adminBrazil game development has many of the foundations needed to grow: an established industry association, a legal framework for video games and a major regional event in São Paulo. Gamescom Latam offers a visible showcase of that progress, but industry leaders say one crucial ingredient is still missing: more investment.
Brazil game development takes the spotlight at Gamescom Latam
Eliana Russi, head of B2B at Gamescom Latam and a former head of Abragames, says funding is the main thing Brazil’s game industry needs to reach its next level. Other important building blocks are already in place. Abragames represents the sector, while a legal framework established by the government a few years ago clarified how video games are treated under Brazilian law and created opportunities for investment.
Since 2024, Gamescom Latam has added a major trade and consumer event to that foundation. The show in São Paulo is smaller than Gamescom in Cologne, but it remains a large gathering and continues to grow. Last year, it welcomed 130,000 visitors, a 30% increase on 2024. Visitors can use events like this to meet developers, publishers and potential business partners in one place.
The show floor features Brazilian studios and representatives from across Latin America, alongside international companies. Nintendo, Nvidia, AMD, Riot Games and Roblox had prominent booths. PlayStation and Xbox did not have stands, but representatives from Sony and Microsoft were present in the business area. Microsoft also had a dedicated ID@Xbox meeting space. International companies, including Evil Empire and Focus Entertainment, were among those looking for games and development partners.
Brazilian studios have talent and experience
Brazil has a long track record in external development. Kokku, the country’s largest co-development studio, was founded in 2011 and has contributed to projects including WRC, Call of Duty Black Ops: Cold War and the Burning Shores DLC for Horizon: Forbidden West.
At a Gamescom Latam panel, Stephanie Arnett of Epic Games, Julian Castano of Sony and David Lam of Blizzard described Brazil as a promising market that is still developing its capacity for large-scale AAA work. Arnett said the country was not quite there yet for AAA, but was moving in that direction. Castano called the region “bubbling,” while Lam said the companies were taking a long-term view.
For studios building careers in game development, that assessment points to a practical opportunity: international partners are watching the market, but continued growth will depend on developing teams, production experience and access to financing.
Indie games show the range of local creativity
Independent developers also had a strong presence at the event. Featured projects included Talaka by Potato Kid, published by Acclaim; Ghostless by Coffeenauts; Rogue Reigns from Venn Studios; and Adventure of Samsara from Ilex Games. Adventure of Samsara launched on the same day as Hollow Knight: Silksong last year, making visibility a particular challenge.
Black Sailors from Mandinga Games was another notable project. It follows a group of enslaved people who overthrow their captors and set sail, combining elements reminiscent of Arco and Sid Meier’s Pirates. Its creator, Tiago de Melo Prudente, is from Bahia. He said a government grant worth around $8,000 was essential to his decision to pursue game development full time. He later secured investment from ID@Xbox.
His experience illustrates how targeted funding can help a developer take the first step. For aspiring studios, grants can reduce the financial risk of leaving other work to build a game, while industry events can provide opportunities to meet publishers and investors.
Why funding could be the next catalyst
Brazil has some grant programs, but game makers have limited access to tax incentives. Russi believes state and federal tax incentives or rebates could make the country more attractive to outside investors. Government support can influence where companies choose to invest, particularly when several regions are competing for the same projects.
Russi also points to the business generated at Gamescom Latam. She says the event creates $150 million in contracts for the local industry over three days. That figure is modest compared with markets such as Silicon Valley or London, she notes, but significant for Brazil. The event gives local developers a place to market games and meet potential partners; broader investment could help turn those connections into sustained production and studio growth.
Conclusion: Brazil game development is ready for its next step
Gamescom Latam shows that Brazil game development has capable studios, emerging independent talent, industry representation and growing international attention. The remaining challenge is to bring more capital into the sector. Effective grants, tax incentives and long-term investment could help Brazilian teams build on their existing strengths and make the country a more competitive destination for game development.
