StoryToys calls on government to improve Ireland’s video game sector

The developer has sent recommendations for enhancing the country's Digital Games Tax Credit to make it easier for companies to create games.
August 20, 2024

Dublin-based StoryToys, which has developed apps with LEGO, Sesame Workshop and Disney, wants the Irish government to better support the country’s video game companies.  

StoryToys has sent the government its recommendations for enhancing Ireland’s Digital Games Tax Credit (DGTC), with three goals in mind: supporting the country’s growing video game industry, attracting foreign direct investment and ensuring the sector’s long-term sustainability. 

Introduced in November 2022, the DGTC provides a tax credit for up to 32% of eligible spending on video game development. The program was intended to expand the country’s video game sector, but it’s falling short of what companies like StoryToys need, according to StoryToys. The government has to go further with the credit so Ireland’s fledgling video game industry can compete in more mature markets internationally, adds the developer. 

Despite having a portfolio of games including LEGO Duplo World, Disney Coloring World and Thomas and Friends: Let’s Roll, StoryToys has struggled to maintain a balance between high-quality production and cost-effectiveness, according to the company. 

To help ease this struggle, it recommends that the government extend the credit to cover projects post-launch, so developers can sustain investment and jobs on games that have already come out. StoryToys is also asking the government to extend the program to cover games even if an Irish company is only partially developing them, as well as Irish studios doing third-party work with international partners.  

Without some of these changes, game-related businesses will struggle to grow and won’t be able to relieve some of the financial pressures that come from developing new titles, the company argues. 

“The Irish games industry has the potential to be bigger than our animation or film industries,” says Emmet O’Neill, CEO of StoryToys. “The games tax credit is a significant step forward. However, the business model in games is not the same as it is in the film industry so to compete internationally we need a tax credit that recognises these differences. The nascent Irish games industry needs additional supports if it is to realise its potential and gain the international recognition that we’ve seen across both film and animation.”

StoryToys isn’t the only Irish entity pushing to enhance the country’s video game industry. Screen Ireland, the country’s media development agency, has been stepping up to support video game developers this year, according to a spokesperson. 

Screen Ireland and IMIRT (the country’s video game industry body) teamed up in May to test a pilot program aimed at providing up to US$19,500 in funding to video game developers. And Screen Ireland has also added gaming into its training program for individuals looking to get experience in animation and VFX. (StoryToys is one of the companies involved with this training program, offering work placements for participants.) 

Pictured is Emmet O’Neill, Chief Executive Officer of StoryToys. Updated 08/21/2024 with quote from Emmet O’Neill. 

About The Author
News editor for Kidscreen. Ryan covers tech, talent and general kids entertainment news, with a passion for kids rap content and video games. Have a story that's of interest to Kidscreen readers? Contact Ryan at rtuchow@brunico.com

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