About the Icelandic Video Game Industry

Vignir Örn did his undergraduate studies in mathematics at Reykjavík University, where he was first introduced to computer science, which he found very captivating. In his own words, he was "very frustrated" to discover this interest so late in life and "would have perhaps wanted to get that first introduction 15 years earlier, not at twenty, you know." This interest then led him to complete a master's degree in computer science at RU, from where his path, after a few detours, led him to CCP.

Vignir is the former chairman of IGI (Icelandic Gaming Industry), the association of game developers in Iceland. IGI is an interest group that advocates for a better gaming industry in Iceland and was founded around 2008, at about the same time as the first wave of Icelandic gaming companies was emerging. At that time, it can be said that the Icelandic market had reached a level of maturity where it had become important for the companies to align their efforts, as there was much that could be improved, for example, regarding support for gaming companies.

Recent data shows that about 380 people work in the Icelandic computer game industry today, of which about 240 - 250 are at CCP in Iceland. There are about 17 active gaming companies in operation and more with some kind of activity related to the industry. The gaming industry is recession-proof, so to speak, and jobs in it have, in the current situation, increased from 345 to 380.

We highly recommend this interesting interview with Vignir Guðmundsson.

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