Game Time For GameLoft In Ontario As French Player Opens Local Studio With Tax Credit Coin

9:37 AM PDT 7/15/2011 by Etan Vlessing

Comments

The French video game publisher is the latest foreign player to set up shop in Toronto.

TORONTO -- Ontario is opening its purse strings yet again to bring another major gaming company to Toronto.

The province is investing $2 million to lure French game developer and publisher Gameloft to open a digital gaming studio in Toronto, with up to 205 jobs created.

The Toronto facilitiy will focus on developing mobile games for the iPhone, iPad and other tablets and smartphones, and for social media like Facebook.

Besides the public coin, Gameloft will also take advantage of Ontario’s interactive digital media tax credit.

The Ontario provincial government is also investing another $3 million to help local game publisher Silicon Knights to create 80 jobs and protect another 97 jobs.

The latest government investment follows Ontario helping Ubisoft, Electronic Arts and Capcom Entertainment take advantage of provincial tax credits and other financial inducements to set up locally.

The Canadian province has been aggressive in attracting foreign gaming giants as they eye tax credits and other soft money in the face of falling global sales and dwindling European government subsidies.