Toronto's position as a centre for game development strengthened again this month, as
Rockstar Games announced it would consolidate its Canadian operations with a new facility in Oakville. The studio will also be adding more than 50 jobs.
Some of those positions are transfers from Vancouver, where Rockstar is shutting down; others are new hires to accommodate future growth. Among the list of positions they are currently seeking to fill: programmers, animators and visual effects artists.
The Toronto studio of the major game-maker has been involved in the development of several key titles, including several installments of
Grand Theft Auto, and most recently,
Max Payne 3.
The Ontario government has provided support and tax incentives to help Rockstar with the move, Minister of Economic Development and Innovation Brad Duguid announced via
a statement to the press, though the financial details were not disclosed.
The move to Toronto comes hot on the heels of
Ubisoft's expansion in Toronto. While we've been known for the strength of our independent gaming community, as well as for training excellent animators, it's only recently that major gaming studios have shown such a keen interest in the region.
Writer: Hamutal Dotan
Source: Rockstar Games