Summary
The government has taken a proactive approach to promoting and fostering the growth of the gaming industry, offering attractive incentives and initiatives, including tax breaks for game developers
The making of a successful game involves various activities such as conceptualising, identifying the target audience, creating content, testing, localising, and publishing the game
Ireland has earned recognition as the fifth most digitised country in Europe, excelling in both capabilities and implementation. As we delve further into Ireland's digital landscape, it is worth noting the remarkable strides made in the gaming sector. The gaming industry in Ireland has witnessed a remarkable surge in demand, with a current market value of €260 billion. This staggering figure reflects the tremendous growth experienced by the digital gaming industry in recent years. Notably, the COVID-19 pandemic has further accelerated the rise of online gaming, contributing to its increasing popularity. Ireland's gaming industry is experiencing a significant boom and is quickly becoming a global powerhouse.
The country boasts a plethora of game development studios, from large international corporations such as Activision Blizzard, Havok, 9th Impact, Riot Games, Virtuos, Unity Technologies, EA Games and many more. Furthermore, Ireland has also established a firm foothold in the esports market, with several high-profile tournaments held in the country. The government has taken a proactive approach to promoting and fostering the growth of the gaming industry, offering attractive incentives and initiatives, including tax breaks for game developers, funding for university game development programs, and support for international conferences and events. With a highly skilled workforce and an enabling business environment, it is no surprise that Ireland's gaming industry is expected to continue to flourish in the years ahead.
According to a recent survey conducted by researchers from NUI Maynooth and the University of Limerick, the computer-games industry in Ireland is experiencing significant momentum. The survey findings highlight a dynamic landscape with a mix of multinational and indigenous companies operating within the sector.
The making of a successful game involves various activities such as conceptualising, identifying the target audience, creating content, testing, localising, and publishing the game. It is a specialised industry that requires skilled creative and technical talent, which can be acquired from universities like Vels University, Bharti Vidyapeeth Deemed University, Dayanand Sagar University besides many others in India and courses offered by institutes like UCC, Trinity College Dublin, UCD, University of Limerick and some others in Ireland. Predictive and behavioural AI plays a crucial role in the making of games, as do immersive technologies including Virtual, Augmented and Mixed reality.
The Irish passion for storytelling and arts has created a culture ideally suited for world-class animation studios to thrive. The government has introduced two schemes, the Digital Gaming Tax Credit, and the Section 481 tax credit, designed to help reduce the cost of developing games and offer up to 32% tax credit on qualifying expenses of production for animation studios. Besides, there are other types of funding available for game development sectors, including from Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland, European Media Fund, and Indie Fund.
International job seekers can greatly benefit from Ireland's thriving gaming industry, which is experiencing explosive growth and becoming a global powerhouse. With a current market value of €260 billion and projections of reaching $504 billion by 2030, the gaming sector offers immense opportunities. Ireland's proactive government initiatives, including tax breaks for developers and support for events, create a conducive environment for professionals. The country houses major studios like Activision Blizzard, Riot Games, and Unity Technologies, providing diverse roles in game development, design, AI, and immersive technologies. With a skilled workforce and strong IP laws, Ireland emerges as an attractive destination for game developers seeking to establish themselves in Europe's vibrant gaming landscape.
Ireland is recognised as a leading intellectual property (IP) jurisdiction, especially for gaming companies. The country's legal system provides robust protection for copyrighted content and has a well-established and strong legal framework for dealing with IP disputes. This is particularly important for the gaming industry, where protecting proprietary software and game content is essential for maintaining a competitive advantage. With the combination of supportive associations, availability of talent and strong IP laws, Ireland is an attractive location for game developers looking to establish a foothold in Europe.
The USA and Canada are other hotbeds for video game studios. Closer home other hubs for game development include Tokyo, Japan, a heavy weight with over 60 game companies and Seoul in S Korea.
With a user base of 396.4mn, India has the second largest population of gamers in the world. Ireland's gaming market has the potential to expand exponentially, with a projected global value of $504 billion by 2030, according to market researcher Grand View Research. The adoption of the incentive scheme could position the country in the forefront of this burgeoning market. The incentive program is also a means of leveraging Ireland's existing film, technology, and animation sectors while supporting Irish and European culture. Games development is a painful, expensive and challenging process, as is running a business and garnering gamers, choosing a jurisdiction wisely, helps eliminate the challenge of keeping your revenues safe, saving costs and protecting your IP.
About the author: Tanaz Buhariwalla, Director for IDA Ireland in India has been associated with the organisation for over a decade. In her role, Tanaz has been engaging and providing strategic counsel to various MNCs, conglomerates, large corporates, SMEs, and start-ups for their plans for European growth. Her go-getter attitude has helped a lot of companies understand their potential to expand beyond their current geography in the European markets. She has successfully advised and aligned companies like HCL, NIIT, Crompton Greaves, Tech Mahindra, Jaguar Land Rover, Infosys, Wipro, and mid-sized companies like BrowserStack, SMT, Biotech Visioncare amongst others to expand their footprint in the EU. Tanaz is a Commerce graduate and holds a Master’s degree in Change Management from the UK and an Advanced Management course from the Smurfit Business School, Ireland.
Last updated on 01 Sep 2023
