What's next for gaming in the UK? | BBC News

Summary

Dundee, Scotland, is renowned as the birthplace of Grand Theft Auto and a thriving hub for the UK's gaming industry. Despite recent challenges, including job losses and investment scarcity, the city's studios foster a strong community. Political parties are now recognizing the sector's potential, with calls for funding and tax breaks to support growth. The industry, valued at £6 billion to the UK economy, seeks acknowledgment and support to maintain its global competitiveness.

Takeaways

• 🌟 Dundee is the birthplace of the highly successful video game Grand Theft Auto.
• 🏢 The success of Dundee's game industry has transformed its waterfront, including the Waters Edge building, into a major hub for the UK's gaming industry.
• 🤝 Dundee boasts a tight-knit community of game studios working closely together, contributing to a rich talent pool.
• 📈 Despite recent difficulties in the wider gaming industry, Dundee's studios continue to thrive, as exemplified by Greg's studio expanding after a viral game.
• 💸 The gaming industry has been facing challenges such as drying investments and reduced interest in risky ventures, leading to job losses.
• 📉 Thousands have lost their jobs in the gaming industry across the UK and globally due to cost-cutting measures by studios.
• 💡 The industry is calling for recognition and support, with the UK games industry estimated to be worth 6 billion to the economy.
• 🙏 There is a call for more funding for new studios and tax breaks to encourage studios to stay in the UK, led by the group representing gaming companies.
• 🏆 The gaming industry is seen as a potential economic and cultural growth driver, with the need for national political dialogue to include gaming.
• 🎉 Political parties are recognizing the importance of the gaming industry, with various commitments and strategies proposed in their manifestos.
• 🗳️ The upcoming Parliament is expected to be more video game friendly, with hopes for over 200 new MPs to support the UK's game makers.

Q & A

What is the significance of Dundee in the video game industry?

Dundee is the birthplace of one of the world's most successful video games, Grand Theft Auto, and has become a major hub for the UK's games industry with a concentration of talent and studios in a small area.

How has Dundee's waterfront been transformed due to the success of its gaming industry?

The success and subsequent investment in the gaming industry have transformed parts of Dundee's waterfront, with buildings like Water's Edge becoming a hub for game development studios.

What challenges are game studios currently facing in the wider games industry?

The wider games industry is facing challenges such as investments drying up, reduced interest in risky investments, and cost-cutting measures that have led to thousands of job losses across the UK and around the world.

What is the estimated worth of the UK's games industry to the economy?

The UK's games industry is estimated to be worth 6 billion to the UK economy.

What is the current situation regarding job losses in the games industry?

Over the past year or two, there has been a significant number of job losses in the games industry, with many friends of the interviewee losing their jobs.

Why are startups and university graduates struggling to get funding in the gaming industry?

Startups and university graduates with great ideas are struggling to get funding because games are not being recognized as a separate entity deserving of support, leading to a lack of funding opportunities.

What is the UK Games Group calling for to support the gaming industry?

The UK Games Group is calling for more cash for new studios and tax breaks to encourage them to stay in the UK, aiming to change the current funding landscape.

What are the political parties' stances on supporting the gaming industry?

Different political parties have varying commitments; the Conservatives include a commitment to wider creative industries in their manifesto, the Lib Dems are pushing for a new strategy to help the games industry, and the SNP want the UK to rejoin a European Union scheme that could provide cash.

What is the hope for the next Parliament regarding the gaming industry?

The hope is that over the lifetime of the next Parliament, there will be an influx of new MPs who are video game friendly, leading to upwards of 200 new MPs who will decide on how to support the UK's games makers.

What is the role of the next government in supporting the UK's games industry?

The next government will need to decide if and how to support the UK's games makers, considering the real strengths and future economic and cultural growth of the industry.

What does the BBC News report suggest about the current dialogue on the gaming industry within national politics?

The report suggests that the gaming industry is getting relatively little attention within national political dialogue, despite its potential as a global proposition and economic contributor.