Game developers target Europe’s $18.4-B market

MANILA, Philippines – Filipino game developers are targeting to corner a sizeable portion of Europe’s $18.4 billion gaming market, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said.

Trade Undersecretary Nora Terrado said the agency is working to aid the industry in achieving such target by linking local players to huge international markets like Europe.

At present, the Philippine game development industry is generating estimated annual revenues of $100 million, according to the DTI.

Gaming revenues in Europe, meanwhile, reached around $18.4 billion last year and accounted for about a fifth of the total global market.

Germany is Europe’s largest game market, ranking fifth in the world with revenues of $3.7 billion.

“Growing the presence of international game development companies and even increasing their outsourced work in the country is expected to transfer expertise, advance the talent and capabilities of our local industry which is the main focus of the industry roadmap. In the medium to long-term, such efforts will lead to the development of our local video game industry into an internationally competitive player in the global scene,” Terrado said.

To promote the country as a viable investment destination in the games-related services sector, the Board of Investments is organizing a business delegation to participate at the Gamescom 2016 in Germany next month.

The delegation is initially composed of Manila-based game studios such as Altitude Games, GameOps Inc., Job and Esther Technologies Inc., Synergy88 Digital Inc., Transcom and Zeenoh.

Gamescom is Europe’s largest platform for the European computer and video game industry as it brings together developers, publishers and other stakeholders to showcase their upcoming games and game-related hardware as well as promote business and collaboration.

“With the viability of this business in the country, there is an impetus to support growth for our local industry,” Terrado said.

With the country’s participation in the trade fair, the DTI is hoping it would help promote the Philippines’ competencies in developing end-to-end games and game-related services such as art, programming and support outsourcing.

Likewise, the agency said it seeks to encourage international video game development studios to explore the opportunity of establishing business activities in the Philippines as well as develop strong network of international industry professionals that can contribute to the country’s goals.

“The participation of our industry players in Gamescom further enhances the country’s image not only in the German market, but also in the international gaming industry as the event is expected to host the presence of other international global players, particularly in the European region,” Terrado said.

“There are quite a number of gaming companies operating successfully. The presence of the country’s industry players at Gamescom will further build stronger networks that can contribute to the country’s goals in pushing for the potential of the game development industry,” she added.