Campaign mode: General Election kicks off

In just over a month, we will all be heading to the polls. Ukie is already busy engaging MPs and working hard to ensure that whoever the next government is, they are championing the video game industry. Over the coming weeks we will be advocating for meaningful investment within the sector. This includes the adoption of a digital creativity GCSE, the renewal and enhancement of the UK Games Fund and improved tax reliefs for the sector. As we approach the election, we will continue to push for recognition of the vital role video games play in the UK’s digital landscape and strive to secure a supportive environment for our industry’s future.

In the news

?? UK Times: Covering the launch of Ukie's Video Games Growth Programme in partnership with Tencent.?Applications are still open for companies wishing to be part of the programme .?

???Market Screener: ?Coutts'?Interactive Entertainment Lead, Paul Franks, reflects on how the 2024 London Games Festival champions the power of a major growth industry.

Stories from industry

Emerging horizon: Barclays have released their 2024 video game impact report. "Emerging Horizons" provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of the UK video games market and is packed with useful data and case studies.?Read it here.

Importance of self-expression: A new report states that 46% of players use gaming for self-expression, to ignite their imagination, and for creation.?The fifth annual Inside Gaming Report by Fandom highlights the growing importance of creativity and the role games have in tackling mental health issues. The report also? explores brand perception, customisation trends and the challenges they present to developers.?

Rainbow 6 Siege Grand Final: Some of the Ukie team were soaking up the rocking atmosphere in Manchester as the city hosted the Rainbow 6 Siege Grand Final over the weekend. R6 Major joined a list of world-class Esports events taking place across the UK this year. The success of these tournaments continues to illustrate why the UK is a leading hub for creating and experiencing video game culture and a top destination for Esports.

Campaign corner

Online Safety Bill: The policy team have been busy working on a submission?to Ofcom's call for evidence on additional services for categorised services?to the Ofcom online safety bill. The video games sector has a long track record of spearheading self-regulatory efforts to keep players safe by being leaders in developing sophisticated content moderation and reporting practices. The submission reflects the fantastic work the industry does to create a safe, fun, fair and inclusive playing experience for hundreds of millions of players every day.

Support Ask About Games: Thank you to everyone who has spread the word about the new hub. To get the message to even more parents and families across the country we would love you to share the message across your own social channels, and shout about being proud to support Ask About Games. Use the media toolkit which has assets for you to share, and tag us in your posts.

?Industry events - May

Tommorow evening, Ukie?EDI Coordinator Dom Shaw & Susi Bauer will be discussing neurodivergence in the video games industry. They are bringing their personal, neurodivergent perspectives & experiences to the table. The talk will include practical takeaways both for neurodivergent talent as well as those who work with them so please come along virtually to find out more.

Thursday 30th May: The next Ukie Hub Crawl is taking place in Brighton where we will be joining Hub Crawl Hero, Futurlab. If you are in or near Brighton this Thursday why not come along and hear from experts, network with games folk and grab a slice of pizza. Tickets are free.

June

ESI London 2024:?Esports industry and gaming events company Esports Insider will be hosting its premier B2B UK esports & gaming conference, ESI London on June 13th at BOXPARK Wembley. In addition to panels & presentations, this year’s show sits proudly alongside the BLAST Premier Spring Finals, (itself taking place at Wembley Arena over 14-16th June 2024), so expect plenty of surprises including "An Evening With" celebrity guest, Counter-Strike legend: GeT_RiGhT! Get your tickets here.