Video games in the Republic of Ireland

Video game development is a developing industry in the Republic of Ireland, with some government attempts made to encourage investment via tax breaks.[1][2] Of the approximately €206 million spent by Irish people on video games in 2015, Irish game developers "[saw] little of this spend".[3]

Video gaming in Ireland grew from the 1970s and, for example, the Atari 2600 was manufactured in Limerick to meet demand for both Irish and export markets.[4] By 2020, video game companies in Ireland included Keywords Studios, Havok and Romero Games.[5][6][7] A video games festival was held in Dublin in 2018.[8]

In 2007, the Irish Film Censor's Office (IFCO) was one of four European classification organisations to ban Manhunt 2.[9] The ban, later lifted, was the first video game ban in Ireland.[10] Under the 1989 Video Recordings Act, the head of IFCO "may prohibit a video game" if it is deemed "unfit for viewing".[11] Ratings and classifications in Ireland are otherwise applied through the (voluntary) Pan European Game Information (PEGI) age-rating scheme, of which Ireland is a member.[11]

Video game companies of Ireland

Active companies

Defunct companies

Publishers
  • KamaGames (publisher & dev. Mobile & casino games)
  • Playrix (Dublin HQ. Russian publisher & dev. Mobile games.)

References
  1. "Ireland targets Scottish games industry". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 2012-07-29. Retrieved 2011-05-23.
  2. "Getting to the next level". Irish Times. 2011-02-25. Retrieved 2011-05-23.
  3. "Ireland spent an estimated €206m on video games last year but how many were Irish". independent.ie. 12 February 2015.
  4. "The History of Gaming in Ireland I: The Systems that Made Us Gamers". independent.ie. 9 August 2017.
  5. "13 Irish-led video game business to watch". thinkbusiness.ie. 26 August 2020. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
  6. "Irish video gaming industry offers major possibilities". irishexaminer.com. Irish Examiner. 30 October 2017. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
  7. "Lockdown takes games industry to a higher level". irishtimes.com. Irish Times. 28 May 2020. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
  8. ""It's the unknown": Games festival to educate parents on gaming". rte.ie. November 22, 2018.
  9. "Ireland one of four states to ban violent game". irishtimes.com. Irish Times. 23 August 2008. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
  10. "Ireland bans its 1st video game, calling it 'gross' - Technology & science - Games | NBC News". NBC News. Retrieved February 19, 2015.
  11. "Censorship and classification". justice.ie. Department of Justice. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
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