Game developers planning to immigrate to Australia will have an easier time doing so from now on, thanks to new skilled migration guidelines implemented for the country. Australia is rapidly becoming an appealing place to base game development studios in.

The Australian Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List (PMSOL) will be adding twenty-two new roles, among them game and software development-related skills as a way to leverage gaming's massive market impact. The PMSOL was initially announced in September 2020 and the expansions are being implemented in the hope of bringing more skilled workers into Australia to help the country's post-COVID economy climb in value.

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Alex Hawke, the Australian Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs, was reported in a Department of Home Affairs press release to have cited engagement with corporations of various sizes and industries by the Australian government to determine which additions and changes would best suit the immigration program. The 22 additions to the list of occupations considered skilled work reflect the country's corporate interests and expanding markets, notably the game development industry. The additions bring the total size of the list to 41 occupations in total. The changes also include a variety of other roles such as several spatial science-related roles and a listing for multimedia specialists.

Australia's commitment to game developers, while refreshing, is somewhat inconsistent. On one side, game developers are considered priority immigration candidates, on top of the country's game development industry being given a 30% federal tax offset. However, the country is infamous for restrictive policies preventing certain games such as Sludge Life from releasing in Australia, potentially raising questions regarding the government's plans to draw in more game developers.

Despite Australia's inconsistent enforcement as displayed with Cyperpunk 2077, the newfound support for game developers and the measures the country has been implementing recently could be leading up to policy changes. The friendliness Australia has shown the game industry in recent times indicates the current government realizes the industry's potential for profit. With these policies, Australia is becoming an appealing place to live for game developers looking for headquarters to be supported by the country.

Australia's focus on the business of gaming rather than the art could be concerning to developers who prefer freedom of artistic expression over profit, meaning most independent developers will likely choose not to immigrate. For large, well-established development companies looking to cut down on taxes like Activision, though, Australia may be a good place to set up shop, especially if the government keeps up the activity of supporting game developers.

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Sources: Australia Home Affairs, Screenhub