Canada is known for maple syrup, oil production, and kind people. Lately, the Great White North has also become a hub for video games. If you’re an investor, aspiring streamer or someone looking for employment, pay attention to Canada’s online gaming industry.
Some of the biggest video game publishers have offices in Canada. We’re talking about multi-billion conglomerates like EA, Activision, Microsoft, and Apple. Of course, Canada also hosts a lot of famous Twitch streamers and mobile gaming fans.
Below is an overview of the country’s online game space. Discover why it’s growing rapidly and how you could benefit from this growth.
Over 900 Active Video Game Studios
Canada is home to 900+ video game studios, a 50% increase compared to 2016. These companies employ 32,000 Canadians and contribute $5 billion to the country’s annual revenue.
Why are gaming studios moving to Canada? The first reason is progressive government policies. Canada has much lower taxes for tech companies compared to the US. Yet, it’s located within a few hours of major cities like Boston, New York, and Washington DC.
Another reason is that Canada is packed with talent. Foreign companies find it easier to find skilled labour in Canada. And if they have to hire expatriates, Canada makes the process straightforward.
The result is that a growing number of developers are choosing Canada to open major branches. Even companies that didn’t always open offices in Western countries (hello, Nintendo) now have offices in Canada.
Hundreds of Successful Online Games
Canada’s video game studios have been creating some pretty impressive online games in the past decade. Assassin’s Creed is a case in point. Released in 2007 by Ubisoft Vancouver, the game has sold more than 200 million copies around the world. In fact, Assassin’s Creed is Ubisoft’s most successful video game ever.
Beyond Assassin’s Creed, Canadian studios also created Far Cry 6, Dead Space, FIFA 23, The Amazing Spiderman II, and Star Wars: Squadrons. Then there are minor console and mobile games.
Some Canadian studios create games of chance, like slots and roulette. These games are skyrocketing in popularity now that provinces like Ontario are licensing commercial online gaming sites. You can learn more about these games at SmartCasinoGuide.com. The site also explains where to find the games.
Huge Support from the Canadian Population
Gone are the days when video games were a niche market for lonely teenagers. Data from Canadian statistical firms show more than 20 million of the country’s 31 million popular play online games.
The majority of them play mobile video games like PUBG, Candy Crush Saga, and Fortnite. Interestingly, nearly half of video game players in Canada consist of women. Another interesting fact is that Canadians over 50 years old are also playing video games.
That means developers need to rethink their demographics in the future. They’re no longer creating games for young teenage males anymore. They also need to take into account that some of their customers will consist of older people and players from diverse ethnic backgrounds.
To be clear, developers need to create games for dynamic demographics from all over the world. As stated, Canadian companies have been making games for a global audience. Globally, the video game sector consists of $2.5 billion players who spend over $100 billion on their favourite games.
A Concerted Effort by Provinces
When you think about it, video game studios in Canada are spread out from coast to coast. A majority of them are located in Ontario, Canada. But others are located in Quebec, Manitoba, and Alberta.
The explanation is that Canadian provinces have been working closely with the Federal government to create a conducive business environment for developers. Provinces help foreign investors acquire workspaces in local cities.
The Federal government chips in by subsidizing taxes for tech companies in the country. It also allows these businesses to find the best talents in the world. And it helps foreign skilled workers to get business permits easily once they get into Canada.
In return, video game businesses have been providing employment to Canadians left, right, and center. The video game sector in Canada pays an average salary of $75,000, which is on par with the best companies in the US.
A Growing Love for Mobile Games
Though most of the video game money goes to large PC and console developers, most Canadians play mobile games more often. As we mentioned earlier, more than half of the popular play games on their smartphones.
Monopoly Go is Canada’s most beloved mobile game. Build Master ranks second, while My Perfect Hotel is third. Among the most successful games in the world, Fortnite, PUBG, FIFA23, and Minecraft have the highest number of fans in the Great White North.
Mobile gaming’s growth in Canada isn’t a coincidence. It’s the result of years of huge investments by local and international firms. Mobile device companies like Blackberry and Nokia started it all.
But these companies were later replaced by smartphones like iPhone and Samsung. Smartphones provide multiple functionalities, including the ability to play sophisticated mobile games.
Another benefit is that mobile devices are cheaper than consoles and PC computers. A lot more people can afford smartphones, but not everyone owns a PlayStation or Xbox console.
The eSports Scene in Canada
Esports fans in Canada are playing a big role in popularizing the country’s video game space. Some of them stream content on Twitch and social media networks. Others play video games professionally.
Russel “Twistzz” Dulken is one of Canada’s biggest talents in the eSports space. He’s been playing CS: GO tournaments professionally for more than five years. In 2021, he joined German side FaZe Clan and helped them using the PGL Antwerp Championship the following year.
Other famous Canadian eSports players include Stephanie Harvey. She goes by the name “Miss Harvey” and loves to play CS:GO when she’s not working as a developer for Ubisoft. Other notable names include Mike “Shroud” Grezesiek and Artour “Arteezy” Babaev.
Overall, eSports has over five million fans in Canada. And thanks to this huge support, the Canadian online gaming sector will likely continue to blossom.
