Brazil's Gaming Industry: Overcoming Challenges to Achieve Success

Brazil has emerged as one of the largest emerging games markets globally, with its gaming scene expanding rapidly over the past 15 years. The local industry dates back to the 1980s, but it wasn't until the 1990s that games gained popularity, with the government's block on technology imports leading to the creation of clones. The launch of Steam in the early 2000s and the rise of accessible engines like Unity enabled more people to start their own studios. The Brazilian games market accelerated around 2010 with the increased popularity of smartphones, and today there are over 1,000 games companies in the country. Despite ongoing limitations on tech imports, Brazil is well-suited to become a hub for games development, with good infrastructure, access to governmental programs, and affordable equipment. However, the industry faces challenges such as the brain drain of senior talent and the need for more investment to attract publishers and create larger, more ambitious titles. The recent adoption of a new legal framework that redefines video games as a separate industry is expected to open doors for growth, but there is also a need to change the mindset among developers to be more open to foreign investments and venture capital.