Six years ago, people in the Canary Islands talked about two game development studios. Today there are 44, backed by 17 specialized training centers and more than 220 direct jobs tied to production. The figures land just ahead of International Video Game and Gamer Day, celebrated this Saturday, August 29, shifting the spotlight from the people who play games to the people who build them.
“It’s still a small industry in macroeconomic terms for the Canary Islands, but with enough economic substance to start generating specialized careers,” says Emilio Hurtado, Executive Partner & BDD, who has worked on strategic plans for the sector both nationally and regionally. Growth has been fast, he notes, but there is still a long way to go.
The regional picture mirrors what is happening across Spain. The latest Spanish Video Game Development White Paper counts 820 active studios nationwide, with revenue of 1.464 billion euros in 2024 and 10,508 direct jobs, 90% of them on permanent contracts.
Working in games, Hurtado points out, does not necessarily mean writing code. A production needs artistic and technical profiles, yes, but also producers, sound specialists, UX/UI designers, QA testers, marketing and communications staff, data analysts, localization experts and project managers. Around that core sit esports, events, education, streaming and content creation, a single ecosystem that widens the door for anyone hoping to turn a hobby into a career.
The islands bring a sizeable player base to the table. The regional government estimates around one million people play video games in the Canary Islands, roughly half the population. Playing, though, is not the same as having an industry behind it, which is why Hurtado describes the local scene as still in an early phase, something closer to “mid-adolescence.” The next stage, he argues, requires more mid-sized companies, more private investment, publishers, senior professionals and studios willing to put down roots on the islands rather than pass through.
Tax incentives have helped draw projects and talent, but Hurtado is wary of overstating their role: “Tax policy gets a company to look at the Canary Islands; talent and the business itself decide whether that company stays.” The regional government points to the sector’s growth and its presence at international fairs such as Tokyo Game Show as part of a broader strategy to position the archipelago as a development hub.
For Antonio Cabrera, CEO of A1M Entertainment, the real test is whether small studios can survive, scale and actually ship products, eventually building their own intellectual property and leading international projects from the islands rather than simply hosting outsourced work. That is the backdrop for Gran Canaria Experience, running September 2 to 6 at the Alisios shopping center: five free days of video games, board games, innovation, digital culture and esports. Organizers expect to top 175,000 visitors in the festival’s second edition, though Cabrera measures success differently, in how many projects get started, how many professional relationships form, and how much talent finally gets noticed.
