Baton Rouge is transforming from a college town into a gaming hub

Though well-known for its diehard sports fans, excellent cuisine, and epic tailgates, Louisiana’s capital Baton Rouge has leveraged its film production industry, research university, existing tech incubators, and low cost of living to become an emerging southeastern hub for the video gaming industry.

The city’s gaming industry was kickstarted when community leaders realized that the city’s foundation of digital media talent and incentive frameworks for the film production industry could also serve as assets for video game companies. Louisiana has long been a regional hub for film production, thanks to its diverse locations, competitive incentives, and low cost of living. Baton Rouge itself is home to Celtic Studios, the largest film facility in Louisiana, with nearly 150,000 square feet of design-built stage space and 100,000 square feet of gated office space. Films like Dallas Buyers Club, 22 Jump Street, and Pitch Perfect 2 were filmed on location in Baton Rouge. The state’s film industry created a strong foundation of digital media expertise and talent in the region.