Lisbon launched a new Gaming Hub to support companies in the video game sector, through Unicorn Factory Lisboa, in a new phase of its strategy. The Hub aims to “foster the growth of the video games industry, by promoting synergies between startups, investors and multinational companies. Thus, welcoming new business acceleration and incubation programs, and functioning as a meeting point for the gaming community”.

“Following the success of the scaleup program that earned Lisbon the European Capital of Innovation award, Unicorn Factory Lisboa inaugurates the Gaming Hub and begins a new phase of its strategy with the creation of innovation centers, dedicated to high-growth industries in which the city aims to position itself on an international level”, reads the statement sent to the newsrooms and reported by idealista.

The Gaming Hub is launched in partnership with Fortis Games, one of the technology companies in this sector that arrived in Lisbon since the beginning of the project. Also joining the project as partners are Maleo, an office space management company, as a real estate partner and APVP (Association of Portuguese Video Game Producers), which represent Portuguese companies in the gaming sector.

Globally, the value of the video game industry is expected to double to more than €450 billion by 2030, according to data from GlobalData.

The Gaming Hub will include 13 private rooms and 12 working spaces, which will be divided into two floors, with the presence of Fortis Games as the anchor, occupying one of the floors completely. Organisations such as OnTop Studios, a Portuguese video game studio, GameDev Technical, a group of university students, made up of 50 students form different universities dedicated to exclusively to video game development, and more than 18 members in virtual format, such as Volt Games, Infinity Games and Didimo.

New opportunities

The president of the Lisbon City Council, Carlos Moedas stated “we begin another stage in the Unicorn Factory Lisbon strategy. We already have the project headquarters in Beato, which brings together all industries and sectors. Now we are creating new centralities in the city, developing highly specialised innovation centers in industries where we know Lisbon can stand out at an international level. Furthermore, proving the dynamism and strength of this project that is so important for the city’s economy: Unicorn Factory Lisboa companies are creating 10,000 jobs in the city! I hope that many professionals, especially young people, can find these new opportunities here”.

“The Gaming Hub is a physical location that brings together innovative companies, universities, leading companies in the gaming sector, investors and talent, in order to encourage the growth of this ecosystem in the country, attracting investment and creating jobs. The partnership with Fortis Games, Maleo and APVP contributes tot the creation of a strong gaming community and to the development of an important ecosystem in Portugal, which in 2021 in Europe, was more than 5,500 companies, representing 85 thousand jobs”, explains Gil Azevedo, executive director of Unicorn Factory Lisboa and Startup Lisboa.