this italian market between video games is is increasingly solidAccording to the latest data, trust from local developers is increasing thanks to support tools deployed in government and beyond.
To contribute in this sense is Red Bull Indie Forge, a project that supports Italian developers, proposing to select valuable projects to “give them wings” and enable them to express their full potential.
“Italy has over 160 video game development studios and employs more than 1,600 people, a growing industry compared to recent surveys. 2.179 billion‘ reads the press release.
“Italian studies have shown an innovative approach that stands out both in the reinterpretation of existing franchises and in the creation of new franchises, and is among the few industries that benefit the country’s youth, with 79% of employees under 36 . . : them a key element for the economic recovery of recent years. It’s a set of features that should make it an element.”
“So much so that, according to Censis’ estimates, within five years 45 million euros have been invested in the game (the amount provided by the NRP as part of the item financing of digital service platforms for developers and cultural enterprises), the turnover of Italian companies in the sector will increase to 357 million euros in 2026 and 1000 jobs will be created. It will generate 360 million euros in private investment and 81 million euros in tax revenue.”
“But despite this, it was only recently that institutions and other funding bodies began to actively promote these realities and make Italy an attractive country for video games. In fact, 93% of developers use at least their initial savings to finance themselves. “
But recently, the trend has been reversing, with 18% growth in people relying on public funding to support their projects compared to 2018. And based on these needs of the industry, more and more important and institutional realities are activated to allow the Italian market to reveal all its technological and artistic excellence.
To give an example, the Ministry of Culture was renewed in 2022. Tax Credit Video GamesThe measure, which provides a tax deduction equal to 25% of the eligible costs of producing a video game, is currently up to a maximum of 1 million euros per company or group of companies per year, even if the financial coverage is doubled to a financial coverage equal to 11 million euros.
This is a provision that facilitates development work and also provides institutional support. With the long-term goal of bringing foreign investors to Bel Paese and making a new spokesperson for Made in Italy, a goal whose vote has convinced 57.9% of Italians, it is essential that such activities continue and multiply throughout Italy.
The perception among those currently working in the industry is that the most attractive countries for video games are the UK (for 73% of interviewees), the US (72%) and Germany (48%). On the other hand, less than half believe that Italy is interesting for this type of investment: an outcome that should change in the future.
But it’s not just institutions dealing with the financing of the Italian video game industry: big companies are also part of this important process. A virtuous example of such support is Red Bull Indie Forge, the innovative project dedicated to Italian independent development studios that aims to “give wings” to the industry.
A panel of industry professionals will select from a previously unpublished shortlist a winner who can rely on the firepower of Red Bull to promote the video game. Red Bull Indie Forge is trying to build a support network that allows the studio to gain greater visibility, and the success of the latest edition has pushed the company to make the project even more impressive: the award for the winning title, the core support of the company, also the biggest reality in the field of Computer Graphics education in Italy. An important collaboration with BigRock.
In particular, the studio writer of the champion title will have the opportunity to collaborate with the so-called RED team, the pioneer of the school, the elite of the best students of the master in Computer Graphics, Game and Concept Art. to provide tangible tools for a real qualitative leap for the winner. Applications will close at the end of July: a unique opportunity for Italian companies to make themselves visible and exploit the full potential of a great company.
Thanks to these (and many other) support activities for the industry, the climate among Italian developers is pure optimism: 75% say they are optimistic about the future of the industry, unlike other technological and non-technical ones. sectors. The time has come to test the proven flexibility and versatility of the gaming world and encourage the adoption of policies that have made Italy a central player at European level – why not? – Worldwide.
Source: Multiplayer
