Gala Networks creates 103 new Dublin jobs

27 Jan 2010

Internet gaming giant Gala Networks is to create a further 103 new jobs in Dublin with the support of IDA Ireland, it emerged this morning.

Gala established its European headquarters, Gala Networks Europe Ltd. (GNE) in Dublin, in 2006, with a mandate for localisation, marketing, customer support and revenue collection, along with a global mandate for licensing, publishing and hosting.

The expansion of this operation comes as a result of growth of the European online games market and the success of the Irish operation to date.

“This expansion by Gala in the digital-media sector is most welcome. Digital Media is an exciting emerging sector and one for which Ireland is gaining a strong reputation.

“Gala is currently building a new worldwide gaming brand in an exciting and growing area in the games market,” Tánaiste Mary Coughlan TD, said.

“Gala’s decision to expand its Irish facility further embeds the company’s operations here. On behalf of the Irish Government, I look forward to facilitating Gala’s expansion and the future growth of the company here,” Coughlan added.

Number of employees at Gala Networks

The company currently employs 100 people and last year announced a 50-job expansion. The latest jobs announcement will bring the company’s workforce in Dublin potentially up to 250 people.

The company, which is maker of the popular gPotato franchise, has developed eight games that are played by more than 3 million people around the world via the internet.

It derives a seven-figure revenue stream annually via micro-payments.

“As part of GNE’s European expansion, a number of new mandates will be added,” Hyun Hur, CEO of GNE, explained.

“This will include expansion into new markets, the introduction of three new game title releases and new language versions, and the licensing of games from third-party game-development companies.

“Ireland provides for us the skilled, multi-lingual workforce necessary to increase our mandate and Gala looks forward to the continued success and development of our Irish operations,” Hur said.

A recent survey on the computer-games industry in Ireland conducted by researchers from National University of Ireland, Maynooth, and University of Limerick, showed the industry is on the move, with a complement of multinationals and indigenous companies operating here. Of the 21 firms that responded to the survey, in total they employ 1,469 people in the sector across Ireland.

By John Kennedy

Photo: A scene from the Rappelz video game from the gPotato franchise

John Kennedy is a journalist who served as editor of Silicon Republic for 17 years

editorial@siliconrepublic.com