Ukie announces 2026 cohort for Video Games Growth Programme

Press release – 21st January 2026

Ukie, in partnership with Tencent and the Department for Business and Trade (DBT), today announces a cohort of 30 UK studios selected for the second year of the Video Games Growth Programme, an initiative designed to help ambitious studios across the UK scale both creatively and commercially.

The Programme has established itself as a leading business accelerator for the video games industry, offering two tailored pathways: an Accelerator track for emerging studios and a Scale-up track for established companies with high-growth potential looking to expand further.

Participants benefit from expert-led sessions and a structured curriculum, delivered by Player One Consulting, focused on long-term success across areas such as business strategy, investment readiness, team and operations management and international market expansion. The Programme also includes sessions with Tencent leaders, who share insights on building sustainable businesses and navigating global publishing markets.

The 2026 cohort for the Ukie Video Games Growth Programme brings together a diverse group of UK creative studios, including Goldborough, which is developing its first original PC and console title; Pretty Cool Games, a new studio building fun, creative games with distinctive characters; Sun & Moon Studios, an award-winning animation and games development studio; Mercurial Dance, which blends movement, technology and immersive storytelling; Second Star Games, focused on family-friendly fantasy adventures; and Team Folon, best known for Fallout: London, a fan-made total conversion mod.

The full list of studios selected for the 2026 cohort are:

Accelerator:

• Fireslug Studios
• Miami Avalon
• Outer Pixels
• Derailed Arts
• Wise Monkey Entertainment
• South Westerly Games
• Games Alchemist
• Hyperfocus Games
• Dash Games
• Grave Mistake Games
• Flora Games
• Grace Films
• SLAP-BANG! Digital.
• Seventh Disorder
• Panda Cat Games
• Team FOLON
• DINK

Scale up:

• Cloth Cat Games
• Kando Factory
• Sing King Karaoke
• BetaJester
• Mercurial Dance
• Chokepoint Creative
• Rarebit Studios
• Atelier 11
• Goldbrough Studio
• Pretty Cool Games
• COPA
• Second Star Games
• Sun & Moon Studios

 

Sir Chris Bryant, Minister of State, Department for Business and Trade, added: “The UK’s video games sector is a powerhouse of growth, high‑skilled talent and global reach. Generating over £2 billion in GVA and expanding faster than the wider creative industries, it fuels jobs and exports nationwide. Backed by our Modern Industrial Strategy—including the new £30 million Games Growth Package—the UK is strengthening regional clusters, supporting new studios and titles, and securing its position as Europe’s leading games market.”

Nick Poole, CEO of Ukie, commented: “We’re pleased to unveil our latest cohort, an exceptional group of studios that reflects the creativity, ambition and diversity of the UK video games industry. From advancing design and gameplay to nurturing talent across the UK, these studios demonstrate why the UK remains a global leader in video games. This Programme is about giving them the tools to scale with confidence, and we’re excited to support their next stage of growth.”

Mark Maslowicz, Vice President of Partnerships, Tencent Games, Europe, said: “At Tencent, we believe games are a powerful cultural and economic force. We’re proud to partner for the second year with Ukie and the Department for Business and Trade on the Video Games Growth Programme, supporting studios that are creating positive play experiences while building sustainable businesses. The Programme helps studios navigate the global games landscape and turn creative ambition into long-term impact.”