New Zealand Game Development Industry Breaks Records With $759M in Revenue and 1,418 Jobs
26 September 2025
WELLINGTON, New Zealand — September 26, 2025
The New Zealand Game Developers Association (NZGDA) today announced record-breaking results from its 2025 annual survey, revealing that the nation’s game development industry continues its rapid ascent on the global stage.
Industry pre-tax income for the 2024/2025 financial year reached NZD 759.57 million, an impressive 38.6% increase over the previous year’s NZD 548 million. This surge far outpaces the single-digit growth forecast for the global gaming industry in 2025.
The industry’s workforce has expanded in tandem with revenue. Full-time equivalent jobs (FTEs) grew by 29.2%, rising from 1,097 in 2024 to 1,418 in 2025, underscoring the sector’s importance as a high-value employer within Aotearoa.
Export demand remains the cornerstone of success: 95% of revenue (NZD 709 million) was generated from international consumer sales, cementing New Zealand’s position as one of the world’s most export-driven creative industries.
The industry’s workforce has expanded in tandem with revenue. Full-time equivalent jobs (FTEs) grew by 29.2%, rising from 1,097 in 2024 to 1,418 in 2025, underscoring the sector’s importance as a high-value employer within Aotearoa.
Export demand remains the cornerstone of success: 95% of revenue (NZD 709 million) was generated from international consumer sales, cementing New Zealand’s position as one of the world’s most export-driven creative industries.
The survey also highlights the industry’s fiscal contribution. Companies reported more than NZD 115 million in combined income tax and PAYE contributions, equating to an estimated 474.31% return on investment through the Government’s Game Development Sector Rebate (GDSR) program. For every dollar invested, the program has delivered NZD 4.74 in return to the economy as of March 31, 2025.
Carl Leducq, Chair of NZGDA says “The industry’s 38% revenue growth shows the world is hungry for New Zealand-made games. This is a sector that delivers jobs, exports, and cultural impact, and it’s only just getting started.” Joy Keene, Executive Director of NZGDA further adds: “The success of the GDSR can be measured in the economic returns it delivers, both to individuals in the industry via way of high salaries and to New Zealand’s economy through tax. But there’s still more to do. We need international publishing and investment to sustain growth, and robust, relevant education pathways that keep NZ-developed talent here in Aotearoa.”
NZGDA will be releasing further in depth insights from the 2025 survey in the coming weeks.
For additional information, please contact:
Joy Keene
Executive Director of NZGDA
joy@nzgda.com