New South Wales has joined South Australia in widening its 10 per cent post, digital and visual effects (PDV) rebate to include game development.
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 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.
Screen Australia will commit $6 million over two years to support small to medium independent game studios with projects with budgets below $500,000.
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.
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".
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.
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.