Proving to be more than just a pastime, Canada’s video game industry contributed $5.1 billion to GDP in 2024. That is thanks to the work of 821 studios employing 34,010 people. These numbers come from a recent economic impact study conducted by Nordicity for the Entertainment Software Association of Canada (ESAC)
"The video game industry is a cornerstone of Canada’s digital economy, creating high quality jobs, driving innovation and showcasing our creativity on the global stage," Paul Fogolin, ESAC president and CEO, said in a statement.
"Our video game studios have had to navigate significant challenges coming out of the pandemic, but this report shows the maturity of the industry overall, and the importance of continuing to invest in its growth and success."
While these numbers are surely impressive, there has been a slight decrease in employment (-3.5%) since 2021.
Canada’s video game sector
The report shows the decline in employment was offset by an increase in the percentage of full-time employees (from 81% to 86%), and a 21% increase in average salary across all roles to $102,000 per year. Overall, this resulted in 3% growth in the economic impact of the sector.
There has also been an increase in the number of women employed in the industry, from 23% to 26%.
As of 2024, the Canadian video game industry had 821companies actively operating in Canada. This was a 9% decline from the peak in 2020-21, with most of the decrease coming from companies with less than 25 employees, while the number of large companies increased slightly during this time.
In addition to a strong workforce, one of the reasons why video game production companies have been so successful is because 88% of the industry’s revenue comes from exports.
"Canadian studios have developed some of the most well-known and successful video games in the world," Deirdre Ayre, Other Ocean Group Canada Ltd.s’ head of Canadian operations, said in a statement.
"The diverse talent and positive business environment in Canada have allowed our member companies, throughout the country, to grow their studios and develop incredible games. From small indie teams to global AAA studios, Canadian developers are producing games that resonate with players worldwide."
Provincial breakdown
Ontario, BC and Quebec have 83% of all employees who work in Canada’s video game sector. There are 15,220 employees in Quebec with 257 studios, 10,930 employees in BC with 146 studios, and 6,090 employees in Ontario, with 276 studios.
The Atlantic region has 750 employees and 41 studios, the Prairies have 210 employees across 33 studios, and Alberta has 810 employees across 68 studios.
While most companies remain Canadian-owned (an estimated 76%), foreign-owned companies account for 88% of the total industry employment.
The largest 25 companies supported 58% of the industry’s full-time employees.
This article Canada’s video game industry contributed over $5B to the 2024 GDP
This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.