“No dominant app”: Why Germany is still catching up in the vertical drama boom
While China and the US already have their own microdrama platforms with millions of users, Germany is still missing one key thing: a dominant local platform. A recent DWDL industry overview makes that gap clear. In Germany, the debate is still often about the format itself — when in reality, infrastructure is what really determines reach, distribution, and monetization.
First German productions show the potential
Germany is not starting from zero. With projects like “Size Does Matter,” “Trümmerkind,” and “Everlife,” it’s already clear that there are creative ideas, a variety of topics, and an audience for the format.
“Size Does Matter” was shot in Hesse in late January 2026 as a queer vertical mini-series and has been released since March 26 on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube Shorts. “Trümmerkind” has also already appeared as a German vertical microdrama on Instagram. “Everlife” is a German vertical project from Berlin that is built as a mysterious reality competition and has been building suspense on Instagram since March 2026.
Constantin Entertainment has produced two vertical series with 60 episodes each for Crisp Momentum. Banijay Productions Germany has produced a 28-part new-adult microdrama — so far without a publicly announced project title.
The real problem is still the platform
That is where the real gap lies: Germany is producing its first vertical dramas, but it still lacks a large homegrown app that can reach enough people and make money at scale. DWDL also points to companies like Black Forest Studios, which are not only producing series but also working on their own app. And the startup Vertical Minds wants to build EiLiN as a European platform for vertical video — proof that the interest and potential are there, but the infrastructure is still missing.
What this means
This says less about a weak German market and more about a missing system around it. The creative examples, first productions, and strategic moves show that the potential is already there. What is missing is a local ecosystem with real platform power — the part of the value chain that China and the US already control.
Source: https://www.dwdl.de/magazin/106722/mechanik_kaum_verstanden_die_produzenten_und_der_hochkanthype/
