SA Government Levels Up Support for Game Developers
South Australian video game development just got a major boost, with the State Government and South Australian Film Corporation (SAFC) announcing a new grant program designed to fuel the local industry’s growth. Through the Digital Games Fund, studios can apply for up to $100,000 to help complete key stages of development, while eligible companies can also claim back 10% of their production costs spent within South Australia.
The announcement was made at Game Plus, the co-working space and business incubator established by AIE for game studios. AIE staff and members of the Game Plus community were in attendance to support the announcement of the fund, which is designed to accelerate the development of original and innovative game projects.
Arts Minister Andrea Michaels highlighted the significance of the sector, stating: "Gaming is an incredible sector, growing globally at an incredible rate. Here in South Australia, it's worth $36 million, and we've got some incredible talent."
The importance of this funding was underscored by local developer and AIE Alumni Rupert McPharlin, who is working to progress his game Toya. Speaking to the positive impact of dedicated financial support, Rupert said "The most exciting thing is the allowing the more collaborative game development because at the moment it's a hyper-competitive thing and most of us are doing it with other jobs."
Rupert hopes that the grants will allow developers to dedicate more time to their projects, resulting in a higher quality product for the market. South Australia has a growing games industry, and the fund will help local studios follow in the footsteps of successful local developers Team Cherry, responsible for the global hit Hollow Knight.
AIE is dedicated to fostering the next generation of industry talent, and we are excited to see our alumni and the wider Game Plus community benefit from this significant government investment. Applications for the Digital Games Fund are now open on the SAFC website.