The Australian Federal Government's key media funding body, Screen Australia, has launched a new fund to support small to medium independent game studios in the country.
Games: Expansion Pack will provide direct funding for original games with budgets below $500,000, and has been backed to the tune of $6 million.
The fund will be allocated an initial $3 million during the current fiscal year, and will look to support titles made for all available platforms including PC, mobile, and console.
"The games sector is a fast-growing space and very important part of the Australian screen ecosystem," said Screen Australia CEO Graeme Mason.
"Australians working in the games sector are making names for themselves internationally in what is an extremely competitive industry. Screen Australia is delighted to be able to support the sustainability of our local industry."
Mason claimed the fund will enable independent Australian studios to "advance the ambition and quality" of their projects and better scale their business to compete on a global level.
Applications for the first round of funding are now open. Those interested can access the application guidelines and portal by clicking here.