The Australian games sector has built some solid momentum over the past couple of years, but developers should be wary of increased economic challenges before stepping up their operations in 2024, according to IGEA CEO Ron Curry.
Award-winning kids digital content specialist Johanna Egger and long-time developer Morgan Jaffit are the inaugural appointees of the Federal Government's Digital Games Tax Offset Advisory Board.
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.
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.
The Interactive Games and Entertainment Association has encouraged the Australian games industry to consider its future pipeline of talent, following new data showing nearly 800 new jobs were created across the sector in the 2021/22 financial year.
As Screen Australia announces one of its biggest rounds of online funding, head of online Lee Naimo tells IF that more creators were favouring the self-release model because they recognised "there’s just an audience right there".