Canada pays Digital Extremes $2.5m to hire more

Canadian outfit Digital Extremes is being paid around $2.5 million to move office and create more jobs, a report has claimed.

The provincial grant will also help Digital Extremes build new technology as it works on creating a sequel to The Darkness. The game’s predecessor had been made at Swedish studio Starbreeze.

Digital Extremes will also add another 30 jobs to its 150 employees with the money.

A report from IFPress claimed the studio is investing $33 million of its own money into its new game engine.

“Right now we can’t hire people fast enough,” studio founder James Schmalz said.

In 2008, Digital Extremes – along with nearby studio Silicon Knights – both shared a $1 million grant from the Ontario Media Development Corporation to create new game prototypes.

As well as providing specific grants to its inhabiting studios, Ontario state officials also have a globally competitive tax break initiative in place.