Blog
How Queensland has become a secret video game powerhouse
UniSC News, Vol.7 January 2026
University of the Sunshine Coast
2026
Abstract
For years, Melbourne has been the heart and hub of the Australian video game industry.
The grounding for this was fostered when, at a national level, the industry was significantly weakened by the 2008 Global Financial Crisis, which was later followed another major blow when the Australian Government ended the Interactive Games Fund in 2014.
The Victorian Labor government, via the screen-development agency ScreenVic, then became the primary source of funds and support for video game studios across all of Australia.
In addition to funding, Melbourne is also home to multiple tertiary institutions offering video game degrees and cultural institutions with a focus on video games such as the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI).
The city also hosts Melbourne International Games Week (MIGW) in October each year, which features various industry and public-facing events, awards and conferences.
The most prominent are the industry-focused networking and upskilling event, Games Connect Asia Pacific (GCAP), and the public facing Penny Arcade Expo (PAX) gaming cultural festival.
Australia’s arguably most significant game, in terms of recent history, Untitled Goose Game, was developed in Melbourne and benefited from the funding available.
Not surprisingly, as recently as 2021, 39 percent of video game studios were based in Victoria with the next highest, 25 percent, based in New South Wales, followed by 20 percent in Queensland.
But hold that thought.
Details
- Title
- How Queensland has become a secret video game powerhouse
- Authors
- Jacqueline Burgess - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Business and Creative Industries
- Publication details
- UniSC News, Vol.7 January 2026
- Publisher
- University of the Sunshine Coast
- Date published
- 2026
- Organisation Unit
- School of Business and Creative Industries; Engage Research Lab
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 991201649802621
- Output Type
- Blog
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1 Record Views