By Canadian Press

B.C. boosts tax credit for developers of video games, virtual reality simulators

Jul 7, 2025 | 3:28 PM

VICTORIA — The British Columbia government is boosting a tax credit to help developers of video games like Electronic Arts hire additional staff and invest money locally.

Premier David Eby says the interactive visual media tax credit will rise to 25 per cent from the current 17.5 per cent starting Sept. 1, which is also when the credit will become permanent to give industry additional certainty.

Eby says the changes will help the sector remain competitive as part of a larger economic response to American tariff threats, which was a “wake-up call” for the province to develop an economy that can stand on its “own two feet.”

Finance Minister Brenda Bailey says the measures will help B.C. grow its “knowledge economy.”

Bailey says they could have raised the tax credit higher as other provinces have, but chose 25 per cent because B.C. already has a competitive tax system among other factors that attract global talent.

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Government agency Creative BC says the interactive digital media sector, which includes games, virtual reality and educational software, employs about 20,000 people in the province and adds more than a $1 billion to the economy.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 7, 2025.

Wolfgang Depner, The Canadian Press