Philippine game development companies have reported $7 million in initial export sales during a three-day trade mission to Gamescom 2023 held on Aug. 23-25 in Cologne, Germany.
Gamescom 2023, the world’s biggest gaming conference, attracted over 1,220 exhibitors spanning 63 countries in a sprawling exhibition space of 230,000 square meters.
During the event, the Filipino gaming firms also identified opportunities that could funnel in an additional $20 million in potential revenue on a global scale.
The Philippine pavilion showcased the diverse capabilities of Philippine companies in the gaming industry with 10 industry players:
- Razer Gold
- Ranida Games
- Taktyl Studios
- Fizzbuzz
- Emottoons Animation Studio
- Yang Yang Mobile
- Pixel Mafia
- Animation Vertigo
- Startrace Studios OPC
- Buko Studios GameOps
The business delegation also conducted onsite business-to-business (B2B) meetings, and participated in exclusive networking events with key organizations to explore collaboration and partnerships.
In 2022 alone, the Philippine gaming sector raked in revenues of $75 million, employing a talent pool of 8,000 professionals.
Earlier this year, five game development companies from the Philippines secured initial $1.67 million in actual and potential export sales during the Nordic Game 2023 held in Malmö, Sweden.
“The DTI recognizes the contribution of creative services to the Philippine economy in generating high-value revenue as well as in creating employment opportunities for Filipinos. We share and support the aspiration of the game development industry to further expand and thrive in international markets including Europe,” said DTI Export Marketing Bureau (EMB) director Bianca Pearl Sykimte.
Sykimte added, “The Philippines is strategically positioned towards becoming a leading hub for game development in the Asia-Pacific region by 2028. To achieve this, DTI works hand in hand with key partners in enabling Filipino companies achieve their business goals, nurture local talent, create more employment opportunities and contribute to economic development.”
The collaboration, a brainchild of the DTI-Export Marketing Bureau and the International Trade Centre (ITC), was backed by the Game Developers Association of the Philippines (GDAP) and Cybercraft Philippines Association under the European Union funded ARISE Plus Philippines Project.
“Filipino MSMEs have demonstrated their huge innovative potential in the gaming industry. ITC is honored to work with the DTI, GDAP, Cybercraft Philippines Association, and multi-talented Filipino MSMEs in the gaming industry. We hope that this participation will foster stronger business linkages and opportunities for them to tap into the European market and beyond,” said ITC chief of office for Asia and the Pacific Sylvie Bétemps Cochin.
The ARISE Plus Philippines project, funded by the European Union is led by the DTI in partnership with the Department of Agriculture, Food and Drug Administration, Bureau of Customs, the Department of Science and Technology and the private sector. The ITC is the technical agency for the project.
