Having launched back in 2013, you have had a frontrow seat to the changes in the local game development ecosystem over the last decade. What are some of the most impactful developments you have seen during this time?

There was an unfortunate lack of recognition and support for the digital games sector back when we kickstarted our enterprise. Combined with a lack of talent and extremely limited funding opportunities, the feat appeared impossible at the time. However, we persevered and saw our first IP – Holdfast – launch to international acclaim in 2017.

We have since seen numerous positive developments in Malta’s digital gaming ecosystem that are fostering a startup culture through direct support. Gaming Malta’s partnership with Unity is similarly strengthening the pool of available professionals and addressing the talent gap. Most of our hires are now Maltese nationals. Playcon, the local video game and esports convention, also speaks to the maturity of this sector.

Have you received support from Government and local agencies?

Support for enterprises championing innovation and creativity has been gradually increasing. Our studio has also benefited directly through schemes by Malta Enterprise and Gaming Malta. Startups developing innovative technologies are now eligible for a significantly broader range of support measures through these agencies. This injection of early capital plays an instrumental role in the conception of a vertical slice, which makes it easier to attract the financing needed to see a project through to completion.

Many businesses struggle to fill vacancies locally, with the tight job market posing a challenge to the development of industries demanding specialised skills. What has your experience been with finding the right talent?

We kickstarted the enterprise with a team of three, which brought our Holdfast IP to international success in 2017. At the time, our operations were predominantly reliant on foreign freelancers. Since then, we’ve transitioned to establishing an in-studio workforce, growing to nine locally and six offshore. Recruitment challenges have significantly diminished over the past few years, and we’ve never faced issues attracting the right talent.

“Basecamp is a brilliant initiative for startups, offering space at a reduced cost complemented by excellent infrastructure.”

You were previously situated in Basecamp, a startup incubator facility in Malta. What was your experience there like?

Throughout our two-year stay at Basecamp, we managed to establish valuable relationships with other pioneers in Malta’s digital game industry. Basecamp brought together studios that had previously worked in isolation, fostering a knowledge-sharing culture through its events.

Basecamp is a brilliant initiative for startups, offering space at a reduced cost complemented by excellent infrastructure. We have since relocated to SmartCity to accommodate our growing headcount as we embark on more ambitious projects.

What advice would you give to any video game developer or publisher considering Malta as a potential new base for their operations?

Speaking from our home-grown experience, Malta has proven to be an excellent base of operations for our studio. Developing games requires long-term investment and to maintain them as a service, retaining talent is key. The island’s environment has helped us retain offshore specialised talent, with the majority settling here permanently.

Malta’s approach has also proven to be business-centric, introducing professionals with international success to consult and empower the sector’s growth. Measures to facilitate this are on the rise, and we’re honoured to be part of it.