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.
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".
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.
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.
The Federal Government will provide an additional $19.6 million over two years from 2023 to expand the Digital Games Tax Offset so that it covers ongoing development work—known as ‘live ops’—on digital games following their release.
The Interactive Games and Electronics Association is aiming to keep gaming on the agenda in the lead up to the Federal Election, publishing a policy platform outlining objectives for the sector.
The Interactive Games and Entertainment Association is lobbying the government to establish a direct funding program similar to the now-defunct Australian Interactive Games Fund in order to support independent game developers.
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.