Representatives from the UK games industry, along with the Prime Minster and the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, gathered together today to celebrate the success of the UK’s video games sector at 10 Downing Street.
The UK is one of the best places in the world to make, sell and play games and today’s event was to celebrate what makes the UK’s video games industry an economic and cultural force to be reckoned with. With over 2,000 games business based across the UK, supporting 73,000 jobs across the supply chain, and directly contributing £5bn in GVA, the video games industry is creating prosperity for all regions of the UK. The strength of the sector, and appeal of video games to diverse audiences continues to grow with Ukie’s Games Market Valuation showing 16% of all games sold in the UK were made right here in the UK.
Today’s celebrations at 10 Downing Street welcomed 100 leaders from the games sector, showcasing the breadth of games being made in the UK. The event also underlined the significant part video games play in the UK’s cultural and economic landscape too. Ukie’s Games Market Valuation shows UK consumers spent over £7bn on games in 2022, and 2022 was the biggest year for films based on video games IP at the UK box office ever, up 66% from 2019.
Also exhibiting today were the school children who have made it through to the national final of Digital Schoolhouse’s Super Smash Brothers Ultimate esports tournament; Digital Schoolhouse is a ground-breaking example of how the video games industry is pioneering play-based learning to engage the next generation of pupils and teachers and highlighting the full range of career paths available to young people in games and esports.
Tim Woodley, Chair of Ukie said: “Today’s celebration at 10 Downing Street is a real recognition of the success of video games in the UK, and the strategic importance of our sector to the UK’s culture and economy. It was fantastic to be able to celebrate the positive impact that UK games have culturally, socially and economically on the tens of millions of people who play video games in the UK.
"Not only were Ministers, Members of Parliament, and wider stakeholders able to meet the people behind the games businesses that continue to produce amazingly innovative and creative content, but also they were able to experience the pioneering video games that are made here in the UK and exported around the world to a global audience of billions.
"We look forward to working in partnership with Government and policy makers to continue to share the positive impact of video games on society, whilst also ensure its success in the future.”
Rt Hon Rishi Sunak, Prime Minster said: “From Guildford to Dundee, our globally renowned video games sector is attracting investment, creating skilled jobs and opening up exciting new opportunities for growth.
“The UK consumer market has doubled in size over the last ten years, and with 80% of jobs now based outside London, these businesses are levelling-up our economy and spreading opportunity more equally across the country.
“UK studios are going from strength to strength because of our high quality skills base and creativity – but we want to build on that success and continue to drive economic growth, one of my 5 key priorities.
“That is why government is supporting video gaming through generous audiovisual tax reliefs and the UK Games Fund which enables early-stage businesses to develop new intellectual property and graduate talent”.