The European Commission has notified the game development funding programme in Germany.

The Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure announced the news. Previously, the Ministry had been given the go-ahead by the German Bundestag to create a games development fund.

It is expected that the funding programme will come into effect in spring 2020.

The decision was made after it was clear that the federal budget for 2019 onwards would include €50 million ($55.7 million) to promote German games development further.

"Good news from Brussels. With the EU notification the funding programme for games has taken a final hurdle," said the managing director of local trade body GAME, Felix Falk.

"Now, the precise details for the application must be clarified. After close collaboration between the games industry and the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure on the so-called De-minimis-funding we are more than confident that the start of the major funding directive will go well.'

For companies to be granted funding, they must pass a cultural test - much like the UK. The size of the project will determine if the developers are given 25 or 50 per cent funding.