Wisconsin Announces Tax Breaks For Game Development

Following the state of Georgia's own 20-30% tax breaks for the games industry, Wisconsin has announced that it is instituting its own incentives, with 25 percent tax credits for film, TV, and qualifying game studios. State officials say that the incentive includes a 25 percent rebate on qualified production related expenditures, as well as a 15 percent credit for infrastructure development. The state also notes that local schools have begun adding more animation and game development degree tracks, including an upcoming motion capture studio at Milwaukee Area Technical College. A release on the new incentives also has referred to Wisconsin's "excellent quality of life" as referenced by Fortune 500's naming of Madison suburb Middleton as "the top city to live in." The state hopes that with affordable housing and office stock, it will become "a new Mecca for game development." Said Raven Software (Marvel Ultimate Alliance, Quake IV) product development director Mike Crowns, “I truly believe that the tax incentive will greatly assist the growth of game development in the State of Wisconsin."