As 2025 draws to a close, NZ On Air would like to take a moment to reflect on what has been another incredible year for game development in Aotearoa. The industry continues to grow in creativity, capability and global reach, and they are genuinely proud to play a small part in supporting that journey.
As a quick recap, this year the Game Development Sector Rebate (GDSR) supported 40 game development studios to the tune of $22.44m. That’s a 24 percent increase in recipients from 2024, which showed that more studios are reaching the eligibility threshold and scaling up in response. They also saw a 20.5 percent lift in roles – a really encouraging sign that teams are growing, people and original IP are staying here in Aotearoa, and local studios are strengthening their presence on the global stage.
The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) confirmed that the GDSR will remain a cornerstone of support for the industry beyond 2027. The ongoing feedback, openness and engagement of developers has been instrumental in shaping the programme.
Here are some key dates to get into your calendar for GDSR 2026:
- Registration for GDSR 2026 will open on Tuesday, 20 January 2026. Please note that even if you have applied for the GDSR before, you still need to register. Once your Registration is approved, you can download the Financial Details Template and Game Details Template in advance of Applications opening. There are some minor updates to these templates underway, which will be completed in February so we would encourage you to review those once they are available.
- GDSR Applications then open on Wednesday 1 April 2026 and will close on Friday 15 May at 4pm NZT.
Click HERE to register to receive all updates and details on applications and Webinars for 2026.