The Swiss government hopes to strengthen the quality of Swiss games development and help more games be created. To this end, it intends to support the gaming industry with various measures. According to a press release, these include expanding the expertise of developers. Developers will also be offered support as they integrate into the industry.
In the recently published report “Games. Ein aufstrebender Bereich des Kulturschaffens” (Games. An emerging field of cultural production), the Swiss Federal Council highlighted the innovation potential of games development in both economic and cultural terms. The sector is described as a relatively new field of cultural production in Switzerland, but one which has been growing strongly in recent years.
Giant Software from Schlieren ZH is mentioned as an early success story. This company produces games for the mass market and has achieved great results, with sales of its Farming Simulator game amounting to around seven million copies since 2008. In the meantime, other developers have also found success on the international scene and been recognised with many awards.
The Swiss government reveals that many games are developed in collaboration with universities. In this context, it mentions Studio Gobo from the UK, which has opened a branch in Zurich and works together with the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETH). Over the past few years, Zurich has become a centre for the gaming industry. The city now also hosts the Ludicious – Zurich Game Festival, which is described in the report as the “most comprehensive and ambitious” event. Its aim is to be a platform for promoting Swiss games developers.
The government report fulfils a postulate from the former member of the Swiss parliament Jacqueline Fehr (SP/ZH) dating back to 2015. In response to the latest developments in the Swiss gaming industry, she had tasked the Swiss Federal Council with compiling a report on the creative, scientific and financial potential of the sector.
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