ReportAbragames
Brazil Games Industry Report 2022
1 Jan 2022149 pages~156 min full read
Brazil is the 12th largest games market globally and the leader in Latin America, generating approximately USD 2.3 billion in 2021.
The industry has experienced rapid expansion, with a 102% increase in active studios since 2018 and a 336% revenue increase in USD since 2015.
The sector is shifting toward original intellectual property, with 93% of companies now focusing on proprietary IP rather than a pure service-provider model.
The ecosystem comprises over 1,000 companies and 12,000 professionals, with more than half of these businesses exporting services to international markets, primarily in the U.S. and Europe.
Console production has grown to represent 17% of the market, diversifying a landscape previously dominated by mobile and PC development.
Structural growth is hindered by a lack of specific regulatory frameworks, high taxes on development hardware, and a competitive 'wage war' for senior talent caused by remote work opportunities from foreign firms.
Despite historic lows in federal funding, the industry has produced major successes like the unicorn Wildlife and is increasingly integrating emerging technologies such as blockchain and the metaverse.
Brazil has established itself as the preeminent games market in Latin America and the 12th largest globally, generating approximately USD 2.3 billion in 2021. The ecosystem is defined by rapid professionalization and internationalization, evidenced by a 102% increase in active studios since 2018. With over 1,000 companies and a workforce exceeding 12,000 professionals, the industry has transitioned from a historical period of informality to a sophisticated hub for original intellectual property and high-quality external development services. While the Southeast and South regions remain the primary geographic hubs, the sector’s reach is global, with over half of local companies serving international markets, particularly in the United States and Europe.
The industry demonstrates increasing maturity through longer studio lifespans and a shift toward diverse platforms. While mobile and PC development remain dominant, console production grew significantly to 17% of the market by 2021. Beyond entertainment, Brazilian studios maintain a strong presence in educational and corporate gamification. Despite this growth, structural challenges persist, including a lack of formal inclusion policies for underrepresented groups and a "wage war" for senior talent driven by the rise of remote work for foreign firms. Furthermore, the workforce is navigating a transition where 93% of companies now focus on proprietary IP, moving away from a pure service-provider model.
Economic and regulatory hurdles continue to shape the landscape. Federal funding has reached historic lows, forcing a reliance on founder capital and state-level initiatives. Developers face significant "legal insecurity" due to the absence of a specific regulatory category for games and a tax system that treats development hardware as luxury entertainment rather than capital goods. Nevertheless, the resilience of the sector is underscored by a 336% revenue increase in USD since 2015 and the emergence of "unicorns" like Wildlife. The industry remains a vital component of the global value chain, increasingly recognized for its technical proficiency in engines like Unity and its expanding role in emerging technologies such as blockchain and the metaverse.
