IGEA has released the results of its latest Australian Game Developer Survey, which has been supplemented with data from Sensor Tower. The results show only a slight loss of jobs, a high willingness to hire new staff, and just how important the global market is to the Australian games industry.
According to the Interactive Games & Entertainment Association (IGEA), 141 Australian studios took part in the survey. The survey was compiled and analysed by Bond University, with data from Sensor Tower being included for the first time to provide a comprehensive picture of the Australian games industry in the so-called Australian Game Development Industry Snapshot (AGDS).
This shows that Australia’s games industry generated a total of 608.5 million Australian dollars. At the current exchange rate, that is around 374.8 million euros. This figure represents the companies’ turnover and not the revenue generated by games in Australia. Australian studios generate 95 per cent of their turnover overseas, which, according to the IGEA, underscores the importance of exports for the industry.
In terms of employment figures, the snapshot shows that there are 2,443 full-time employees at dev studios in the Australian games industry. This means the labour market has remained relatively stable in size, even though the Australian games industry has also experienced several waves of redundancies. Nevertheless, more than half of Australian studios intend to hire new staff by 2026. The IGEA estimates the potential at over 400 new jobs.
The snapshot also shows that the industry is spread across large parts of Australia, with Victoria and New South Wales in south-eastern Australia together home to 44 per cent of games studios and over 50 per cent of all games jobs.
“The Australian games industry is showing steady growth according to our industry snapshots and we have a positive outlook for the year ahead, with several of the larger studios indicating that they are planning to hire. Government support has continued to provide confidence and stability, and likely a reason to invest in our industry and community. The support the industry has and the talent it holds is reflected in the outstanding and groundbreaking games that Australian studios are taking to market,” says Ron Curry, CEO of IGEA.
Curry also urged Australian studios to take part in the survey in order to highlight the industry’s growth and potential to federal, state and territory governments. “It gives us the ability to help strengthen the case for continued support through initiatives, including tax incentives like the Digital Games Tax Offset, and direct funding,” explains Curry.
