
Mobovivo
Mobovivo creates mobile experiences, live steams and games including AR titles for companies like CBS, ESPN and Intel.
Alberta is home to a wealth of small studios and indie developers in the gaming industry. The industry was put on the map in 1996 when the Edmonton studio BioWare released Shattered Steel. BioWare was one of the largest independent studios in Canada and was purchased by Electronic Arts (for $620 million) in 2017 (one of the largest tech acquisitions in Canadian history).
Calgary is growing the game. There are over 60 companies working on video games and/or immersive media products and services. A 2019 Nordicity survey found that over 200 people were working in the video games and immersive media industry in Calgary – with 70 per cent of companies looking to hire roughly five people over the next year. The Calgary Game Developer’s Association (CGDA) has over 850 members. Our talent pipeline is highly educated, with a strong desire to work in games.
You’re among good company in Calgary. Get to know some of our industry leaders.
Mobovivo creates mobile experiences, live steams and games including AR titles for companies like CBS, ESPN and Intel.
In the last six years Zugalu has launched two mobile and four PC games. They are currently working on a full feature release, Thrive: Heavy Lies the Crown.
In 2019, Shifty Eye Studios launched four games on Apple Arcade, with three more in the works.
The creators of Dead Matter, a post-apocalyptic Alberta-set game, which raised $250,000 on Kickstarter and another $316,000 USD on Indiegogo.
The developers of Insurgency, Day of Infamy and Insurgency: Sandstorm, with over 7 million units sold worldwide.
A VR video game studio that has launched four games, Red Iron Labs uses its game design expertise to develop custom immersive experiences across multiple sectors.
An integrated venture studio for small game development teams that will see up to 50 teams hosted and launched over the next 5 years.
The developer of Semispheres (2017), the first Alberta-made game to be released on Nintendo Switch. Vivid Helix is currently launching Neon Noodles, a cyberpunk kitchen automation game.
A zombie survival sandbox, with over 17.5 million stream downloads, played by well over a million people in a fortnight.
This two-man team features former Microsoft Program manager-turned-game designer Stephen and two-time Olympic athlete Kyle. They are the creators of Disjoint, and their newest game, Atrio.
"Given the company’s recent success with Insurgency: Sandstorm, we have a tremendous opportunity to open a studio and bring together the majority of our team. After careful consideration into where this location should be, we have decided on Calgary and look forward to growing our team in our new home."
- Jeremy Blum, CEO, New World Interactive
Calgary’s gaming ecosystem is experiencing rapid growth. From developers to players, here’s how the numbers stack up.
Calgary Game Developers Association has over 850 members, the majority of which are readily available talent.
University of Calgary has launched its first one-week intensive game production course for post-graduates, now accepting application for June 2020.
Thin Air Games aims to build 10 to 20 gaming companies per year over the next three years.
Alberta Makes Games has a list of 174 games made in the province, 65 of which are on Steam and 92 on Itch.
Twitch Calgary has 620+ members.
Calgary Unreal Engine Meetup has 160+ members.
Whether it’s events, activities or training, there’s no shortage of ways to play along with gaming in Calgary.
4-day pop culture convention welcoming tens of thousands.
The boutique game developers and games industry conference of North America, hosted in Banff each October.
Including meetups, game critiques and game jams.
Connect regularly with other Unreal Engine users.
Find events for all things games in Alberta.
Resources for kids interested in gaming.
A list of post-secondary programs for gamers.
Check out Calgary’s Video Games and Immersive Technology Strategy
Download the report