Funding hurdles cloud local game developers despite Nintendo’s entry
The government reported 18.22 percent year-on-year growth in the applications and games subsector in 2025, with locally developed games contributing around Rp 750 billion ($42.2 million) in 2024.
The Indonesian gaming industry is experiencing growth, with a 18.22 percent year-on-year increase in the applications and games subsector in 2025, generating around Rp 750 billion ($42.2 million) in revenue in 2024. Local game developers, however, face significant funding hurdles that hinder their ability to expand into global markets.
Despite several locally developed games achieving millions of dollars in international sales, they often rely on overseas publishers for financing and marketing support. Rachmad Imron, CEO of Digital Happiness, highlights that while developers have gained access to dev kits for platforms like Nintendo, PlayStation, and Xbox, the limited funding available—generally below US$500,000 to $1 million—remains a major obstacle to their growth.
These developers still depend heavily on overseas publishers, with access to funding and development tools from major platforms yet to translate into meaningful implementation on the ground.
Written by urgent.news from The Jakarta Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
