New Zealand Game Development Industry Surpasses $1 Billion in Revenue

Key insights

6 takeaways

01
The New Zealand game development industry reached NZD 1.002 billion in revenue for the 2025/2026 financial year, marking a 32% increase over the previous year.
02
International exports remain the primary revenue driver, accounting for 95% of total industry earnings (NZD 947 million).
03
The government's Game Development Sector Rebate (GDSR) program yielded a return of NZD 9.73 for every dollar invested, more than double the previous year's return of NZD 4.74.
04
Revenue per full-time equivalent (FTE) employee rose by 48.5%, increasing from NZD 535,204 to NZD 794,607.
05
Total industry headcount decreased by 11.1% to 1,261 FTEs, a decline attributed to the closure of one studio and another shifting focus to a non-game screen project.
06
The industry's fiscal contribution through income tax and PAYE reached NZD 213 million, nearly doubling the figures reported in the prior year.

Summary

The New Zealand game development industry has achieved a significant economic milestone, surpassing $1 billion in annual revenue for the 2025/2026 financial year. According to the 2026 annual survey conducted by the New Zealand Game Developers Association, the sector generated NZD 1,002 million, representing a 32% increase over the previous year’s figure of NZD 759 million. This growth trajectory continues to outperform global industry forecasts, with international exports serving as the primary driver, accounting for 95% of total revenue.

Despite the surge in financial performance, the industry’s total full-time equivalent (FTE) headcount decreased by 11.1%, falling from 1,418 to 1,261. This contraction is attributed to isolated incidents, including a studio closure and a strategic pivot by another firm toward non-gaming screen projects, rather than a broader sectoral decline. Consequently, the industry demonstrated a substantial rise in efficiency, with revenue per FTE increasing by 48.5% to reach NZD 794,607.

The sector also solidified its fiscal importance to the national economy, contributing over NZD 213 million in combined income tax and PAYE. This performance resulted in a highly favorable return on investment for the government’s Game Development Sector Rebate (GDSR) program, which yielded NZD 9.73 for every dollar invested—more than double the previous year’s return of NZD 4.74. These findings underscore the industry's transition into a high-value, export-oriented pillar of the New Zealand creative economy.