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Digital Games
PROGRAMS & INITIATIVES
2024 Battle of the Boroughs Minecraft Education
In partnership with Minecraft Education and C40’s Reinventing Cities initiative, Battle of the Boroughs (BOTB) is a three-round scholastic K-12 elimination-style esports competition. BOTB is designed to engage our young New Yorkers in shaping the future of their city. Building on the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the PlaNYC:GSD 2050 strategic plan, and the Mayor’s Digital Gaming Initiative, student teams will compete to create the most inclusive future-ready city spaces.
NYC Summer of Games 2023
Celebrates New York City's booming digital games community featuring marquee events, expos, tournaments, exhibits, workshops, and programs across all five boroughs from June – September 2023.
"Made in NY" Marketing Credit for Digital Games
Provides advertising opportunities, on subway cars and other City assets throughout the five boroughs, for digital games made in NYC – the #1 media market in the country.
2021 NYC Digital Games Industry Economic Impact Study
Details specifics on the digital games sector's significance and contribution to New York City's economy. Major findings of the report conclude that in 2020 the industry supported 7,600 jobs, $762 million in wages, and $2 billion in economic output.
CCNY Gaming Pathways
Includes opportunities for high school students in Harlem, Upper Manhattan and the South Bronx to pursue a bachelor’s degree in digital game design and prepare for future careers in New York City’s rapidly growing digital gaming industry.
"Made in NY" Logo Program for Digital Games
Supplies qualified digital gaming companies with the ability to use the City's "Made in NY" logo in their game's packaging, title screen and/or game website.
Game Development Industry Council
Advises the city's policies and programs in the games development sector. The first-ever Council is made up of various leaders from the industry, including digital game publishers, studios, vr/ar creators, financiers, as well as educators and trade organization representatives.
INDUSTRY EVENTS & RESOURCES
NYCEDC, NYC Media Lab to Open Digital Game Design Incubator at NYU Tandon School of Engineering
This new incubator will tap into the growing digital game development industry and aims to enable developer success through personalized and strategic mentorship, industry-specific and fundamental business workshops, investor outreach, access to new technologies and network building.
Video Games: The Great Connector Exhibition
The winter 2024 pop-up exhibit Video Games: The Great Connector will be a free, ticketed exhibit, open six days a week for both school visits and the general public. It is scheduled to run for two months at the 60-year old Harlem School of the Arts (on St. Nicholas Ave, just down the hill from the City College of New York).
PRESS RELEASES
July 18, 2023 - Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment Announces First Recipient of the 'Made in NY' Marketing Credit Program for Digital Games Made in NYC
June 5, 2023 - Mayor Adams Announces Summerlong Celebration of Digital Games Community Across Five Boroughs
March 23, 2023 - NYC Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment Launches First-Of-Its-Kind Marketing Credit Program For Digital Games Made in NYC
March 8, 2023 - Mayor Adams and Schools Chancellor Banks Announce Launch of the Minecraft Education Battle of the Boroughs Esports Competition
October 6, 2022 - NYC Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment Presents First-Ever "Made in NY" Grant at the Game Devs of Color Expo
May 16, 2022 - Mayor Adams Takes Steps to Transform New York City Into Global Hub for Digital Games Industry
November 22, 2021 - Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment Releases First-Ever NYC Digital Games Industry Report