by FilmInk Staff
Screen Australia has today announced over $2.1 million in games funding across 41 projects that showcase the depth of talent across Australia. Provided through the Games Production and Emerging Gamemakers programs, the funding supports the nationwide strength of the games industry, highlighted in recent research released by the agency.
Screen Australia Head of Games Joey Egger said, “Screen Currency 2026 shows that games is growing faster than all other screen sectors in terms of gross value add, employment and exports. These funded projects are a reflection of the continued growth and maturity of the Australian games industry, with gamemakers from all corners of Australia creating ambitious, distinctive and globally competitive work. Drawing on their lived experiences and unique creative perspectives, these teams are developing games that resonate with audiences, both here and around the world.”
Screen Currency 2026 reveals that games have become a mainstream activity, with more than three-quarters of Australians (78%) playing digital games in the past six months. Additionally, knowing that a game was made locally was seen as a “value add” by players. The research also found the value contributed by games to the Australian economy had more than doubled since 2016/17, growing from a relatively small base to become an increasingly significant contributor to economic activity.
Some of the supported projects include:
• Night Shift: 1999 (SA) [pictured]: A unique urban fantasy from Winter Schloss Studios, created by emerging solo developer Georgina Owassapian and featuring voice work from Twitch streamers Victoria Chirkova, Liam Seeds and Matthew Ellis. Arriving on New Years Day 1999, a vampire from a century ago must reconcile with the changing landscape of the world as she overcomes her murky past.
• Project Worl (WA): Produced by solo gamemaker and Nyungar technologist Kathryn Gledhill-Tucker, Project Worl is a futuristic, rhythm-based auto-running platformer, where players pilot a spaceship through six worlds inspired by the Noongar seasons.
• Bedtime Stories (VIC): A casual 2D platformer with fun combat play inspired by Cantonese and Indonesian folklores from Liquid Heart studio. Produced by award-winning film editor Kevin Luk with art direction from award-winning animator Fitriani Revanda (Little Hiccups).
• The Birdwatcher’s Journal (NSW): Developed by Reuben Moorhouse and Ann Li Khaw, this birdwatching adventure has players investigate a mysterious island, documenting strange birds and uncovering the fate of a missing researcher.
• Untitled SporkTank Project (VIC): Led by creative director Martin Stradling, alongside 2D artist Lachlan Monaghan, lead artist Joy Ferrentino, designer and project manager Christopher Ferrentino, and with consultancy from Dean Baron, this 2D side-scrolling puzzle adventure follows a curious bat on a mission to capture the perfect photo of the full moon.
• Innkeep (WA): From Boot Disk Games comes a medieval fantasy-themed pixel art game, where players take the role of the new master of a run-down inn. Developed by Daniel Burke, the team includes lead artist Ben Chandler (STAR WARS™: Dark Forces Remaster), assistant programmer Keegan Martens (Umbral Omen), 2D artists Torgeir Fjereide and Fernando Salvaterra, composer Filippo Beck Peccoz, sound designer Philipp Sellier and narrative consultant James Baille. Made with support from Mythwright, Screen Australia, and Screenwest and Lotterywest.
• Infinite Airport Upholstery (TAS): Led by creative director Richie Cyngler, a first-time game developer with a background as a creative technologist, Infinite Airport Upholstery is a meditative, experimental game where players create endlessly varied textile-inspired patterns, designed for the handheld console Playdate.
• Untitled BYTEr Project (QLD): With a compelling visual identity, created by designer Shaun Shepherd, animator Zev Edward Donovan and 3D artist Aidan Clark, this game is an adrenaline-pumping boomer-brawler where players surge through levels at rapid speed as a boxing frog, battling machines.
• Super Sphere FX (ACT): From solo developer Justin Hogie (Microvania), this micro-scale open-world platformer invites players to spin, boost and perform stunts through a retro 3D world, as they strive to find their place as the first mixed-race being.
• Spell Slinger (NT): Created by producer and 3D artist Luke Fronsko, programmer Daniel Ferguson and composer Ben Houghton. As the last mage of the Order of the Bound Book, you are tasked with eradicating evil foes across a fantasy world in a game inspired by arcade classics.
The full list of Games Production blocklines is available here. The latest Emerging Gamemakers is available here.
