Funding supports attendance of Western Australian games and interactive industry at Gamescom

A $50,000 Western Australian Government grant is helping five Western Australian game studios to attend the world's biggest computer and video games event in Cologne, Germany for Gamescom 2022.

WA game studios Black Lab, Hungry Sky, Big Bench Games, SpaceDraft and EarthLingo will attend the event from 24th to 28th August 2022, alongside Screenwest and the Interactive Games & Entertainment Association, who are hosting an Australian pavilion stand at the event.

The grant complements a $2 million boost for the digital games and interactive industry by the State Government.

Administered by Screenwest, the pilot funding will enable WA game studios to access the recently announced Federal Digital Games Tax Offset for eligible projects.

The funding will boost the growth of WA's digital games sector by supporting content development, capability development and strategic industry building opportunities.

WA Culture and the Arts Minister David Templeman notes "The digital games industry is large and growing rapidly. This investment will enable WA game developers to support content development and access worldwide markets.

"The games and interactive technology industry can provide significant economic and cultural benefits to WA. Games and immersive technologies present a major opportunity for economic diversification of the State, as identified in the Diversify WA economic development framework.

"WA's presence at Gamescom 2022 will provide valuable networking opportunities and showcase WA game studios on the international stage."

Australia is the official partner country of this year's Gamescom. The pavilion stand is also supported by Austrade, Screen Queensland, Trade and Investment Queensland, Investment New South Wales, Creative Victoria, South Australian Department for Trade and Investment, South Australian Film Corporation, Screen Tasmania, and Tasmanian Department of State Growth.