Games Quarterly - March 2026

Kia ora koutou kātoa and welcome to the very first edition of Games Quarterly.

This quarterly newsletter is designed to keep you up to date with the latest Game Development Sector Rebate (GDSR) news, while serving as your go-to source for studio spotlights from across Aotearoa, international case studies, data insights and key industry trends.

If there’s something you’d like to see featured in Games Quarterly, or a studio win you’d like to share, we’d love to hear from you. Just email gamesrebate@nzonair.govt.nz

And, if you're not on the mailing list to get the Games Quarterly sent directly to your inbox, just go here to subscribe to Game Development Sector Rebate newsletters.

What’s New

• This year is off to a strong start, with more than 50 studios registering for this year's rebate - including 11 first-time applicants. It's great to see an increasing number of studios from across the motu accessing the scheme, demonstrating continued growth across the sector.
• On 3 February we hosted the first 2026 GDSR webinar in partnership with NZGDA – with a high-level overview of the GDSR registration and application process, shared updates, and highlighted refinements we’ve made to the Financial Details Template and Game Details Template. Check out the webinar here.
• Put it in your diary: Our next webinar with the NZGDA will be on Tuesday 17 March from 2:30-3:30pm ahead of 2026 GDSR applications opening in April. This is predominantly aimed at those studios that successfully registered for the 2026 GDSR but all are welcome. We’ll cover the full application process and take a deeper dive into financial reporting requirements. To register for the webinar, go to the NZGDA Events page.

New Zealand Studio Spotlight

• A big congratulations to Ōtepoti-based studio Runaway on the release of their new mobile title, Hatch Dragons, which generated more than one million pre-orders ahead of launch and then soared to No. 1 on the US Apple App store within 24 hours. In this cosy fantasy game, players team up with Liv the Elf to clear magical fog, hatch dragons and restore a once-thriving forest, discovering a range of charming dragon companions along the way. Play it now on iOS and Android.
• Deep Field Games recently featured on the highly respected industry podcast, Game Maker’s Notebook, with Geoff “Zag” Keene and Henry Feltham joining host Corey May to discuss their hit title Abiotic Factor. In the episode, they reflected on building a distinctive survival experience within a small team, blending humour with tension, and using narrative as both a storytelling and production tool. You can find the interview here.
• Tāmaki Makaurau-based Space Rock Games has released a demo for their upcoming title Doomsday Diner. The demo has been featured by IGN and Women in Games, and the game has already attracted over 5000 wishlists on Steam. The studio plans to release the game later this year. Jump in, give the demo a go, and wishlist the game here.
• A big shout-out to RocketWerkz for claiming the front page of Kotaku with the feature "Icarus Is the Perfect Survival Sim No One's Talking About", which praises Icarus for delivering a survival experience "with expert perfection". Read the full article here.
• Tāmaki Makaurau-based Chris Wilson has recently shared his views on dark patterns in game design, stirring up an engaging conversation on player trust and ethical design across media. Check out the clip here.
• A fund worth having on your radar is the CNZ Cultural Diplomacy Fund - this fund's designed to lift international visibility of Aotearoa's cultural and creative sectors and it now has two rounds planned for 2026. For studios, that could mean support to attend major offshore showcases to put your games (and Aotearoa storytelling and cultural identity) in front of global audiences. If you’re planning an offshore push this year, this fund could be worth checking out here.

If your studio has news to share, we’d love to hear it — drop us a line.

Global Games Snapshot

A snapshot of global industry news, spanning the latest data and insights, behind-the-scenes features and stories showcasing the global impact of video games.

• Game sales rose 5.3% globally in 2025 according to Epyllion's latest State of Video Gaming report.

Article: Global game content sales rose 5.3% to $195.6bn in 2025 | GamesIndustry.biz

• The Voice Cast of upcoming RPG Crimson Desert break down their characters and performances in a behind-the-scenes clip from IGN Fan Fest 2026. This feature offers a closer look at the personalities shaping the game's world and the creative process behind bringing them to life.

Article: Crimson Desert - Official Voice Actors Behind-the-Scenes Clip | IGN

• What does indie game development look like in 2026? Jonathan Blow explores the creative and technical vision behind Order of the Sinking Star in this interview with Thomas Brush, including building a custom programming language from the ground up.

96-min interview: How To Make Indie Games In 2026 w/ Jonathan Blow - Full Time Game Dev Podcast Ep. 061 | Thomas Brush

Ngā mihi nui

NZ On Air is committed to supporting sustainable, globally competitive game development across Aotearoa. If you have questions about the GDSR, want to share studio wins or have any other information to include in our Games Quarterly, just get in touch. We’d love to hear from you.

Stay in the loop: Subscribe | Share | Send us your wins

Follow: Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn

Contact: gamesrebate@nzonair.govt.nz

More info: NZ On Air