Canada’s Thriving Video Game Industry Shines on the World Stage
Canada is proud to be a world leader in the video game industry. With approximately 20,000 Canadians employed in 472 studios in major cities across Canada, the industry injects just over $3 billion into the Canadian economy each year—which creates good jobs for Canadians and helps strengthen our middle class.
Canada’s creative talent is front and centre as the 2017 partner country at Gamescom—the second largest video game conference in the world—in Cologne, Germany, from August 21 to 26. Sean Casey, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage, joined a strong delegation of Canadian creators for a number of exciting events, including the launch of the Canada Pavilion.
As the largest producer of video games per capita and one of the largest exporters worldwide, Canada has an opportunity as the partner country to showcase the strength of our creators and entrepreneurs to the world, to build our trade and export potential, and to increase our international competitiveness. More than 50 Canadian companies are in attendance at Gamescom this week to promote their work to over 350,000 visitors from across the globe and seek out new partnerships and investment opportunities.
The Government of Canada recognizes the tremendous economic potential of our video game sector. Our participation as the partner country at Gamescom is in line with Minister Joly’s goal of re-establishing our presence on the international cultural scene and opening new markets and opportunities for our creators and creative industries. This will contribute to inclusive growth, create jobs, and strengthen the middle class while helping those working hard to join it.
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“Canada’s video game sector employs thousands of talented and creative people whose diverse voices and skills are helping drive our success in the global market. As the largest producer of video games per capita in the world, Canada’s gaming industry continues to innovate and grow while injecting more than $3 billion into the Canadian economy each year. Our country’s participation as the partner country at Gamescom 2017 is part of our commitment to re-establish our presence on the international cultural scene and give Canadian creators and artists every chance to seize opportunities provided by new markets and audiences.”
—The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage
Quick Facts
Gamescom is Europe’s leading trade fair for the gaming industry. It includes 877 exhibitors from over 50 countries, and attracts over 350,000 visitors from about 100 countries—including 30,500 trade visitors and more than 5,000 journalists.
The Government supports entertainment software development through the Canada Media Fund’s Experimental Stream. In 2015–16, the Experimental Stream’s Production component invested $19 million in 30 video game projects.
