Quebec devs fear new language law will hurt local games industry

gamesindustry.biz:

Brendan Sinclair

Managing Editor

Tuesday 28th June 2022

Changes to Quebec's language laws that were adopted last month have game developers in the province worried about the impact on the local scene, according to a CBC report.

The legislation, Bill 96, will make French the province's sole official language, instituting a number of changes that could make the province a less desirable destination for development talent.

One of the requirements of Bill 96 is that immigrants to Quebec who don't speak French will only be able to access most government services in their first language for six months. After that time, they must access services in French; services in English will be restricted to those who attended English schools in Quebec or elsewhere in Canada.

Veteran Montreal game developer Osama Dorias told the CBC that Bill 96 will hinder studios in the province already having troubles in a hypercompetitive global market for development talent.

"Now [those job seekers] are just looking elsewhere, and I don't blame them," Dorias said. "It's going to be very hard for us to compete on a global level."

"Our fear is that this is sending out a message [that Quebec is] not inclusive to other cultures"

Christopher Chancey

Dorias said he warns developers against moving to Montreal if they don't speak French because he knows they won't be welcomed, a reversal of the years he spent advocating for people to move there.

The local industry trade group Guilde du jeu vidéo du Québec shared concerns with the bill, with chairman of the board Christopher Chancey telling the CBC, "We have a lot of people coming from everywhere around the world to make video games here in Quebec. Our fear is that this is sending out a message [that Quebec is] not