More jobs will be created in Victoria’s thriving gaming industry with games studio Sledgehammer Games expanding its Asia-Pacific office in Melbourne.
Minister for Creative Industries Martin Foley joined local games leaders at the Melbourne International Games Week (MIGW) event to welcome Sledgehammer’s Chief Operating Officer Andrew Wilson and to hear about the US studio’s plans for its new office.
“As Victoria’s digital games industry continues to gain strength globally, it’s a great pleasure to welcome Sledgehammer Games’ announcement, and their wealth of knowledge, expertise and opportunity to the local sector,” said Minister Foley.
“Victoria is Australia’s gaming capital and we’re proud to support this industry, which is an important driver or our $31 billion creative economy. Sledgehammer’s office here outside of the US is a huge vote of confidence in our games sector, employing more talented locals to work with this global powerhouse.”
Established in 2009 in the San Francisco Bay Area, the studio is best known for its work on the blockbuster Call of Duty franchise and has quickly forged a reputation as a global games force. Recruitment is underway to build Sledgehammer’s Melbourne team, made up of the industry’s best local product developers, engineers and designers.
Melbourne is home to more than half of Australia’s games industry with MIGW, now the largest games celebration in the Asia Pacific, firmly cementing its reputation as Australia’s E-sports and gaming capital.
Sledgehammer’s expansion in Melbourne comes as the global market for games continues to grow. Currently worth almost $200m annually, the value of the industry is expected to reach to $400 million by 2025.
In 2011, Forbes reported that the studio’s first title, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 set records as the biggest entertainment opening that year on its way to grossing $1 billion in mere weeks following its release.
Melbourne International Games Week 2019 continues to 13 October. For more information, including a full list of events and activities, visit: www.gamesweek.melbourne for details.
Image: Attendees at PAX Aus 2018 – photo by GAZI Photography