Updated Mar 17, 2026 by ESAC – Entertainment Software Association of Canada
The Canadian video game industry contributes $5.1 billion to the national GDP and employs 34,010 full-time equivalent workers with an average annual compensation of $102,000.
Industry spending reached $4.8 billion in 2024, an 11% increase since 2021, with labour costs now accounting for 72% of total expenditures.
The sector is increasingly dominated by foreign-owned companies, which now account for 88% of total industry employment.
While the total number of studios declined by 9% since 2021 due to the contraction of micro-enterprises, larger studios have remained stable or expanded.
The industry is highly concentrated geographically, with 83% of the 821 operating studios located in Ontario, British Columbia, and Québec.
The sector is consolidating around a smaller number of large-scale players, reflecting a shift toward deeper international integration and reliance on external capital.
The Canadian video game industry contributes $5.1 billion to the national GDP and employs 34,010 full-time equivalent workers with an average annual compensation of $102,000.
Industry spending reached $4.8 billion in 2024, an 11% increase since 2021, with labour costs now accounting for 72% of total expenditures.
The sector is increasingly dominated by foreign-owned companies, which now account for 88% of total industry employment.
While the total number of studios declined by 9% since 2021 due to the contraction of micro-enterprises, larger studios have remained stable or expanded.
The industry is highly concentrated geographically, with 83% of the 821 operating studios located in Ontario, British Columbia, and Québec.
The sector is consolidating around a smaller number of large-scale players, reflecting a shift toward deeper international integration and reliance on external capital.