Video game development is a developing industry in the Republic of Ireland, with some government attempts made to encourage investment via tax breaks.[1][2] Of the approximately €206 million spent by Irish people on video games in 2015, Irish game developers "[saw] little of this spend".[3]

Video gaming in Ireland grew from the 1970s and, for example, the Atari 2600 was manufactured in Limerick to meet demand for both Irish and export markets.[4] By 2020, video game companies in Ireland included Keywords Studios, Havok and Romero Games.[5][6][7] A video games festival was held in Dublin in 2018.[8]

In 2007, the Irish Film Censor's Office (IFCO) was one of four European classification organisations to ban Manhunt 2.[9] The ban, later lifted, was the first video game ban in Ireland.[10] Under the 1989 Video Recordings Act, the head of IFCO "may prohibit a video game" if it is deemed "unfit for viewing".[11] Ratings and classifications in Ireland are otherwise applied through the (voluntary) Pan European Game Information (PEGI) age-rating scheme, of which Ireland is a member.[11]

Video game companies of Ireland

Active companies

Defunct companies

Publishers

  • KamaGames (publisher & dev. Mobile & casino games)
  • Playrix (Dublin HQ. Russian publisher & dev. Mobile games.)

References

  1. ↑ "Ireland targets Scottish games industry". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 2012-07-29. Retrieved 2011-05-23.
  2. ↑ "Getting to the next level". Irish Times. 2011-02-25. Retrieved 2011-05-23.
  3. ↑ "Ireland spent an estimated €206m on video games last year but how many were Irish". independent.ie. 12 February 2015.
  4. ↑ "The History of Gaming in Ireland I: The Systems that Made Us Gamers". independent.ie. 9 August 2017.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 "13 Irish-led video game business to watch". thinkbusiness.ie. 26 August 2020. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
  6. 1 2 "Irish video gaming industry offers major possibilities". irishexaminer.com. Irish Examiner. 30 October 2017. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
  7. ↑ "Lockdown takes games industry to a higher level". irishtimes.com. Irish Times. 28 May 2020. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
  8. ↑ ""It's the unknown": Games festival to educate parents on gaming". rte.ie. November 22, 2018.
  9. ↑ "Ireland one of four states to ban violent game". irishtimes.com. Irish Times. 23 August 2008. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
  10. ↑ "Ireland bans its 1st video game, calling it 'gross' - Technology & science - Games | NBC News". NBC News. Retrieved February 19, 2015.
  11. 1 2 "Censorship and classification". justice.ie. Department of Justice. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
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