Iran Computer and Video Games Foundation

The Iran Computer and Video Games Foundation (ICVGF) is an Iranian cultural and artistic institution concerned with the development and supervision of the country's digital-games sector. It is also known in English as the National Foundation for Computer Games. The foundation operates under the supervision of Iran's Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance and is headquartered in Tehran. Its governing statute describes it as a non-profit, non-governmental institute with an independent legal personality, although its policy and oversight relationship with the ministry gives it an important public-sector role in the domestic games ecosystem. The foundation began operating in 2007, during a period when Iranian authorities were developing formal cultural and industrial policies for computer and video games. Its remit combines industry-development functions with regulatory and cultural responsibilities. On the development side, it has supported training, workshops, incubator activity, mentoring, exhibitions, festivals, research, and international networking. These activities are intended to strengthen domestic production capabilities, encourage Iranian studios and teams, and create channels through which locally produced games can reach audiences and industry partners. On the regulatory side, the foundation has been associated with licensing, content guidance, market supervision, and the national rating framework for games. In 2007 it established the Entertainment Software Rating Association, commonly known as ESRA, to assign age and content classifications to games released in Iran. The rating system forms part of a wider cultural-policy approach in which games are treated not only as entertainment products but also as media subject to national standards and review. The foundation has also created or supported specialist bodies. The Iran Game Development Institute was established in 2010 as a training and capacity-building initiative. Its activities have included education for aspiring developers and participation in foundation-backed competitions and events. In 2015, research activities were described as being consolidated within the Digital Games Research Center, or DIREC. DIREC publishes surveys, market studies, and analytical material on Iranian players, game consumption, and the structure of the domestic market. Its reports are used in discussions of gaming behavior and the scale and characteristics of Iran's games audience. ICVGF's public-facing activities include festivals and industry events. Foundation-linked game festivals have appeared under varying English names, including Tehran Video Game Festival and Iran Video Game Festival. These events provide award, exhibition, and promotional platforms for Iranian games. The foundation has also been involved in the Tehran Game Convention, an industry-oriented event first reported in 2017, with participation by international publishers, developers, and business representatives. Cooperation with the Game Connection brand has been reported as part of efforts to expand international networking and market access. The foundation's regulatory role has sometimes attracted controversy. Iranian authorities have linked it to restrictions or licensing decisions affecting foreign games and game-related services considered politically or culturally objectionable. Reported examples include action against 1979 Revolution: Black Friday in 2016 and the refusal of a license for Arma 3 in 2012 because of the game's depiction of Iran and its armed forces. These cases illustrate the dual nature of the institution: it promotes the growth of a domestic creative industry while operating within Iran's broader cultural-control framework. Leadership is appointed through structures connected to the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance. Mohammad-Amin Haji-Hashemi was announced as managing director in September 2022. Iranian media later reported the appointment of Mohammad Haji Mirzaei as managing director and the naming of board members in April 2025. The foundation remains an active national institution serving Iranian game development, education, research, events, rating, and oversight.

The foundation's origins lie in Iranian cultural-policy efforts to establish a formal institutional framework for computer and video games. Its statute was approved in the mid-2000s, and the organization began operating in 2007 under the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance. The founding model gave it a mixed mandate: it was expected to encourage domestic game production and professional capacity while also supervising content and applying national cultural standards. One of the foundation's earliest institutional projects was the Entertainment Software Rating Association, established in 2007. ESRA created a domestic age- and content-rating mechanism for games distributed in Iran. This work placed the foundation within the licensing and classification chain for the local market and distinguished it from a purely promotional industry association. Training became another central activity. In 2010, the foundation established the Iran Game Development Institute, which provided education and professional-development opportunities for prospective developers and teams. Foundation-linked training, workshops, competitions, and incubator initiatives sought to expand the local skills base and help independent groups move toward commercial production. Some IGDI-related projects were later described in foundation and industry material as receiving recognition at Iranian festivals or being presented outside Iran. The foundation expanded its research capacity in 2015 through the Digital Games Research Center, known as DIREC. The center has produced surveys and analytical reports concerning Iranian players, gaming habits, market conditions, and industry trends. DIREC publications present research, education, support, regulation, and supervision as connected parts of the foundation's mission. Its statistical material has also been cited in academic discussions of gaming in Iran. Alongside training and research, the foundation developed a program of festivals, exhibitions, and industry events. Early English-language references used the name Tehran Video Game Festival, while later editions were more often rendered as Iran Video Game Festival or Iran Video Games Festival. These events have provided competitions, awards, public showcases, and promotional opportunities for Iranian games. In the late 2010s the foundation also pursued more business-oriented international engagement. The first reported Tehran Game Convention took place in July 2017 and brought together Iranian participants with international publishers, developers, and other industry representatives. Cooperation with the Game Connection brand was reported in connection with international networking and event programming. The institution's regulatory responsibilities have periodically become more visible than its development programs. Iranian authorities have been reported to use licensing and enforcement mechanisms against foreign titles or services viewed as politically or culturally sensitive. In 2012, Arma 3 was reportedly denied a license because its narrative included Iran and depicted Iranian military forces. In 2016, authorities announced plans to restrict websites distributing 1979 Revolution: Black Friday, describing the game as presenting a false or distorted account of the Iranian Revolution. Such episodes have generated criticism because the foundation's support for creative production operates alongside a state-controlled content environment. In the 2020s, foundation-linked activity continued through festivals, research, training, and policy programs. Iranian media described the Fajr Video Games Festival as one of the institution's later event activities, with competitive and industry sections. Leadership continued to be determined through ministry-linked appointments. Mohammad-Amin Haji-Hashemi became managing director in September 2022. In April 2025, Iranian media reported that Mohammad Haji Mirzaei had been appointed managing director and that board members had been named. The foundation therefore remains both an industry-development platform and a regulatory institution within Iran's national cultural administration.

• 2025

  Leadership change reported

  [1]Iran Computer and Video Games Foundationen.wikipedia.org

  Iranian media reported the appointment of Mohammad Haji Mirzaei as managing director and the naming of board members.

• 2022

  Managing-director appointment

  [1]Iran Computer and Video Games Foundationen.wikipedia.org

  Mohammad-Amin Haji-Hashemi was appointed managing director in September.

• 2017

  First Tehran Game Convention

  [1]Iran Computer and Video Games Foundationen.wikipedia.org

  The first reported Tehran Game Convention was held as an international-facing business and networking event.

• 2015

  DIREC formed as research center

  [1]Iran Computer and Video Games Foundationen.wikipedia.org

  Research functions were consolidated in the Digital Games Research Center, which publishes surveys and market analysis.

• 2010

  Iran Game Development Institute established

  [1]Iran Computer and Video Games Foundationen.wikipedia.org

  The foundation created IGDI as a training and professional-capacity initiative for game developers and teams.

• 2007

  Foundation begins operating

  [1]Iran Computer and Video Games Foundationen.wikipedia.org

  The institution began operating as a cultural and artistic body affiliated with the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance.

• 2007

  ESRA established

  [1]Iran Computer and Video Games Foundationen.wikipedia.org

  The foundation established the Entertainment Software Rating Association to provide age and content ratings for games released in Iran.

A state-supervised cultural and industry-development institution positioned at the intersection of Iranian game promotion, professional training, market research, events, content classification, licensing, and cultural regulation.

• Game rating and classification · 2007

  Entertainment Software Rating Association

  ESRA is Iran's national game-rating initiative established by the foundation in 2007. It evaluates games for age suitability and content characteristics, forming part of the domestic classification and cultural-supervision framework.

• Training and professional development · 2010

  Iran Game Development Institute

  IGDI is a foundation-established training initiative focused on developing skills for Iranian game creators. Its activities have included education, workshops, competitions, and support for emerging teams and projects.

• Research and market intelligence · 2015

  Digital Games Research Center

  DIREC is the foundation's research department. It produces surveys and analytical reports on Iranian players, game consumption, market conditions, and other characteristics of the domestic digital-games ecosystem.

• Festival and awards

  Iran Video Game Festival

  The foundation's festival program showcases Iranian games through competitions, awards, exhibitions, and industry programming. English-language references have used both Tehran Video Game Festival and Iran Video Game Festival for different editions.

• Industry convention · 2017

  Tehran Game Convention

  Tehran Game Convention is an industry-facing event intended to connect Iranian developers and businesses with publishers, studios, and other international participants.

• 2016

  Restriction of 1979 Revolution: Black Friday

  Authorities announced plans to block websites offering 1979 Revolution: Black Friday, criticizing its representation of the Iranian Revolution as false and distorted.

  Source

• 2012

  Arma 3 licensing dispute

  Reports stated that Iranian authorities denied a license for Arma 3 because the game depicted Iran and Iranian armed forces in its storyline.

  Source

Read more

• 2017Tehran Game Convention

  Iran · International

  The foundation supported an international business and networking convention in Tehran, bringing together local game companies and overseas publishers, studios, and industry professionals.

  Outcome. The event established a visible platform for international outreach by Iran's game sector.

  Source
• Iran Video Game Festival

  Iran

  The foundation has organized and supported recurring festivals and award programs that exhibit Iranian games and recognize domestic developers.

  Outcome. The festival became one of the foundation's principal public and promotional activities.

  Source
• Fajr Video Games Festival

  Iran

  In the 2020s, Iranian media described the foundation as organizing the Fajr Video Games Festival, combining competitive sections with industry programming.

  Outcome. The program continued the foundation's use of festivals to promote and evaluate domestic game production.

  Source

• 2016

  Restrict distribution of 1979 Revolution: Black FridayOther

  Background

  Authorities objected to the game's portrayal of the Iranian Revolution.

  Action taken

  Officials announced plans to block websites offering the title.

  Aftermath

  The case highlighted the conflict between international game distribution and Iran's political and cultural content controls.

  Source

• 2015

  Consolidate games-market researchStrategy

  Background

  The foundation needed a dedicated research function to understand players and the national games market.

  Action taken

  It established or consolidated research activity within DIREC.

  Aftermath

  DIREC began publishing surveys and analytical reports used by industry observers and researchers.

  Source

• 2010

  Expand developer trainingStrategy

  Background

  The emerging domestic industry required trained developers and structured professional support.

  Action taken

  The foundation established the Iran Game Development Institute.

  Aftermath

  IGDI became a foundation-linked vehicle for education, workshops, competitions, and capacity building.

  Source

• 2007

  Create a national game-rating frameworkStrategy

  Background

  Iran's cultural authorities sought a formal system for assessing games distributed in the country.

  Action taken

  The foundation established ESRA to assign age and content ratings.

  Aftermath

  Rating and classification became a continuing part of the foundation's regulatory role.

  Source

1. 1Iran Computer and Video Games Foundationen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Iran Computer and Video Games Foundation official websiteircg.ir