IIDEA, the association representing the video game industry in Italy, has joined the European Games Developer Federation (EGDF).
EGDF unites major national trade associations representing game developer studios across Europe. Its goal is to develop and promote policies that support the growth of the European game development scene.
“We already feel that Italy is part of the wider European videogames ecosystem – with talent and ideas already freely flowing between individuals and companies. Our membership of EGDF is a formal next step and will add Italian voices to EGDF’s campaigns to strengthen our sector,” said Mauro Fanelli, Vice President and Developer Representative of IIDEA.
However, as for the actual advocacy for the video games sector, Italy is lagging behind other European countries like France and Germany that have poured tens of millions of euros in their gamedev scenes. Moreover, a government-approved €4m funding scheme for the Italian video game developers is being challenged by the country’s Democratic Party. If this fund is cancelled, it would further distance Italy from the progress achieved in video games elsewhere in Europe.