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The British Columbia government is boosting a tax credit to assist developers of video games reminiscent of Electronic Arts hire additional staff and invest money locally.
Premier David Eby said the interactive visual media tax credit will go from 17.5 per cent to 25 per cent starting Sept. 1, which can be when the credit will grow to be everlasting to provide industry additional certainty.
Speaking at Electronic Arts in Burnaby on Monday, Eby said the changes will help the sector remain competitive as part of a bigger economic response to American tariff threats, which was a “wake-up call” for the province to develop an economy that may stand on its “own two feet.”
Finance Minister Brenda Bailey said the measures will help B.C. grow its “knowledge economy.”
Bailey said they may have raised the tax credit higher as other provinces have, but selected 25 per cent because B.C. already has a competitive tax system and other aspects that attract global talent.
Government agency Creative BC says the interactive digital media sector, which incorporates video games, virtual reality and academic software, employs about 20,000 people within the province and adds greater than a $1 billion to the economy.
Government figures show the tax credit program is predicted to cost $141 million in 2025-26, $151.3 million within the second 12 months and $180.3 million in 12 months three. 2027-28.
Natali Altshuler, chief operating officer for EA SPORTS Studios, welcomed the changes.
Altshuler said the change recognize the worth of the industry, adding that it enables firms reminiscent of EA to contribute to the provincial economy.
While EA ranks among the many giants within the video-game industry, smaller developers are also welcoming the upper tax credit.
Heidy Motta, the chief operating officer at game studio Coldblood Inc., said in a government news release that increasing the credit to 25 per cent “makes an actual difference for indie studios like ours.”
The Entertainment Software Association of Canada says B.C. is home to 161 video game firms and 230 immersive technology firms.
It says almost half of all video game firms in B.C. consist of 10 or fewer people.
The additional support from the provincial government also raises the query of possible reactions from the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, who has previously criticized public support for industries from Canadian governments that he perceives to be unfair.
Trump threatened earlier this 12 months a 100 per cent tariffs on foreign-made movies to assist bring more productions back to the United States after B.C. announced higher credits in late 2024 to draw and keep more film productions within the province.
Eby said B.C. made the choice to spice up the credit for interactive digital media independently of any possible reactions.
“We will cross the bridge’s reactions when and in the event that they occur,” Eby said.
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