Several Philadelphia leaders are aiming to position the city as a gaming hub by building an ecosystem that connects universities, local studios, and advocacy groups.

Philadelphia sits within a national and global gaming environment with a large market and a strong talent pipeline. Institutions like Drexel and Moore College are contributing to design and technology programs.

According to a Philadelphia Citizen report, the PHL Gaming Task Force, formed in 2024, is led by City Councilmember Isaiah Thomas and Nicodemus Madehdou, co-founder and CEO of JumpButton Studio. Volunteers hail from Drexel, St. Joseph’s, local studios, and industry groups.

Past outreach through 2024 town halls and the December 2024 PHL Gaming Expo informed a January 2025 City Council briefing that outlined the state of the gaming sector and a roadmap for expansion.

“I want Philadelphia to be known as a gaming city,” said Thomas. “I’m a strong advocate for the creative economy, and I would like for us to be able in Philadelphia to look at gaming the same way.”

The fourth PHL Gaming Expo, held on Oct. 24, was part of Innovation Weekend. Organizers aimed to attract about 1,000 attendees and raise the gaming industry’s visibility.

Local success stories like JumpButton Studio and Integrated Reality Labs (IRL) illustrate the local impact, as well as Philadelphia’s talent pool and collaborative culture.

Nick Madonna, the founder of PHL Collective, which produces some recognizable games, co-chairs the PHL Gaming Task Force. The task force has helped preserve a state video game production tax credit and continues pushing state leaders in Harrisburg for favorable policies to enable broader growth.

In the near term, the city seeks momentum through events and visibility. Longer-term goals focus on sustainable growth via policy, grants, and infrastructure to keep talent in Philadelphia and generate revenue, targeting over $15 million, according to the Philadelphia Citizen.

“One of the biggest things we’ve heard from people in the developer space is not only do they need seed funding, but they also need help with physical infrastructure, space for servers, securing office space that’s convenient, and electrical and power needs,” said Ben Wilcox, deputy director of communications for Thomas, in a statement shared with the Philadelphia Citizen.