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South Australia Doubles Games Fund to $1M, Adds Paid Placements
By @sharedot · · 6 pages
- Gaming
- Australia
- Funding
South Australia's Digital Games Fund doubles to $1 million, its largest games investment, with paid studio placements launching this year.
What happened: a doubled fund, three funding streams
The South Australian Film Corporation (SAFC) has doubled its Digital Games Fund to $1 million to support local developers — per gamesindustry.biz, the state government's largest single investment in game development to date. Following the inaugural round last October, which distributed $500,000 among 11 studios, the DGF now offers three funding streams: up to $30,000 for pre-production, prototype development, proof of concept, early design and market testing; up to $150,000 for production as projects move toward commercial release; and up to $50,000 for post-release work such as localisation and porting. Applications open Wednesday, October 21.
New this year: paid placements for emerging devs
Alongside the fund, the SAFC has introduced the Game Studio Placement Program, offering paid placements for early- and mid-career creators at local studios. Eligible applicants can receive subsidised salary and superannuation support for a six- or 12-month full-time placement, with the program launching later this year. SAFC acting CEO Leanne Saunders said the program is an investment in both people and businesses, helping South Australian studios grow their teams while giving the next generation of developers a chance to establish themselves in the industry. The fund and program were created to boost original local games, help developers expand their businesses, and increase the number of South Australian games released globally.
Why it matters: first round already produced hits
The pilot round received over 50 applications, and the results are concrete. Powerbomb Games and Tinkertown's Pro Jank Footy reached the top spot on Nintendo Switch. Bad Plan Studios secured a publishing deal with Thailand-based Rising Tide Publishing for End of Ember, while Little Bandit's The Troll & The Witch's House and Cowboy Fish's Peppermint were selected for exhibition at PAX Australia. The doubled fund also serves as a pathway to the SA Video Game Development Rebate, which backs larger-scale games through a 10% rebate claimable on eligible projects with a minimum SA spend of $250,000 — support that has helped over 40 games get made in the state since 2020.
What comes next
Applications for the doubled Digital Games Fund open October 21, and the Game Studio Placement Program will launch later this year, extending support from project funding all the way to hiring. WN Hub reports the funding boost aims to assist local developers following the initial round's $500,000 allocation to 11 companies. Together with the existing VGD Rebate, South Australia now offers creators a pipeline from early prototypes through production to post-release support — a significant escalation of government backing for game development in the state.
Sources
- gamesindustry.biz › South Australian government makes largest investment in game development by doubling its Digital Games Fund to $1m
- wnhub.io › The government of South Australia has announced a significant boost in its investment in the game development sector, doubling the Digital Games Fund to $1 million.