Luca Contato: Gran Canaria, despite its relatively small size, is often referred to as a “miniature continent” due to its diverse landscapes. From stunning beaches to rugged mountains, the island offers a plethora of environments to explore, catering to a wide range of preferences and lifestyles. This diversity not only enhances the quality of life but also provides a continual sense of discovery and adventure for those living and working here. However, it’s important to acknowledge that with
the increasing influx of people and companies to the Canary Islands, there has been a consequent rise in housing costs. While this is a notable downside, many find it offset by the unparalleled quality of life the islands offer. The unique blend of cultural vibrancy, natural beauty, and a relaxed lifestyle creates an enviable living environment that continues to attract talent from around the world.
Mauricio García: The housing market presents its own set of challenges. Although property prices are rising, they are still quite competitive. The main issue lies in the limited availability of rental apartments at any given time, which means there aren’t many options to choose from. On the brighter side, purchasing property is relatively easier in terms of availability, and the prices are reasonable. While the island boasts an excellent public
transportation network for commuting to work, owning a car is recommended to fully experience and enjoy all that the island has to offer.
The region is known for its tourism rather than tech industries - is there a healthy ecosystem of creative and tech businesses that you can recruit from? Sitara Shefta: Not yet, but with remote working or relocation options available for the team, this is no longer a problem as it’s really opened up our talent pool. Having access to the whole of Europe, (compared to what’s now possible in the UK), has also been a great relief and benefit of being located here.
Mauricio García: The success of tax incentives in the film and animation industries over the past five years has led to a significant increase in the number of creative companies and agencies on the island. This growth has made it relatively easy to find both companies and skilled professionals working in sectors that align with or complement our own.
Amina Abdien: I think we still need more seniors, [but] there are certainly a lot of people to hire and a
good number of technology companies, programmers and artists, but they are still people who come from other sectors, such as animation, rather than people from the videogame sector.
Luca Contato: Despite the Canary Islands’ reputation as a prime tourist destination, there’s a thriving ecosystem of creative and tech businesses beneath the surface. Initially, one might not see it, but the islands are also renowned for their burgeoning film and animation industry. This presence greatly benefits the video game industry, providing a pool of local talent already skilled in many areas overlapping with game development. In terms of recruitment, my team at Rising Pixel is
predominantly composed of locals from the Canary Islands, supplemented by professionals from the Spanish mainland and a few from other European countries. Being part of Europe, we have access to a vast talent pool. The offer to relocate and work in what many consider a paradise is an attractive proposition for many. Who wouldn’t want to seize the opportunity to combine their professional aspirations with living in such a beautiful and nice location?
What about education? Are there enough students and graduates to supply entry-level industry talent? Luca Contato: The region is home to universities and professional schools that are increasingly focusing on digital entertainment and tech education. These institutions are producing a steady stream of graduates and entry-level talent suitable for the gaming industry. Still some space for improvement in this aspect to reach a higher standard is still needed.
Sitara Shefta: There are so many new students and December/January 2024 MCV/DEVELOP | 41
Drakhar and Foxter Studios are based in Tenerife and are working together on Arico: Tales from the Abyss, which has big Journey- reimagined- as-an-N64- style-platformer energy.
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