TIGA is a video game industry trade show representing the UK. The association recently revealed their ambitions to inject growth into the UK games industry. Their vision stems from a place of passion as Dr. Richard Wilson, TIGA CEO, states: “Our vision is to make the UK the best place in the world for games development, games education and games service providers. Our ambition is for the UK video games industry to grow strongly over the next five years, with full-time employment in the development sector expanding to over 20,000 by 2022. We have set out a clear, cogent and compelling policy agenda to achieve this in Reinforcing Success“.
TIGA’s five-year plan is laid out across several steps with key goals to work toward. These include:
- Increasing game studio population from 768 in 2017 to 1,100 by 2022
- Expanding the number of game development companies which includes publishers, broadcasters, and service companies to 1,600 by 2022 up from 2017’s 1,031
- Increasing industry employment from 13,277 game developers in 2017 to 20,500 in 2022
- Increase annual investment from £670 million to over £1 billion by 2022
- Increasing the game development sector’s GDP contribution from £1.5 billion to £2.3 billion
Each of these goals works in service of ensuring the UK becomes a globally recognized center for games education and professional development in the workforce. Reaching these goals won’t be easy, but TIGA has measures set in place to ensure the industry continues rising. The most significant measures include:
- Retaining and improving Video Games Tax Relief, Development Tax Credits, and tax incentives for small firms and start-up companies
- Introducing the Video Games Investment Fund, which provides grants and funding for original IP’s
- Accrediting 30 UK video game degree courses so that more universities can provide aspiring game businesses the skills they need
- Establishing the British Games Institute to promote the cultural, economic, and creative impact of video games in the UK
- Publishing business guides
- Maintaining a strong voice for the games industry in media, government, and political circles