Flemish games sector receives 100,000 euros in support during corona crisis

The Flemish government is going to give the game industry in Flanders 100,000 euros in financial support. It concerns support for 65 companies to survive the corona crisis. It concerns a pot from the emergency fund for the film sector.

The support comes from the Flemish Minister of Media, Benjamin Dalle. He says that the release of the new consoles this month, namely the PS5 and the Xbox Series S and X, “offers important opportunities” for Flemish developers. Moreover, during the corona crisis, games would be an important outlet for young people and contribute to bring them closer together. According to the minister, the game sector is also hit hard by the pandemic and as a result deserves extra economic support.

According to a spokesperson for the ministry, the aid will be available to companies that have been delayed, were unable to continue promotions, or whose employees became ill. Flanders has about 65 game companies that can claim the money.

The money comes from the Flemish Audiovisual Fund. “Companies can apply for support from the VAF, which will see if the game developer has lost production due to the corona crisis,” a spokesperson told DataNews. The companies can now claim the extra support, but in the future 1.5 million per year will also be set aside from the fund for the games sector. That is ten percent of the total amount for the audiovisual industry. With that annual extra money, the sector must also remain healthy in the long term.