UK government announces £30 million funding package for games industry
The UK government has announced a £30 million funding package for the country’s video game industry, with ministers aiming to support developers, studios and new game production across Britain. The investment is part of the government’s wider Creative Industries Sector Plan and is intended to help games companies grow during a difficult economic period for the industry.
Britain already has a major presence in global gaming through studios and franchises behind titles including Grand Theft Auto, Tomb Raider, Fable, No Man’s Sky and PowerWash Simulator. According to the government, the UK games sector includes around 2,000 companies employing tens of thousands of people.
The new Games Growth Package will be divided across three funding tracks designed for studios at different stages of development. Newly formed companies will be able to apply for grants of up to £20,000 through the entry track. The emergent track offers grants of up to £100,000 for developers building game prototypes, while the expansion track provides up to £250,000 to help studios complete projects and grow their businesses.
Alongside direct funding for developers, the government has also pledged £1.5 million over the next three years to support the London Games Festival, which has become a key meeting point for developers, publishers and investors in the UK games industry. A separate £20 million investment will go to the Tay Cities Region, covering areas including Perth and Fife, to support creative technologies such as video games and virtual reality.
UK Minister for Creative Industries Ian Murray said the games industry had been overlooked for too long despite its economic contribution. “Video games are not only great fun, they are big business, and for too long their value to the British economy has been overlooked,” he said.
The UK now joins countries including Australia and Canada in expanding government support for video game development and creative industries linked to technology and entertainment.
The debate around regulation and the future of gaming platforms has also intensified in recent months, including new age verification requirements introduced for PlayStation users in the UK and Ireland. The funding announcement also arrives during wider industry discussions around artificial intelligence and performer protections in video games.
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