Calgary video game developers set to level up globally

Calgary’s game-development community had grown substantially by 2023, with the Calgary Game Developers Association expanding from about 10 members to roughly 1,200 over seven years. Local studios including Dead Unicorn, Vivid Helix, Zugalu Entertainment and Naturally Intelligent were releasing or developing games, while Zugalu was preparing Thrive for beta and Shifty Eye Studios had secured a partnership to develop a game based on a major film franchise. Game Con Canada provided these developers with a major local showcase as Calgary’s ecosystem approached a new stage of maturity. Industry leaders credited collaboration, a growing technology sector and post-secondary talent for strengthening the community, while identifying Alberta’s proposed interactive digital media tax credit as a potential catalyst for further growth. The article reflects Calgary’s evolution from a small grassroots development scene toward an ecosystem capable of supporting established studios, commercial releases and larger international opportunities.