Updated Mar 17, 2026 by ESAC – Entertainment Software Association of Canada
The Canadian video-game industry contributed $5.5 billion to the national GDP in 2021, marking the highest economic output recorded to date.
The sector experienced significant growth between 2019 and 2021, with the number of active studios increasing from fewer than 700 to nearly 1,000.
The industry currently supports 32,000 full-time direct employees and an additional 23,000 indirect jobs.
Over 80% of studios with 100 or more employees have implemented formal diversity and inclusion policies to support talent development.
Media outreach initiatives generated approximately 39 million impressions across various platforms, including 42,000 YouTube views totaling over 1,200 hours of consumption.
The 2021 economic study, conducted in partnership with Nordicity, achieved record participation with data provided by over 150 studios.
The Canadian video-game industry contributed $5.5 billion to the national GDP in 2021, marking the highest economic output recorded to date.
The sector experienced significant growth between 2019 and 2021, with the number of active studios increasing from fewer than 700 to nearly 1,000.
The industry currently supports 32,000 full-time direct employees and an additional 23,000 indirect jobs.
Over 80% of studios with 100 or more employees have implemented formal diversity and inclusion policies to support talent development.
Media outreach initiatives generated approximately 39 million impressions across various platforms, including 42,000 YouTube views totaling over 1,200 hours of consumption.
The 2021 economic study, conducted in partnership with Nordicity, achieved record participation with data provided by over 150 studios.