Why the next government should back Indies

When countries like Canada, France and South Korea are doubling down on their investment in games how can the UK remain competitive and ensure our talent continues to thrive and create world-class titles?

The UK Games Fund has been pivotal in developing the UK games sector, particularly at the early stage. By running initiatives like Tranzfuser and DunDev, they support the entire spectrum of start-up game developers—from talented graduates to more experienced SMEs.

Since 2015, over 450 projects have been funded, raising ￡20 million for indie games. Many of these projects have evolved into award-winning studios with globally successful titles. For instance, Surgent Studios, the creators of Zau: Tales of Kenzera, received widespread acclaim. The game captured headlines in the BBC and Sky for its compelling storytelling, exploration of African mythology, and vibrant world-building.

For an industry that contributes ￡6 billion in Gross Value Added (GVA), the current level of support does not adequately reflect its economic and cultural significance especially when compared to countries like Germany for example, who invest ￡60 million in their own national game fund.

Increasing this fund to ￡30 million over the next three years will provide essential early-stage funding to game developers, enabling them to realise their creative visions and compete globally, ultimately driving sustainable economic growth and fostering the next generation of gaming icons and BAFTA winners.

Finding public value in games

Did you know that nearly 90% of Gen Z regularly play and watch games? Games will be a driving force of culture for the next generation of leaders, educators, and creative thinkers and video games will be key to engaging with this audience.

Earlier this year, the BBC ventured into the world of Roblox by launching BBC Wonder Chase. Roblox, immensely popular with younger audiences, boasts over 71 million daily users. Traditional media is experiencing dwindling audience numbers among younger demographics, making the potential for engagement through video games increasingly important. BBC Wonder Chase offers children an interactive and educational way to engage with the BBC's programmes, offering a blueprint for finding public value in games.

We asked Paul Durrant OBE, Founder and Chief Executive of UK Games Talent and Finance CIC, what the future might look like for the fund. "We're keen to bring about a deeper recognition of the economic and social value of the UK's early-stage, indie games development sector. We believe that there's a once-in-a-decade opportunity to do this. We've already shown how grant-based project funding creates economic impact.

Now we need to broaden that remit to engage a wider audience and increase representation within creative teams. We need to increase the resilience of the UK indie games ecosystem. To do that we need to build on our success to date and work with key stakeholders like Ukie. Significant policy change will be needed to bring this about. We need to start right now."

Creating a pro-games agenda and a business environment conducive to long-term economic growth go hand in hand. While the recent expansion of the fund is a welcome step, a more ambitious approach to the sector is necessary to unleash the potential of the UK's creative industries.

You can read Ukie's full manifesto asks here.