Canadian-made Video Games Flexing Muscles on World Stage at E3 Expo

LOS ANGELES, June 11, 2013 /CNW/ - A slew of Canadian-produced video games are on display at this year's Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3 Expo), putting a spotlight on the strength and vitality of Canada's growing video game industry. At this year's E3 Expo, taking place in Los Angeles from June 10 to 13, 2013, Canadian-developed games from ESAC member companies include:

• Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag (Ubisoft)
• Batman: Arkham Origins (Warner Bros. Games Montreal)
• Below (Capybara Games/ Microsoft Studios)
• Dragon Age: Inquisition (Bioware / Electonic Arts)
• Gangstar Vegas (Gameloft)
• The Mighty Quest for Epic Loot (Ubisoft)
• NHL 2014 (Electronic Arts)
• FIFA 2014 (Electronic Arts)
• Splinter Cell: Blacklist (Ubisoft)
• Watch Dogs (Ubisoft)

"Canada continues to bring some of the biggest and most critically-acclaimed games to E3," said Jayson Hilchie, President and CEO of the Entertainment Software Association of Canada (ESAC). "When you look at the most anticipated games at the Expo, a significant portion of them are made in Canada; that's a source of tremendous pride for all Canadians," he added. "With some of the world's largest video game studios located in Canada, our video game industry is considered the biggest in the world on a per capita basis. E3 is a great showcase not only for our biggest games, but for Canadian creativity as well," says Hilchie.

New research conducted for ESAC by Nordicity shows that although only 16% of projects completed in 2012 were games for consoles, those projects account for the majority share (66.5%) of revenues by studios in Canada. Canadian companies report that the average budget for the production of a console game is $8.7 million and that it's produced by an average team of 65 persons in just over a year and a half. Although 84% of the 329 video game studios in Canada are working on games for mobile devices, 48% of studios are still devoting some of their resources to console games.

Canada's video game industry directly employs 16,500 Canadians - up 5% from two years ago, indicating that despite some turmoil, Canada's industry is still growing at a moderate pace. Canada - through effective provincial strategies and by benefiting from some of the world's most creative workers - has developed an industry that now contributes over $2.3 billion to the Canadian economy.

E3 Expo is the foremost trade show of the newest trends, products and technologies for the global entertainment software industry. Hosted by the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), the Expo brings together developers, distributers and media from around the world to experience the future of interactive entertainment.

ESAC is the voice of the Canadian computer and video game industry. By contributing $2.3 billion in economic activity and cultivating workers with a combination of creative, technological and management skills, the video game industry is supporting Canada's position in the changing global economy. ESAC works on behalf of its members to ensure the legal and regulatory environment is favourable for the long-term development of Canada's video game industry. Association members include the nation's leading interactive software developers and publishers including Electronic Arts, Ubisoft, Activision Blizzard, Microsoft Canada, Nintendo of Canada, Sony Computer Entertainment, Disney Interactive Studios, Gameloft, United Front Games, Take Two Interactive, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and Frontier Developments, as well as distributors Solutions 2 Go and Team One Marketing.

SOURCE: Entertainment Software Association of Canada

For further information:

visit www.theesa.ca or contact:
Julien Lavoie, Director, Public Relations at [email protected] or 647-860-1841