New Zealand game studios earn $829M in 2025/26, boosted by GDSR
Key takeaways
- New Zealand game studios generated $829M in revenue for 2025/26.
- 43 studios received $21.9M in GDSR rebates in 2026.
- Export revenue made up 98% of total income for recipient studios.
- Total revenue for New Zealand's games industry surpassed $1 billion.
New Zealand's game development studios generated a combined revenue of $829 million in the 2025/26 fiscal year, marking a 17% increase year-over-year. This growth is largely attributed to the support from the Game Development Sector Rebate (GDSR), which distributed $21.9 million to 43 participating studios in 2026, down slightly from the $22.4 million allocated in 2025.
The number of studios benefiting from GDSR support rose from 40 to 43, with the total number of games in development increasing from 170 to 194. Notably, small and medium-sized businesses made up 90% of the recipient studios, highlighting their significance in the industry. Medium-sized studios led the growth with a remarkable 44% increase in revenue, while small studios saw a 21% rise, and large studios experienced a 10% increase.
Export revenue accounted for 98% of the total income generated by these studios, underscoring the sector's role as a vital digital export industry. Despite a decline in total full-time equivalent employment from 1,288 to 1,124 across recipient studios, the average GDSR-supported studio managed to expand its workforce by 14%, even amidst broader industry layoffs.
Chantelle Cole, GDSR programme director at NZ On Air, emphasized the importance of small and medium-sized studios to New Zealand's gaming landscape. The latest GDSR results reflect the rapid success of New Zealand's gaming sector, which surpassed $1 billion in total revenue last month, achieving this milestone two years ahead of the New Zealand Game Developers Association's initial 2028 projection.
Why it matters
The continued growth of New Zealand's game studios, especially among smaller entities, indicates a thriving industry poised for further international recognition and success.
Original source
PocketGamer.biz
