While the cultural and social impact of video games is a widely discussed and debated issue, their economic benefits remain largely unknown. This is a missed opportunity that Concordia University and Behavior Interactive, Canada’s largest video game studio, will be looking into as part of a new collaboration.
Few people outside of the video game industry and government know that Canada’s thriving video game industry contributed $5.5 billion to the national economy in 2021 (up from $3.7 billion). dollars in 2019), according to estimates by the Entertainment Software Association of Canada.
The industry is a major source of employment in Canada, with approximately 55,000 people working in this sector in 2021.
Major international players like Ubisoft, Electronic Arts and Behavior Interactive have helped make Canada a hub for video game development. These multinationals coexist with a healthy ecosystem of small studios and start-ups.
Of the $5.5 billion generated by the video game industry in 2021, some $2.2 billion went to Quebec, whose largest city, Montreal, ranks among the top hubs for game design. video to the world.
Montreal is currently home to more than 200 video game development studios — and more than 13,000 people work in this sector in the city.
The importance of a healthy video game industry has been recognized by all levels of government. Many measures have fostered the growth of the industry, whether special tax credits or the Interactive Media Development Program of Quebec and the Interactive Games Program of Montreal, both offering financial assistance to stimulate creativity.
The Government of Canada has also taken steps to strengthen the industry, whether through the Canada Media Fund, having supported the development of numerous video game projects, trade shows or programs such as Digital Skills for Youth, which provides funding to nonprofits to help young people gain digital skills.
These efforts have helped make Canada and Quebec major forces in the global video game industry. While the impact of major studios is undeniable, the list of independently produced video games developed within our borders, in whole or in part, is truly impressive.
Investing in the next generation of talent
Canada’s continued success in the video game industry will largely depend on the steps taken to invest in this kind of ingenuity.
That’s why Concordia University and Behavior Interactive are collaborating on an initiative to foster innovation and ensure that future generations are ready to meet industry needs.
On May 18, 2023, Behavior Interactive pledged to donate $2 million to Concordia University’s Department of Design and Computation Arts. This investment will not only fund a new research chair in video game design, but also provide financial assistance to undergraduate and graduate students who hope to pursue a career in the video game industry.
Whether it’s bachelor’s, master’s, or 2e cycle, Concordia University offers a comprehensive curriculum that covers all aspects of digital arts benefiting the video game industry.
Concordia University’s emphasis on experiential education also gives students access to numerous internships at Montreal-based studios. Exchanges with these studios, including Behavior Interactif, expose students to industry expertise and resources and help stimulate innovation.
Such partnerships hold great promise for the growth of the industry in Montreal, Quebec and Canada.
As knowledge grows about the potential benefits of video games, whether it’s improving intellectual skills and reducing stress, or creating social connections and developing problem-solving, we should encourage strategic collaborations to spur creativity and discovery in the 21ste century.
Canada’s future in the video game industry may well depend on it.