The total number of full-time employees at video game studios in New Zealand that claimed government rebates fell by 15% over the past year, according to data reported by the National Business Review.
The decline occurred even as the number of studios tapping into the incentive scheme increased, suggesting a shift in the composition of the industry rather than a broad-based contraction in development activity.
The data reveals a divergence between aggregate employment and individual studio growth.
While the overall headcount across rebate-claiming entities shrank, the average recipient studio actually grew its workforce during the same period.
This indicates that larger or more established studios are expanding, while smaller or struggling developers may be exiting the market or failing to qualify for support, leading to a net reduction in total jobs.
The contraction in the local gaming labor market comes amid significant restructuring in the global industry.