The Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton, has launched a report (PDF 1,741KB) outlining the global value of the gaming industry and its potential for growth in Ireland.
At present major gaming companies such as EA, Zynga, Activision and Big Fish Games employ more than 2,000 people in Ireland and the sector could employ 4,500 by 2014.
It is estimated that the games industry is worth about €18bn globally and is forecast to grow to €60bn within the next four years. Once the preserve of a niche demographic – mainly young males gaming has now moved online and is part of a larger social digital experience.
The transition has resulted in a gaming boom and is expected to play a key role in the expansion of Ireland’s digital economy. Ireland’s gaming industry already provides a wide range of jobs including game development, graphics and imaging, localisation, sales and customer support.
The report identifies six areas which are crucial to supporting the growth of the games industry. Among these is the necessity to enhance the skills and experience of the local workforce, investing in research and development and making high-speed, competitively-priced broadband widely available across Ireland.
