‘I felt betrayed’: Gaming companies unsure of future in Alberta after tax credit axed

The elimination of Alberta’s Interactive Digital Media Tax Credit removed a significant incentive for game studios operating in the province. The program covered 25 per cent of eligible salaries and bonuses, making labour-intensive game development less expensive and helping Alberta compete with provinces offering similar incentives. Edmonton-based Beamdog was among the studios affected, with CEO Trent Oster warning that eliminating the credit would influence decisions about hiring and where future development work takes place. The change was particularly significant because game studios can choose between Canadian jurisdictions offering comparable talent but substantially different production costs. For Alberta’s game industry, the cancellation created a competitive disadvantage for attracting studios, encouraging expansion and retaining development jobs, while removing a form of support specifically suited to an industry where employee salaries represent a major portion of production costs.