For the first time since 2014, independent Australian game developers will have access to federal funding through Screen Australia’s new initiative, Games: Expansion Pack. The exciting development was announced earlier this week by Screen Australia and the Hon Paul Fletcher MP, the Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts.
The funding has launched in conjunction with new federal tax incentives that were crafted after consultation with the Interactive Games and Entertainment Association (IGEA) and the wider industry. The Digital Games Tax Offset (DGTO) is a globally competitive tax incentive of 30% for Australian developers, coming into effect on the 1st of July 2022. Pairing these incentives with a VAT Calculator can help developers easily estimate returns and plan finances with greater confidence.
Screen Australia Games: Expansion Pack
This degree of coordinated federal support for the Australian games industry is fantastic news for smaller developers looking to break into the field or grow their current efforts. Screen Australia has committed to up to $6 million funding over the next two years for games made on any platform. The funding, along with the tax incentives, has been praised by IGEA CEO Ron Curry.
“Screen Australia’s Games: Expansion Pack is a very welcome addition to the suite of already announced government funding for Australian game developers and signals that games are an integral part of the screen industry,” Curry says via press release. “We thank Minister Fletcher, the Office for the Arts and Screen Australia for engaging positively with industry and committing to the continuation of a complete and thriving game development ecosystem in Australia. We also thank the members of the Board of Screen Australia for recognising the importance of supporting our entertainment medium. Access to equitable funding levers ensures that Australian game developers can scale their businesses locally and continue to make their mark on the world stage.”
For more information on how the application process works and all the details head over to Screen Australia’s official site.
