ONE OF the UK’s oldest gaming communities is to invest more than £600,000 to develop a new centre in Newry, Co Down.

Jolt Online Gaming, which has offices in Vancouver, Dublin and Hamburg, intends to develop a support centre to manage its core online gaming software systems and provide technical support to players globally.The investment will create 15 highly-skilled technical support and software jobs.

Jolt was one of the early pioneers of online gaming – which lets players worldwide test their skills against each other. Chief executive Dylan Collins said the company had a rapidly-growing online games community with millions of users playing its games.

“We have a continuous need for dedicated and committed people to join our team in order to support this growth. I believe the Newry site will become the operational heart of the Jolt Online Gaming network. It will be crucial in helping Jolt to expand its global reach and provide a quality service to its gamers.”

Invest Northern Ireland has offered Jolt Online Gaming £223,000 in financial support towards the investment.

The North’s Economy Minister Arlene Foster said the decision by the online gaming company to locate in Newry will deliver over £1 million in additional wages and salaries in the first three years.

“To secure such a project in the current economic climate is an extremely positive development which demonstrates how this region is remaining competitive and can still attract high quality investment. Jolt is a young, dynamic company which will contribute to, and benefit from, the local knowledge base,” Mrs Foster said.