The NSW Government is offering a 10 percent rebate for eligible digital games. 

Games must have a Qualifying NSW Expenditure of at least $350,000 to be eligible. This initiative complements the Australian Government's Digital Games Offset.

The objectives of the program are to:

• Accelerate the growth of the NSW digital games sector
• Enable NSW games companies to be internationally competitive, attract investment and grow employment
• Encourage international or interstate developers to locate studios or work in NSW
• Promote investment in skills development and infrastructure
• Attract and retain talent in NSW.

Applicants are required to complete an application form and submit requested information, which will include the games development budget for NSW, quotes from NSW suppliers and evidence the project is fully financed or can be financed using projected future revenue streams.

You should apply when the game is production-ready, with confirmed budget, schedule and funding arrangement (e.g. agreement with publisher) or realistic projections of future revenue that ensure the game can be developed to completion.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the Rebate the applicant must:

• Have an Australian Business Number (ABN), and
• Be the company that is either carrying out or is responsible for making the arrangements for the carrying out all the activities in NSW that are related to the production of the game.

The applicant may be:

• A fully or partly NSW based digital game development company, or
• An international or interstate developer engaging a fully or partly NSW based game developer.

Only one company can apply for the Rebate for a particular game. If more than one NSW developer is working on the project, the company commissioning the work will generally make the application.

Other government departments and agencies are not eligible to apply.

The applicant must not be in breach of any obligation under any funding agreement it has with the NSW Government including under this Rebate program.

Eligible projects

Eligible games for the Rebate include:

• Games for entertainment and serious games 
• Games for any platform including console, desktop, tablet, mobile, VR/AR
• Multi-player and single-player games.

Games must generally be intended for public release.

A major update of an existing game is eligible if it meets the $350,000 threshold.

An applicant must submit an application with Screen NSW prior to the commencement of any eligible work for which the Rebate is sought. If production has already commenced on the project, only work carried out on or after the date of application will be eligible for the Rebate. 

• Email: anna.cho@screen.nsw.gov.au