Here’s How Trump’s Cuts To Arts And Science Funding Have Affected Video Games

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Over the course of its initial seven months, the Trump Administration implemented significant reductions in public expenditure, impacting a wide range of aspects within American society, including meteorological forecasts, emergency services, and support for the arts. This trend has also extended to video game development.

The significant reductions in funding by the administration have brought a stop to conservation efforts for games, advancements in virtual reality, and even research on game-related public health issues. An article from Game Developer highlights some initiatives impacted by the budget cuts, including the University of Washington’s Game Research Group, which started in 2024 with the aim of enhancing the accessibility of crucial video games for educational purposes in cultural heritage institutions, and a grant for a program at Arizona State University that assists Latino students in creating games about climate change.

Some projects were nearing completion when their funding was abruptly taken away. Dr. Rabindra Ratan, an associate professor at Michigan State University, was creating a program aimed at alleviating Zoom fatigue and addressing gender and racial disparities in virtual meetings within the video game industry. A $1.6 million grant from the National Science Foundation’s Future of Work initiative supported Dr. Ratan’s project, but earlier this year, the Trump administration revoked the grant, denying access to the $200,000 necessary to finish the project.

Ratan and his team constructed a digital gathering hub, meant as a viable replacement for Zoom. This space is open to all, and Ratan plans to share more details about its outcomes, but due to current circumstances, the project will likely remain incomplete for now.

Various multimedia projects similar to the virtual reality game Paccha have faced challenges on various fronts. Paccha allows players to delve into the Peruvian Andes as a student archaeologist. The halted funding has disrupted collaborations with the San Antonio Museum of Art and with locals and workers in Hualcayan, the village where the game is based. The creators are now actively seeking alternative sources of funding.

According to Ratan, the video game sector plays a crucial role in fostering technological advancement, innovation, and trial-and-error. Consequently, any reductions could potentially affect areas outside of the gaming industry as well.

Ratan stated that restricting studies within this specific sector could potentially hinder the advancement of science overall. In simpler terms, if we stifle growth in the gaming industry, it may slow down progress not just in that field, but also in related industries as well.

I’ve got a deeper dive lined up over at Game Developer, where they delve into the nitty-gritty details of the projects that have been impacted. Can’t wait to check it out!

In related developments involving the federal government, authorities have taken control of an illicit online marketplace for Nintendo Switch game piracy, demonstrating the company’s ongoing commitment to combating unauthorized copies.

Image: Courtesy of The Strong, Rochester, New York

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2025-07-11 02:09