As we wrap up 2024, we’d like to highlight a few milestones and memorable moments that defined Interactive Ontario’s (IO) work with our passionate and resilient industry, and that set the stage for a promising 2025.

Impact Forum and Advocacy 2024

Interactive Ontario (IO) hosted its annual in-person Impact Forum during Toronto Games Week and XP Game Summit 2024. This flagship policy event brought together IO’s Advocacy Committee, board directors, and Expand/Torchbearer members to shape advocacy priorities and strategies. The forum was followed by an exclusive cocktail mixer with key stakeholders, including government officials and event partners. Special thanks to all who participated and to Minister Cho for his inspiring remarks about our industry.

At the provincial level, cutting red tape and modernizing the OIDMTC remains a top priority. Earlier in the year, IO’s discussions with the Ontario Government led to the welcome clarification of remote labour eligibility within the OIDMTC. Since then, feedback from members and partners has provided (and continues to do so) invaluable insights to guide ongoing discussions with the Ontario Government, Ontario Creates, and the CRA.

At the federal level, IO worked with members to propose short-term recommendations to the CMF‘s 2025-2026 programs. Alongside the Canadian Interactive Alliance (CIAIC), we advocated for a substantial increase in the CMF envelope dedicated to Interactive Digital Media (IDM), and for the inclusion of IDM projects in a dedicated CMF fund for children’s and youth content currently under consideration. 2025 is poised to be a pivotal year for federal advocacy, as the CMF begins exploring major changes.

Thank you to our Impact Forum partners City of Toronto, Xsolla, Nordicity, Triple Dragon, Insert Coin, PR Moisan & i3D.net.

A special thank you to our Advocacy Committee, Board of Directors, members, and partners for their crucial contributions to our advocacy efforts. Feedback is welcome at advocacy@interactiveontario.com

IO Connect 2024: Summer & Holiday Mixers

We would like to express our sincere gratitude to everyone who joined us at the Summer and Holiday IO Connect mixers this year. Your participation helped create meaningful connections and celebrate the creativity and talent thriving in Ontario’s interactive digital media sector. We truly appreciate your support and we look forward to welcoming you back to IO Connect in Summer 2025! A special thank you to our partners, as without them these events would not be possible. These include XP Gaming, Toronto Games Week, Ontario Creates, Ubisoft Toronto, City of Toronto, Toronto Film School, Insert Coin, London Economic Development Corporation, FITC, Xsolla, Jali, Lucky VR, Triple Dragon, and PR Moisan, Music Publishers Canada, Canada Media Fund, Factor, Government of Canada, Global Affairs, DJXL, i3d.net, AMD, and Interleave.

Indie Superboost (ISB) 2024

Indie Superboost Logo

IO’s ISB Program expanded to new heights in 2024 with a Marketing & Discoverability Bootcamp, welcoming Buyers and Publishers to XP Game Summit 2024 (XPGS24), a Live Track at XPGS24, an Inclusivity Workshop, an Access to Publishers program, and our fan favourites returned with 8 virtual ISB Talks, and Demo Stations at our IO Connect Mixers. Thank you to the Indie Superboost Committee, Thank you to the committee, including Committee Chair Ryan Miller (3D Generalist, Sago Mini, Managing Director, Ontario Game Testers), Agusia Krzywinska (Co-Founder, Adjective Noun Studios), Trang Nguyen (Head of Operations, Soft Rains), and Tony Arias (Co-Founder, Black Tabby) Games. Thank you to our ISB partners Canada Media Fund, Ontario Creates, Ubisoft Toronto, Xsolla, Global Affairs, and the City of Toronto.

ISB Talks

Thank you to all of our participating experts who brought our 2024 slate of ISB talks to life, including Chloe Giusti (ID@Xbox Regional Lead, Americas at Xbox), Trisha Tabor (Developer Relations at Meta), Rebecca Owen (Senior Business Development Manager at Digital Development Management DDM), Amar Sidhu (Lawyer & Chief Legal Officer at Amar-VR Law), Jenny Windom (Communications & Community Director at Ivy Road), Krysta Yang (Co-Founder of NeverAMinute Consulting), Justin Berenbaum (VP of Strategy & GM of Funding Club at Xsolla) and Lee Vermeulen (Founder & CEO of Alientrap Games). Thank you to all of our participating studios.

Thank you to Angela Mejia (General Director at Clever Plays Studio/Indie Angels), Jenny Windom (Comms & Community Director at Ivy Road), Krysta Yang (Co-Founder at NeverAMinute Consulting), Chris Zukowski (Founder & Creative Director at HowToMarketAGame.com) and Will Perkins (Principal & Creative Director at CONTINUE).

Participants playing games at the Games Demo Corner at IO Connect

Demo Stations

Shoutout to our participating studios Alientrap Games, Idiom Loop, Honour Bound Games, Numizmatic, Hexonine Games Inc., Mega Power Games, Peculiar Path Productions Inc., and Hazardous Hardware.

Thank you to Meet to Match and Representing Games for leading this initiative and shoutout to all of our participating studios.

Thank you to Ibiyemi Balogun for hosting our virtual inclusivity workshop, and to all of our participating studios.

Buyers and Publishers @ XPGS24

Interactive Ontario brought in six buyers to XPGS24, and facilitated 36 scheduled 30-minute meetings between them and Ontario indie studios. Thank you to our participating buyers , Chloe Giusti (Xbox), Trisha Tabor (Meta), Lance James (Digital Bandidos), Amir Satvat (Tencent), and William Bertin (Plug In Digital). Thank you to all of our participating studios.

Live Content Track at XP Game Summit 2024

Thank you to all 34 talented speakers from throughout our 14 panels for your insightful conversations, and passionate discussions.

Work Placement Program for Black Youth & Emerging Professionals

In 2024, Interactive Ontario’s paid Work Placement Program for Black Youth & Emerging Professionals, supported by the Ministry of Citizenship and Multiculturalism, placed 18 interns at Ontario IDM studios. Over 400 resumes have been added to our database, ensuring a strong pipeline of diverse talent into our sector throughout 2025 and beyond. We encourage you to stay tuned to register for upcoming opportunities. To all employers, please visit our website here to register for access to our database! Thank you to the Ministry of Citizenship and Multiculturalism for supporting this program.

IDM Fund: Futures Forward 2024

Thank you to all of our incredible coaches for your time, expertise, and guidance throughout the 2024 Futures Forward Program. Victoria Evans (Founder of Digital Vic Inc), Wojtek Kawczynski (CEO at Wark Studios), Kim Gibson (Program Consultant at Ontario Creates) Irene Vandertop (Co-Founder & Director of Business Development at Liquid Cinema) Jennifer McIlroy (Professor at Centennial College, Sheridan College & Owner, McIlroy and Company), Jayme Last (Operations & Project Manager at Laundry Bear Games), Emmanuel Evdemon  (Entertainment Lawyer, Entertainment Counsel), Ericka Evans (Head of Production at Phantom Compass) and Astrid Rosemarin (Community Director at Saber Interactive). Thank you to all of our participating studios, and to Ontario Creates for supporting this program. See more details regarding this program here.

 

SXSW 2025 Opportunity

We’d like to share an exciting opportunity from Telefilm Canada: the Canadian Innovation Lounge at SXSW 2025. This official on-site programming showcases XR, gaming, the creator economy, and more, providing a valuable platform for innovative Canadian companies. Applications are open until January 12, 2025. Find details and apply below.

Deadline: January 12, 2024

Happy Holidays. From the IO Team, we thank you for your continued passion, support, and inspiration. Wishing you and yours a safe and joyous holiday season playing Ontario-made games and XR experiences!

As the holidays approach, all of us at Interactive Ontario want to send you our warmest thanks. Your creativity, hard work, and enthusiasm bring so much joy to players worldwide. This season, we hope you’ll get together with friends and family to play Ontario-made games and XR experiences—each one a reminder of the incredible talent that’s right here at home. Enjoy the holidays and here’s to a bright new year of fun, innovation, and play!

New IO Members

Welcome to all of our October and November IO Members,  Billy’s Cookies, Fable Fox, Hexonine Games Inc, IMAGINARY NUMBER ENTERTAINMENT LTD, Invalid Symbol, KRAK Fractured Media Inc., Last Shot Studios, Midnight Snack Club Inc, Mighty Yell Studios Inc, MoVA Realities, OK_XR Studio, Robot Assembly Inc, The Future Entertainment Company Inc.

Interactive Ontario Logo