Lanzarote Joins the Canary Islands’ Growing Video Game Industry
Lanzarote may be famous for tourism, beaches and volcanoes, but a very different industry is quietly developing on the island — video game development and digital technology.
The Canary Islands video game sector has expanded rapidly in recent years. There are now around 44 studios, 17 specialist training centres and more than 220 direct jobs across the islands.
And Lanzarote is beginning to play its own part.
New opportunities for Lanzarote residents
Training programmes have already been introduced on the island to help people learn about video game production, from developing an initial idea through to creating and launching a finished game.
Lanzarote is also home to independent game development, with Rat Cliff Games listed among the island’s studios.
For local residents, particularly younger people, the growth of digital industries could create opportunities that don’t necessarily require leaving the island.
Programming, animation, graphic design, sound, marketing and project management can all form part of the modern gaming industry.
More than just entertainment
The technology behind video games is also being used in areas such as education, training and virtual reality.
The Canary Islands Government is actively promoting the sector as part of its efforts to diversify the regional economy, while international events such as Gamescom and Tokyo Game Show are being used to showcase Canary Islands developers to the global market.
Could Lanzarote become a digital hub?
Gaming remains a relatively small industry compared with tourism, but its rapid growth is attracting attention.
For Lanzarote, the combination of specialist training, independent developers and an increasingly digital workforce could provide another avenue for economic diversification.
It also highlights how the island is changing. You don’t necessarily have to leave Lanzarote to build a career in a modern, international industry.
And while Lanzarote will always be associated with its spectacular landscapes and tourism, there is now another side to the island’s future — a growing digital and creative community working for audiences around the world.
