NZ On Air announces second-year GDSR recipients — showing improved economic value and job creation
10 July 2025

Forty game development studios across Aotearoa New Zealand will receive a share of $22.44m in the second year of the Game Development Sector Rebate (GDSR), with initial data showing a 20.5 percent increase in roles and each GDSR-funded employee generating over $525,000 in revenue.

In the second year of the GDSR, the number of studios receiving the rebate has also grown by 24 percent, up from 33 in 2024, showing more studios are meeting eligibility thresholds and actively scaling in response.

“These figures are hugely encouraging to see,” says Chantelle Cole, NZ On Air GDSR Programme Director. “They show that the GDSR is not only allowing studios to sustain jobs but actively grow their teams.”

“The key objectives of the GDSR from the outset were to retain industry talent, keep studios from heading offshore and enable studios to stabilise, scale and invest in long-term capability. The data is showing that we’re on the right track.”

The GDSR, introduced in 2023, provides a 20 percent rebate on eligible expenditure to support the growth of Aotearoa New Zealand’s game development sector. The GDSR is administered by NZ On Air, with policy oversight from MBIE. The rebate is capped at $3 million per studio per year, with a minimum qualifying expenditure of $250,000.

This year’s recipients represent a diverse range of studios from across the motu, developing original IP and contributing to a thriving digital export industry.

“The GDSR is clearly starting to play a big role in retaining talent and IP in New Zealand, while also boosting our presence and capabilities in the global marketplace,” says Cole.

“Over the next few years, its impacts will continue to become even clearer– but it is evident that the rebate’s existence has already resulted in studios continuing to do business in Aotearoa New Zealand and ignited further investment in our local sector.”

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