Creative Industry & Innovation
Québec and video games: a global creative industry
Québec has become one of the largest global hubs for video games. Ubisoft, EA, Warner Bros Games: names that inspire dreams and have chosen the Québec capital to establish their studios. A digital revolution at the heart of a city of centuries-old stones.
The Rise
Québec, gaming capital
In just a few decades, Québec has gone from a tourist city to a digital metropolis recognized on the international video game scene.
There is a delightful paradox in the fact that one of the most medieval cities in North America is also one of its most cutting-edge centers for video games. Yet that is exactly what is happening in Québec. Since the arrival of major international studios in the 2000s, the city has developed a dense and diverse gaming ecosystem that now attracts talent from around the world.
★ Key Figure More than 10,000 jobs
The video game industry generates more than 10,000 direct jobs in the Québec region. A significant economic driver that transforms the urban fabric, attracts a young and creative population, and energizes entire neighborhoods like Saint-Roch and Limoilou.
Tax credits as a catalyst
Québec offers some of the most attractive tax credits in the world for multimedia companies. These tax benefits were decisive in the decisions of major studios to set up their teams in Québec rather than in Los Angeles or London.
Major Studios
Names that make gaming legend
From Ubisoft to Beenox, the studios that have chosen Québec are leading players in the global industry.
Ubisoft Québec
Founded in 2005, Ubisoft Québec is the studio behind Assassin's Creed Syndicate and Odyssey, two of the franchise's most ambitious games. With over 600 employees, it has become one of the largest studios of the French group in Canada.
Beenox
Founded in Québec in 2000 and acquired by Activision in 2005, Beenox is known for Spider-Man and Tony Hawk games. A great example of a local studio becoming an international player while staying rooted in its hometown.
Frima Studio
An independent Québec studio founded in 2003, Frima is a local success story. It has produced dozens of games for clients like Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network while developing its own franchises, before diversifying into visual effects.
Talent & Training
Training tomorrow's creators
Laval University and specialized schools train a new wave of designers, programmers, and 3D artists each year who feed the city's studios.
Québec's strength also lies in its training ecosystem. Laval University, Cégep de Limoilou, and specialized private schools like NAD train hundreds of qualified profiles each year. This pool of local talent, combined with strong international appeal, allows studios to recruit exceptional profiles without leaving the city.
Training Laval University at the forefront
Laval University offers cutting-edge programs in computer science, artificial intelligence, and video game design. Its close ties with the industry allow students to complete internships and projects directly in studios, speeding up their professional integration.
Gaming Culture
When gaming leaves the screen
Festival, conferences, tournaments: gaming culture in Québec goes far beyond screens to take over public spaces.
Québec en Jeux
This annual event brings together players, independent developers, and students around demos, conferences, and competitions. A showcase of local creation that allows the general public to discover games in development in the city’s studios.
Game Jams and Hackathons
Throughout the year, game jams bring together students and professionals to create a complete game in 48 hours. These intense and creative events have become must-sees in Quebec’s digital cultural life.
Barista’s Tip
Video game developers are regulars at Carrera Café: the double espresso in the mid-afternoon has become a ritual for the Old Quebec gaming community. To hold out until the next project milestone, nothing beats a Grand Prix coffee: maximum intensity, surgical precision, zero compromise.
Carrera and Digital
The Coffee of Creativity
Between development sprints, Quebec creatives find at Carrera Café the energy and inspiration to go the distance.
The gaming world shares with car racing a passion for performance, precision, and constant innovation. That’s what makes Carrera Café so naturally close to this community. Here, the counter is a paddock between two runs: a space for recharging, discussion, and shared creativity. The best ideas often start in a cup.
Studio Selection
For creatives in sprint mode, our high-performance selection.
Double Espresso Grand Prix
Sicilian double shot, maximum intensity. The official drink for deadlines and milestones. Served without compromise, like a qualifying lap at full speed.
Cold Brew Long Distance
Our cold brew infused for 18 hours: smooth, deep, persistent. For development sessions that stretch until sunset over the Saint Lawrence.
Explore Quebec Differently
Between medieval heritage and cutting-edge creative industry, Quebec never ceases to surprise. Come recharge your batteries at Carrera Café, in the heart of Petit-Champlain.
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