The UK Government has committed £30 million to invest in helping grow the United Kingdom’s gaming industry.
A £30m Games Growth Package has launched, offering £10m annually over the next three years to support the next generation of games studios and developers.
These plans are part of the government’s new £380m investment package for creative industries to ensure the UK remains a “creative superpower.”
This announcement comes after British games body Ukie warned the government that the UK games industry could miss out on £500m.
Amongst all these ambitious growth packages, there seemingly aren’t any concrete plans to boost the UK’s esports scene.
Esports only received one mention in the 80-page creative industries plan, as part of a paragraph on video game jobs.
Yet, the UK’s esports scene is thriving. You just have to look at the results from the past weekend.
Twitch superstar Marc ‘Caedrel’ Lamont watched his Los Ratones League of Legends team win their second consecutive EMEA Masters trophy.
Jake ‘Boaster’ Howlett helped Fnatic to the final of Valorant Masters Toronto.
Perhaps somebody with esports experience will be part of the new industry-led Video Games Council being established.
The government says this council will be made up of industry representatives who will work closely with the government’s decision makers to help aid in the UK game industry’s growth.
Though the focus on game development is understandable, given the UK’s rich video game history.
“The UK’s video games sector is a true national success story, with iconic titles created in studios from Dundee to Brighton,” says Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy.
“This £30 million investment package will help our talented developers turn brilliant ideas into exciting new games, create high-skilled jobs, secure investment and drive growth across the UK.
“By backing our games developers with the funding they need, we’re ensuring the next Tomb Raider or Little Big Planet will be made right here in Britain.”
As part of these creative industry plans, the government is developing a UK Games Skills Network to help tackle persistent skill gaps in the industry.
The government also hopes to expand the UK Games Fund and give extra funding to the London Games Festival with the aim of doubling the value of private investment deals made at the event to £30m.
Nick Poole OBE, CEO of Ukie, is excited by the plans that have been put in place:
“On behalf of the UK’s world-leading video game and interactive entertainment sector, we welcome the measures set out today by the Government to supercharge our Creative Industries as part of the Industrial Strategy.
“Today’s announcement is both a validation of the huge cultural and economic impact of video games and an opportunity to show the world we are open for business.”
In my seven years of esports writing, I’ve introuduced esports coverage to newspapers, interviewed some of the biggest names in the industry, and driven viewers mad with the puns in my YouTube scripts. I’m most proud of the latter.