The games industry in Australia is entering a new era, with the Digital Games Tax Offset and increased
direct investment in games from Screen Australia and state screen agencies. IF examines how the support will stretch beyond developers alone to benefit visual effects and post-production companies and creatives who have traditionally worked in film and television.
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The Victorian Government has added a $15 million Digital Screen Rebate to its suite of incentives, with grants available to post-production, animation, digital games, and VFX projects that are undertaken within the state with local workers.
Kimble Rendall has been exploring the capabilities of Unreal Engine with Alex Proyas’ Heretic Foundation in Sydney, with a view to making his feature film 'Age of Beasts' using the software while creating assets for a game simultaneously.
Australia's first international games market will take place in Melbourne this October, offering the country's developers the chance to pitch concepts to global publishers, platform holders, and investors.
Screen Australia has unveiled the two studios that will share $600,000 through its First Nations Games Studio Fund, while also announcing $2.4 million for 21 games as part of the Games: Expansion Pack.
Overall gains in employment, significant growth in the digital games industry, and rising production costs for television drama have headlined the eighth Australian Bureau of Statistics Film, Television and Digital Games survey - the first since 2015/16.
Trackdown GM Elaine Beckett believes it's not only developers who stand to benefit from the Digital Games Tax Offset and increased government investment in games, but also post-production services.
Up to two First Nations game studios will receive $150,000 per year for two years under a new initiative from Screen Australia.