Corona Crisis: Support Information Update March 30, 2020

As of March 30, 2020, Gamecity Hamburg provided a centralized resource for creative professionals and game companies navigating the financial instability caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The primary objective was to disseminate critical information regarding federal and state-level support mechanisms, ensuring that freelancers and small-to-medium enterprises could access liquidity, tax relief, and emergency funding to mitigate the impact of canceled contracts and operational disruptions.

The guidance highlighted a tiered Hamburg Corona Emergency Aid (HCS) program, which offered non-repayable subsidies ranging from 2,500 euros for solo self-employed individuals to 10,000 euros for companies with up to 50 employees. When combined with federal support, these subsidies could reach a maximum of 30,000 euros for larger firms. Additionally, the initiative outlined federal measures, including short-term liquidity support via KfW-Bank, simplified access to short-time work allowances through the Federal Employment Agency, and tax relief measures such as interest-free deferrals for income, corporation, and turnover taxes.

To facilitate implementation, the organization established a dedicated service hotline for Hamburg-based creatives to address urgent financial concerns. The scope of this support was localized to the Hamburg region, though it integrated broader federal policy updates to provide a comprehensive overview of the available safety nets. By centralizing these resources, the initiative aimed to stabilize the local games industry during the initial phase of the crisis, while also encouraging collaborative problem-solving through initiatives like the #WeVsVirus online hackathon.