The video game industry in Spain's Canary Islands got a big boost this week, with local developer Quantum Box Games, a Gran Canaria-based studio, receiving a huge investment from Japan.

The deal, worth 300 million yen (approximately $1.9 million), is with Route24, a Japanese game development company led by industry veterans who have developed some of the biggest game franchises such as Final Fantasy ", "Chrono Trigger" and "Super Mario RPG". "

Route24 boss Kenichi Nishi (former Square Enix developer) is working with Keita Eto, another veteran Square Enix developer, and Quantum Box Games to develop a new JRPG called Kiriko the Mystic.

The partnership marks a major milestone for the Japanese island’s local gaming ecosystem, as it will see homegrown artistic talent collaborate with some of Japan’s most renowned video game creators.

Quantum Box Games and Route24 launch the new partnership after meeting at the Tokyo Game Show in September, an event Quantum Box attended as part of a mission led by Proexca, a project supported by the Government of the Canary Islands Program aimed at promoting international business ties and attracting investment to the Canary Islands. The collaboration, which focuses on the creation of new intellectual property jointly owned by Canary and its Japanese counterpart, is the first of its kind between the two regions.

Amina Abdien, CEO of Quantum Box Games, sees the new alliance as a major opportunity for her company and the development of the video games industry in the Canary Islands. "Obviously, we are not a world powerhouse in video games like Japan, but thanks to the efforts of current managers, the foundation is being laid. It is only a matter of time before we take off," she said in a press release.

The CEO also explained that Quantum Box Games will soon begin a funding round to build long-term projects in the archipelago, praising the opportunities Proexca and the Canary Islands District offer the company to participate in top events. Otherwise you cannot participate.

Other thriving Canarian companies are also benefiting from the support of Proexca and Canary Island DC, including The Game Kitchen, Rising Pixels, No Brakes Games and Drakhar Games, which are expanding their regional footprint. In addition, academic institutions such as César Manrique and Felo Monzón Vocational School and universities such as La Laguna and Mid-Atlantic University are developing new talent for the industry.

The Canary Islands are currently home to more than 20 gaming companies, creating more than 200 jobs and making the region one of the fastest growing gaming hubs in Spain and Europe. With attractive tax incentives and advanced infrastructure, the Canary Islands is poised to become a key player in the global video gaming industry.