Screen Queensland has revealed the 14 projects to receive a combined $1 million in Games Grants funding, along with three projects receiving a total of $1.1 million through the Digital Games Incentive.
The screen agency doubled project funding in the latest Games Grants round, supporting the state's burgeoning independent digital games sector with development funding of up to $200,000 per round and an increased lifetime cap of $300,000 per project through to release.
Recipients include previously supported projects including the highly anticipated Momento and Servonauts, which are now moving into vertical slice and full release stages of development, as well as the newly funded Janet DeMornay is a Slumlord (and a witch).
Arts Minister Leeanne Enoch said that the success of Queensland's digital games sector reflects the energy and innovation of the state's screen industry creatives.
"Miles Government investment through Screen Queensland in games studios and developers is providing significant job opportunities and positive economic benefits for the sector, delivering on the priorities of our 10-year Creative Together strategy.
"Ongoing Government backing for our local industry is securing Queensland's flourishing reputation as a destination for leading international games platforms and publishers, attracting the interest of fans across the world."
Jacqui Feeney, Screen Queensland CEO said that Queensland is home to a burgeoning ecosystem of incredibly imaginative, highly skilled games developers.
"We are strategically supporting the sector at all levels through our Digital Games Incentive, Games Grants and Games Residency program.
"Through targeted programs, collaboration with the wider sector and government agencies like Trade and Investment Queensland, we are working to ensure the Queensland games industry is set up for success. Our rapid growth in recent years shows that this strategy is already paying dividends for the state."
Fuzzy Ghost co-founder Scott Ford said that receiving funding to progress Janet DeMornay is a Slumlord (and a witch) is "huge" for the studio.
"It means we have the time and space to create a (we hope) truly excellent game that will reach an even wider audience all over the world.
"Returning to Queensland also means being able to work closer with all the artists we have collaborated with on our previous games-the people we grew up, studied, worked and lived with. It is such an exciting time to be making games in Queensland, and we are chuffed to be a part of it."
MAXART Director, Dale Thompson said that the Games Grants program has been critical for their studio's entry into the industry with Servonauts.
"We are enormously grateful for the support that Screen Queensland has provided our team. Their grant programs have allowed us to sustainably grow our passionate team of Queensland games developers.
"Beyond our studio, we've seen the enormous, positive impact their programs, industry engagement and advocacy are having across the industry."
Three projects have also recently been supported by Screen Queensland's industry-leading Digital Games Incentive, including Cozy Caravan by 5 Lives Studio. At 15 per cent, the incentive is open to local, national and international studios developing games in Queensland.
Since the introduction of the Digital Games Incentive and Games Grants in 2021, Screen Queensland has helped drive a 155 per cent increase in local sector employment and a 123 per cent increase in local expenditure through to May 2024.
Projects previously supported by Screen Queensland include Go-Go Town! by Prideful Sloth, Len's Island by Flow Studios and The Oregon Trail by Gameloft Brisbane.
The agency's Games Residency program is now in its second year of operation, supporting 16 early-career developers to build their industry and business management skills.
Run in partnership with Workforce Australia Self-Employment Assistance provider Birdifi Bridge, this unique development program supports participants with access to co-working space, leading industry experts, business mentoring and income support over a 12-month period.
Applications for the next round of Games Grants open on Friday 7 June and close on Sunday 21 July.
