Brisbane is emerging as Australia’s IT and gaming hub, with one of the world’s most well-known indie game developers, Halfbrick Studios, opening its doors at the former Sunny Queen Eggs home in Red Hill.
Halfbrick Studios – the mastermind behind the ever popular Fruit Ninja video game – has signed a five-year lease across the 2,200sqm building at 25 Musgrave Road. The annual rental $450,000 gross per annumPreviously occupied by Sunny Queen Eggs, the building has been completely retrofit, with a high quality $5.5 million fitout and refurbishment undertaken by John Holland.
CBRE’s Mel Pikos, who negotiated the deal in conjunction with fellow agent Michael Skarparis, said the new Halfbrick Studios headquarters would support the firm’s rapid expansion.
“Following the immense success of Fruit Ninja, which has been downloaded more than one billion times, Halfbrick Studios has experienced exponential growth, and, as a result, required additional facilities that would enable further expansion,” Mr Pikos said.
“25 Musgrave Road provides for a creative experience, with the former Sunny Queen Eggs building being completely refurbished internally, whilst still maintaining internal character elements. Some of the key building features that appealed to Halfbrick include the exposed ceiling grid spray painted black, large internal stair with void, multiple break-out and chill-out zones, large rooftop area overlooking the Brisbane CBD, and even an original chick-hatchery room that has been converted to a meeting room.”
Mr Skarparis said the deal was evidence of Brisbane’s increasing appeal as an IT and gaming destination.
“In 2015, Brisbane has emerged a real hub for computer game and app developers, with deals negotiated to Halfbrick Studios for 2,200sqm, Gameloft for 650sqm, and Red Eye Apps for 355sqm,” Mr Skarparis explained.
“A common theme amongst groups is citing the ample availability of potential employees in the Brisbane market with the required skills and developing experience.”
