Freeplay Report Calls for Overhaul of Australian Games Industry Funding

Freeplay, recognized as one of the oldest gaming organizations globally, has published a report in collaboration with the newly established National Games and Play Working Group, outlining the obstacles confronting Australia's gaming sector. The report advocates for three primary reforms: a unified national definition of games, aligning game funding to 10% of public investment in film production, and the creation of a national agency named Games Australia. It notes that games currently receive a mere 0.5% of the national cultural budget, significantly less than the 3% allocated to film. Australia invests $0.42 per person in gaming, in contrast to $0.85 in New Zealand, $1.49 in Canada, and $2.43 in Germany. Notable case studies include Untitled Goose Game, which garnered $80,000 from VicScreen and earned $12.5 million, and Unpacking, which received $60,000 from Screen Queensland and generated over $18 million. The public consultation for the National Cultural Policy concluded on 24 May, and submissions are under review.