The Australian Government is backing in the digital games sector by introducing legislation to establish a Digital Games Tax Offset in the coming months.

A 30 per cent refundable tax offset will be available to eligible games developers that spend a minimum of $500,000 on qualifying Australian development expenditure.

Minister for the Arts, Tony Burke, said the Offset will promote the growth of Australia’s digital games development industry and increase our market share in the rapidly expanding global sector.

“From The Hobbit back in the 1980s right up to Unpacking – Australian developers have a proud history, and we want to nurture that well into the future,” Minister Burke

In Australia, game development studios generated $226.5 million of income and employed 1,327 fulltime workers in 2020-21.

The legislation will form part of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997, which already provides incentives to the screen sector.

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Take advantage of this generous scheme by setting up your development studio in Melbourne.  With a high concentration of creative and technical talent, Melbourne's local gaming ecosystem is a hotbed of opportunity. It is Australia’s top game development location and the perfect city to create games with global commercial appeal.

Melbourne is home to 170 of Australia’s 200 digital games studios, where 87 per cent of revenue is generated from soaring overseas sales. Growth is being accelerated by international studios that are acquiring and expanding Melbourne’s world-class resources.

Join renowned names such as EA, Sledgehammer, Nickelodeon, Pixar, Disney, Warner Bros and ID@Xbox(Microsoft), Team 17 and Private Division who have partnered with local studios to develop and launch successful global games ventures.

Renowned international gaming events 

Melbourne International Games Week - this globally recognised event attracts more than 80,000 gamers and developers each year

Game Connect Asia Pacific - leading game development conference

PAX Australia – Australia’s largest dedicated gaming festival which attracts tens of thousands of gaming fans

eSports events have positioned Melbourne as the eSports hub of Australia, where the Melbourne eSports Open is held