Australia kills off $20m Interactive Games Fund

The Australian government has killed off its game development funding program after deep cuts to business support schemes.

The $20m Interactive Games Fund was introduced in 2013 to help local game developers make original titles and grow their businesses.

It was to be run by Screen Australia over three years, but as of July 1st the program will be discontinued. The government hopes to save $10m in the next year by ceasing the initiative.

Developers already on the program will continue to receive their pre-allocated funding and administrative support from the organisation. Applicants who submitted their proposals on or before May 13th will be asseesed and advised accordingly.

As a result of the discontinuation of the Interactive Games Fund, there will be no second funding round for the Games Enterprise program.

According to Screen Australia, the program had supported ten companies through its Games Enterprise scheme, with 29 projects to date supported through its Game Production program.