South Australian government makes largest investment in game development by doubling its Digital Games Fund to $1m

The South Australian government has made a significant investment in the local game development industry by doubling its Digital Games Fund (DGF) to $1 million. This increase marks the largest single investment in game development by the South Australian government. The DGF, which was established to encourage the creation of original local games and support developer businesses, offers three funding streams this year.

These include up to $30,000 for pre-production, up to $150,000 for production, and up to $50,000 for post-release activities. The SA Film Corporation (SAFC) has also introduced the Game Studio Placement Program alongside the DGF, providing subsidised salary and superannuation support for early- and mid-career creators in local studios.

Applications for the DGF open on October 21, and the Game Studio Placement Program will launch later this year. The pilot program from last October received over 50 applications and supported projects like Powerbomb Games, Tinkertown's Pro Jank Footy, and Bad Plan Studios. SAFC stated that this investment will provide a pathway to other existing support programs, including the SA Video Game Development (VGD) Rebate.