Victoria’s reputation as Australia’s games powerhouse is set to grow again, with a new Collingwood-based coworking hub and investment fund designed to turn local ideas into global hits. In a landmark partnership between the Victorian Government, VicScreen and award-winning studio Massive Monster, the state is backing its digital games industry with fresh infrastructure, funding and a clear pathway for emerging creators.

Backed by a $2 million Victorian Government investment delivered through VicScreen, the new MASS coworking space will open in Collingwood next year and be operated by Massive Monster, the studio behind global smash Cult of the Lamb. MASS will provide affordable workspaces alongside a playtesting area, audio room, VR and streaming facilities, a games library and an events space, giving developers the tools and professional environment they need to build sustainable studios.

Positioned as a statewide incubator, MASS will bring students, up‑and‑coming developers and specialist creatives together with established industry professionals under one roof. The hub aims to foster collaboration, mentorship and networking, helping developers move from lone projects to scalable businesses while staying embedded in Melbourne’s creative ecosystem.

Victoria already leads the nation in digital games, home to Australia’s largest games workforce and highest number of studios. For three decades the Victorian Government, through VicScreen’s Victorian Production Fund and related programs, has backed boundary‑pushing titles such as Cult of the Lamb and House House’s Untitled Goose Game, proving that homegrown projects can capture global audiences.

This legacy is reinforced by initiatives like GameChanger Academy, the country’s first tertiary provider dedicated to animation, visual effects and games, and Play Now Melbourne, a leading games market connecting local studios with investors. MASS now joins this ecosystem as the latest measure to grow skills and capability in what has become the world’s fastest‑growing entertainment sector, valued at nearly $300 billion.

Alongside the government’s $2 million support, Massive Monster is launching a new investment fund to help Victorian developers take their projects from prototype through to launch. This combination of physical space, community and capital is intended to give local teams the runway to develop standout IP without having to leave the state.

Minister for Creative Industries Colin Brooks said Victoria’s position as home to Australia’s largest digital games workforce and highest number of studios is a springboard for the next wave of success. He said the MASS coworking space will allow talented and aspiring developers to use their skills and creativity to build the next homegrown global game sensation.

VicScreen CEO Caroline Pitcher highlighted that millions of players worldwide are already engaging with games made in Victoria. She said MASS will provide the resources, networks and collaborations creators need to turn bold ideas into global hits, keeping Victoria at the forefront of the fastest‑growing entertainment sector on the planet.

Massive Monster Creative Director Julian Wilton described MASS as a bid to set a new standard for game‑development coworking, grounded in Melbourne’s reputation as one of the world’s best places to make games. He said the vision is to make MASS a true home for developers, where studios can grow, collaborate and develop distinctive intellectual property that resonates around the world.

Prospective members and partners can register their interest and learn more about MASS at mass.co, ahead of the hub’s official opening next year. For Victorian developers, the initiative signals a new era of structured support, mentorship and investment aimed at keeping world‑class game creation firmly rooted in the state.