German Games Industry's Wait for Tax Credits Continues

At the political opening of gamescom, there was much praise for the importance of games as a cultural asset and economic factor. Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck addressed the elephant in the room, hoping that a tax-based funding model could become a reality next year.

The guests of honour at the political opening of gamescom had one thing on their minds: Praising the games industry. Mayor Henriette Reker called Cologne "Europe's games capital". And Hendrik Wüst, Minister President of North Rhine-Westphalia, called gamescom "the place to be" for representatives of society. He also emphasised the economic dimension, which many people unfamiliar with the scene are unable to appreciate.

game - Verband der deutschen Games-Branche, meanwhile, took the opportunity to reiterate its call for reliable support. The pace at which Germany is moving in terms of funding is simply not good enough at the moment. The demand was of course directed at the Federal Minister of Economics and Vice-Chancellor, Robert Habeck, who is responsible for games policy and has therefore been dubbed the 'Games Minister' on more than one occasion.

Habeck, who personally opened gamescom last year, took up the theme without sugar-coating anything. He also stressed the importance of the games industry. It is about maintaining and developing key skills in digital competition in Germany," Habeck said. However, Habeck also made it clear that with the current funding system, there is always the threat of a funding freeze once the funds provided have been exhausted. Nevertheless, Habeck pointed to the new funding guideline that his ministry has drawn up and which is now available to other bodies involved. "I hope it doesn't just sit there, but that it will be worked on," Habeck joked.

Habeck also picked up on the industry's desire for a tax credit system and mentioned the advantages, for example that there is no need to apply and that there is initially no cap based on a fixed funding amount. Habeck also made a point here: "Finance ministers hate a funding programme where there is no limit," said the Vice-Chancellor. However, it is of course necessary for such a system to be financed and supported by everyone, in this case the federal and state governments. The economics ministers of the federal states have already said that they want this. If words are followed by deeds and suitable solutions are found, the time could well come next year, Habeck indirectly held out the prospect of implementation. "That would be a groundbreaking success for the games industry," said the Vice Chancellor. Indeed, it would be.