Stephen Knightly: RocketWerks Games CEO on the impact of the $160 million rebate for the industry

The Mike Hosking Breakfast

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22h ago 2:59

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The video game industry's going gangbusters, with the number of people employed up by more than 20%.

This is due to a four-year, $160 million sector rebate, offering 20 cents back for every dollar eligible studios spend.

Forty studios will receive a share of $22.4 million this year, including RocketWerks Games.

Its CEO, Stephen Knightly, told Heather du Plessis-Allan $40 million is available yearly, but the Government's put a cap on it.

He says any one studio can only get up to $3 million, but thinks it should be increased as there's obviously money there.

Knightly says the scheme has delivered on what it was intended for, keeping studios from moving overseas.

He says he looked at starting a team up in Australia, but instead they're now staying in Auckland, and hiring more people.

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