Games giant bring total of 400 new jobs to the city

Date Published: {J}

BY ENDA CUNNINGHAM

Taoiseach Enda Kenny announced an extra 200 new jobs at the new European customer support centre for BioWare in the Parkmore Business and Technology Park – set to bring the total workfoce to 400.

Part of electronic games giant Electronic Arts (EA), the company announced in May 2010 that it would be creating up to 200 jobs in Galway – it is understood that around 100 of these positions have been filled to date.

Yesterday, Mr Kenny announced that a further 200 jobs will be created in advance of a major games launch in December.

Last week, our sister newspaper the Galway City Tribune revealed that the new jobs announcement was imminent.

At the launch, the Taoiseach said the games industry is a major growth area – Galway is quickly becoming a European software ‘hub’ for multinationals.

“I very much welcome EA and BioWare’s decision to locate its customer service centre here in Galway and the additional 200 jobs announced today. The Programme for Government highlights the digital game industry as a particular priority area for growth and the presence here of EA, one of the world’s leading interactive games companies, will help enhance our status as a centre for the digital media sector,” said Mr Kenny.

Barry O’Leary, CEO of IDA Ireland said: “The scale of EA’s customer service centre in Galway is a clear endorsement of the skills base in the West of Ireland.”

The new centre will provide 24 hour support, and the new 200 jobs announced yesterday will be in preparation for Star Wars: The Old Republic, which is an MMO (massively multiplayer online game) set for release at the end of the year.

Dr Ray Muzyka, Senior Vice President of EA and General Manager of BioWare said: “MMO launches are complex, and we are determined to set a new standard for a high quality, stable, smooth launch for our fans. Our new BioWare facility and team in Galway is critical to ensuring we deliver on that goal.”