The Hungarian government is providing support for the research and development project of a domestic video game developer for the first time since the launch of the current investment promotion system eleven years ago, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó announced on Friday in Budapest.
According to a statement from the ministry, Minister Szijjártó spoke at the announcement of Neocore Games Development Ltd.’s research and development investment, noting that the Hungarian-owned video game developer is implementing a HUF 4.5 billion project, which the government is supporting with HUF 1.5 billion. The investment is expected to create several new, high value-added jobs in the capital.
The minister pointed out that the internationally competitive company is introducing new technologies and storytelling methods into video game development through a high-quality narrative content development program. As a result, Hungary’s first fully domestically developed AAA-category video game could be realized.
Minister Szijjártó emphasized that global competition in this emerging industry has not yet been decided and that Hungary is ready to enter the race. He said the government recognizes that specialized industries require tailored development programs and regulatory environments.
“The government is ready to work together with industry players and leaders of the creative sector to develop a regulatory and investment framework that can make Hungary a global frontrunner in the video game industry, following the success of the film industry,” the minister said.
He added that Hungary already has the necessary human resources, and the task now is to build an environment that enables success in this new sector.
Minister Szijjártó also referred to the successive crises of the past fifteen years, welcoming the fact that Hungarian economic actors have nevertheless achieved significant successes. He cited the structural shift of the Hungarian economy toward higher value-added activities, research and development, and knowledge-based, next-generation industries, noting the importance of stronger cooperation with higher education institutions.
He said it is no longer unrealistic to set the goal of making Hungary one of Europe’s most innovative economies.
The minister noted that last year marked a record in research and development investments, with the government supporting 14 R&D projects in a single year for the first time. These projects represented a total value of HUF 227 billion and created nearly 1,000 new jobs.
Concluding his remarks, Minister Szijjártó said that after eleven years of investment promotion, Hungary has broken all previous records in terms of investments, job creation, factories, service centers, and foreign capital inflows. He added that supporting the first video game development investment demonstrates how the world is changing and how Hungarians can succeed in this new environment.
He said the Neocore project proves that Hungary is not only the country of innovators such as Ányos Jedlik, John von Neumann, and Ernő Rubik in the past, but remains so today and will continue to be so in the future.
Government Commissioner for Creative Industry Development Zsófia Jakab said the government places special emphasis on the creative sector, one of the fastest-growing industries with exceptionally high export potential.
Deputy Mayor of Budapest’s District I Csilla Fazekas, highlighted that the project is significant not only economically but also contributes to creating attractive, well-paying local jobs in the city center, strengthening Budapest as a livable urban environment.