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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

Vicarious Visions Expands Video Game Production Center in Colonie, New York

08/09/2018
Vicarious Visions, an Activision Blizzard video game developer, will expand its operations in the Capital Region, with plans to bring 115 new jobs to Albany County, New York.

The company will be investing more than $7.3 million to move and fit out more than 44,000 square feet of studio space in Colonie, New York, further bolstering the Capital Region's growing video game development cluster.

Jennifer Oneal, Vicarious Visions Studio Head, said, "Our studio has been a key member of the Albany video game development community for over 25 years. Our staff are thrilled to continue calling this area our home. The move is a big step in our evolution and our future is brighter than ever. We're confident that the new space will creatively inspire our ever-growing team. I'd like to thank our team at Vicarious Visions, the team at Activision, and Empire State Development for their efforts in helping to make this happen."

"The Capital Region has become a hub for video game development, thanks in part to local game developers and world-class degree programs available at nearby colleges and universities," Governor Andrew Cuomo said. "With companies like Vicarious Visions choosing to remain and expand in the Capital Region, we will continue to support their growth and the creative talent they help attract to the region."

"Vicarious Visions is an innovative company that has been growing in the Capital Region for years," said Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul. "The video game developer is a staple in the Tech Valley, contributing to the local economy and creating high-tech job opportunities for New Yorkers. The company's expansion in Albany County is a testament to the business climate upstate and the burgeoning tech industry in the area."

Vicarious Visions will invest more than $7.3 million in a new, state-of-the-art studio, which includes professional audio suites, a virtual reality room, 80s and 90s style arcade machines, as well as collaboration spaces designed to enhance creativity and the employee experience.

According to state officials, the company is expected to move in late September to early October, and believes the amenities will attract talented new employees, while supporting its existing workforce of more than 200 developers and staff. As part of this project, Vicarious Visions plans to add 115 new employees to their current staff. Empire State Development has agreed to support this expansion with up to $2 million in performance-based Excelsior Jobs Program Tax Credits.

ESD President, CEO and Commissioner Howard Zemsky said, "The gaming industry is booming, and Vicarious Visions' expansion represents an important investment in both the Capital Region and the creative economy, encouraging the best and brightest developers to make their home in New York State."

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