NZ-Made Video Games Industry Grew 86% in 2012

Key insights

5 slides

Key number

New Zealand's video game industry earnings increased by 86% in 2012.

Total industry earnings reached $36.3 million. This growth was largely driven by the export of original intellectual property.

Production output

New Zealand studios released 55 commercial games during the period ending March 31, 2013.

This period also saw major commercial successes, including 'Turbo Racing League' with over 30 million downloads. 'Path of Exile' reached over 3.2 million PC players.

Game Releases. New Zealand studios released 55 commercial games during the period, with 18% of studios collaborating with international entities like Disney, Dreamworks, and the BBC.

1 / 5

Ask AI about this article

Summary

The New Zealand video game industry experienced significant expansion in 2012, with total industry earnings rising 86% to reach $36.3 million. This growth was largely driven by the export of original intellectual property, particularly within the smartphone and online gaming sectors, which accounted for $31.4 million of the total revenue. The findings, based on an independent survey of 33 New Zealand Game Developers Association member studios, highlight a shift toward sustainable, franchise-based business models that rely on direct sales, royalties, and in-game advertising rather than traditional contract work.

The sector’s performance reflects a maturing creative economy, with 55 commercial games released during the period ending March 31, 2013. New Zealand studios achieved notable international success, with mobile titles garnering over 130 million downloads and securing high-profile collaborations with global entertainment entities such as Disney, the BBC, and Dreamworks. Employment within the industry also saw an 18% increase, resulting in 448 full-time equivalent professional roles, primarily composed of artists and programmers.

Despite this robust growth, the industry faces a critical bottleneck regarding human capital. Nearly half of the surveyed studios identified skills shortages as a primary constraint on future expansion, specifically noting a lack of experienced programmers and game designers. While educational institutions and industry-led initiatives are working to address these gaps, the findings suggest that the sustainability of the sector’s current trajectory depends heavily on the ability to attract and retain specialized technical talent to meet increasing global demand.