How the State of São Paulo is Contributing to the Self-Sustainability of Brazil's Gaming Industry
In 2023, the gaming development scene in Brazil saw significant growth, with the number of active developers rising by 3.2% from 1,009 to 1,042. The majority are situated in São Paulo.
During Gamescom Latam, Marilia Marton, São Paulo state's secretary for Culture, Creative Economy, and Industries, shared insights with GamesIndustry.biz about the governmental initiatives aimed at bolstering local game developers and her aspirations for Brazil's gaming future.
Marton explained that understanding the gaming industry's needs was central to government support plans. Technical advisor Anderson da Silva Abraços assisted in grasping the full scope of the industry.
"The first thing the government realized is that the industry needs funding"
Marilia Marton
She spoke of initiatives like editas, where cultural funding in São Paulo has been extended to include gaming, allowing local studios to secure money for game development globally.
Earlier this year, Brazil instituted a groundbreaking legal framework specific to the game industry, establishing the sector independently to allow laws, policies, and regulations for gaming companies. This framework provides new mechanisms to safeguard the creative process in game development, as highlighted by Anderson.
This year, the government aims to increase funding, aiding in creating educational opportunities for students interested in gaming careers.
"The government understands that to bring developers here, the major thing is to first have a base of people"
Marilia Marton
Efforts include establishing a gaming hub within São Paulo’s program to support economically disadvantaged individuals, providing them access to industry-relevant tools and training.
The idea is to foster a skilled workforce to attract international companies to invest and establish operations in Brazil.
Brazil ranks as the fifth largest gaming market by players and tenth by spending. Encouraging studios to base themselves in São Paulo is seen as a strategy to keep financial resources within the country. Anderson noted that local studios contribute to the economy through taxes and job creation.
Marton expresses that the potential for São Paulo's growth as a gaming hub has no limits.
"We are a country that is continental, and the good part for gaming is that you don't have a frontier"
Marilia Marton
She emphasized that São Paulo's expansive geography offers multiple locations for companies to establish operations with adequate infrastructure.
Hosting major events like Gamescom enhances São Paulo's international profile, inviting developers to explore opportunities and investments in Brazil.
