The government said it was “in favor” on Wednesday of the “examination of the effectiveness” of the video game tax credit, the main public financing tool for this industry in France, being extended until 2026.
Parliamentarians decided to examine the effectiveness of the tax credit in 2025 so that we can see if it works well and if it gives the expected results, recalled the French Minister of the Economy, Bruno. Le Maire, at the opening of Paris Games Week, the main French trade fair in the sector.
If some propose 2026, I am in favor of giving more time and more visibility to all video game players in France, he added.
Last year, the government announced that it wanted to extend the video game tax credit until December 31, 2028.
If the European Commission authorized France to maintain it until 2028, Bercy stressed to AFP that tax loopholes must be subject to an examination of their effectiveness at certain intervals.
Given the sector’s fears, Bruno Le Maire said he was in favor of senators postponing this review for a year, the same source added.
Since its implementation in 2008, companies in the sector have benefited from a tax credit, under conditions, whose rate amounts to 30% of eligible expenses for the production of a new game.
The main video game unions regularly plead for France, third in Europe in terms of turnover, to become the European leader in the sector within five years, asking public authorities to make it an industrial priority.
To support the economic development of esports, Mr. Le Maire also announced last Thursday that VAT on tickets for video game competitions would be aligned with that of concerts and sporting events from January 1, 2024.
After a tightened format last year, Paris Games Week 2023, the largest video game show in France, returns on Wednesday in a large format configuration, and until November 5 at Porte de Versailles.
After bringing together 150,000 visitors last year, around 200,000 visitors at least are expected for this edition.