN Rev. 3 structure, is also in the official ONRC PDF.
Recommended codes for game development
| CAEN Rev. 3 | Activity | When to use it | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5821 | Publishing of computer games | If you publish your own games, this is the natural main code. | Recommended main code for your own games |
| 6210 | Custom software development, client-oriented software | If you build software, prototypes, tools, services or development for clients. | Important secondary |
| 5829 | Other software publishing | For other software products you publish, not necessarily games. | Secondary |
| 6220 | IT consultancy and computing facilities management | For IT consultancy, technical audits, architecture, processes, pipelines or advanced technical support. | Secondary |
| 6290 | Other IT service activities | For related IT services that do not fit cleanly into the other codes. | Secondary |
| 6310 | Data processing, web page hosting and related activities | For hosting, web administration, backends, data, dashboards or online infrastructure. | Secondary |
| 6391 | Web portal activities | For websites, your own platforms, online communities or web apps that work as a portal. | Secondary |
| 7311 | Advertising agency activities | For marketing services, campaigns, promotion or advertising. | Secondary |
| 7312 | Media representation services | For media space, representation or media brokering activities. | Secondary |
| 7412 | Graphic design and visual communication | For game art, UI, branding, visual materials, key art or promo graphics. | Secondary |
| 7414 | Other specialized design activities | For product design, game design, systems, experience or other creative services. | Secondary |
Main vs secondary
The main code should describe your primary activity.
If you make and publish your own games, 5821 is usually the natural choice for the main code. If you mostly work for clients, do outsourcing, custom software, tools or prototypes, 6210 may fit better as the main code.
A simple rule for game developers is to have both: if you pick 5821 as main, add 6210 as secondary, and the other way around. In practice, game development often touches both sides: publishing your own products and building software for clients or partners.
Why secondary codes are worth it
Secondary codes let you invoice related activities more easily without amending the company later.
Maybe today you only make the game, but in a few months you might need a website, a liveops backend, your own platform, marketing services, graphic assets, consultancy, outsourcing or internal tools. If those activities are already covered by secondary codes, the process is simpler.
You do not need to add completely irrelevant codes, but it is worth including the ones that realistically match your business direction.
Watch out for PFA
A PFA can have at most 5 CAEN codes. Because of that, you need to choose more carefully than with an SRL.
A practical starting combination for a game development PFA:
| Priority | CAEN Rev. 3 | Activity |
|---|---|---|
| Main | 5821 | Publishing of computer games |
| Secondary | 6210 | Custom software development |
| Secondary | 6220 | IT consultancy |
| Secondary | 6290 | Other IT services |
| Secondary | 7412 or 7414 | Graphic design / specialized design |
Pick the 5 based on what you do
Since you only get five slots, put the activity that brings in most of your income as the main code.
You make and publish games
5821main6210custom software6290other IT services6391web portals / platforms7412graphic design
Programmer / software on demand
6210main5821game publishing6220IT consultancy6290other IT services7414specialized design
Artist / freelance art
7412main7414other specialized design5821game publishing6210custom software6290other IT services
None of the profiles fit cleanly? Put the activity that makes you the most money today as the main code, and fill the rest with codes you will actually invoice.
Watch out for SRL
An SRL does not have the 5-code limit a PFA has, so you can include more relevant secondary activities right from incorporation.
For a game development SRL, a solid setup is:
Main field: 582 Software publishing activities
Main activity: 5821 Publishing of computer games
Secondary activities: 5829, 6210, 6220, 6290, 6310, 6391, 7311, 7312, 7412, 7414.
CAEN Rev. 3 for existing companies
If your company is older and was set up on the old CAEN codes, check whether the activity object needs to be updated to CAEN Rev. 3.
For an SRL, the codes appear in the articles of association, and the update is done through the Trade Register procedure. If you are changing other things in the company too, it is worth discussing with a lawyer or accountant so it is all done correctly in the same file.
For a PFA, the codes are listed in the registration documents and in the Trade Register data. If you are not sure how to change them, the safest path is to check the ONRC procedure directly or ask your accountant.
Example wording for an SRL
How CAEN codes go into the articles of association can be seen in the articles of association template in the SRL setup section.
Main field of activity:
582 - Software publishing activities
Main activity:
5821 - Publishing of computer games
Secondary activities:
5829, 6210, 6220, 6290, 6310, 6391, 7311, 7312, 7412, 7414