British Columbia Proposes Developer Tax Credits

The government of British Columbia has proposed a new tax credit for interactive digital media, which would provide benefits for video game developers in the province. The new credits, subject to legislative approval, appear to be a response to a dramatic reduction in British Columbia's game industry, which employed some 4,000 employees across 60 studios in 2008 but has since declined over the past 15 months. At its peak, says trade group BC Interactive Task Force, the industry contributed over half a billion dollars annually to the province's gross domestic product. The BC Interactive Task Force, chaired by Disney Interactive Studios studio operations VP Howard Donaldson, says the proposed credits are "an important first step" in developing an industry hub in the province, and that the trade group will work collaboratively with the local government. "British Columbia is home to many of the world's most popular video games and home to many of the most talented, passionate game developers on the planet," says Donaldson. He concluded: "With this announcement, we're hopeful we can continue to nurture and grow this cornerstone industry."