All to play for: Scottish games industry unveils election asks

Scottish games industry leaders have called for extra support ahead of the Holyrood election.

Sector body Interactive Entertainment Scotland (IES) wants parties to write commitments to the industry into their policy portfolios.

In a manifesto of its own, the body has called for the next Scottish Government to deliver enhanced support, strengthening policy, unlocking investment and building the talent pipeline needed to keep the country’s studios competitive.

The call is backed by “studios of all sizes from emerging independents to established global exporters, including Ukie”.

IES chair Chris van der Kuyl, of 4J Studios, said: “Scotland has all the ingredients to be one of the most dynamic video games ecosystems in the world: exceptional universities, ambitious studios, strong clusters and a global reputation for creativity. But the global industry is changing rapidly, and we cannot stand still.

“This manifesto is about practical, targeted action, improving access to capital, strengthening institutional understanding of the sector, and embedding digital creativity throughout our education system. We look forward to working with all parties ahead of the election to ensure Scotland remains a world-leading home for video games development and innovation.”

IES wants a task-and-finish review to “identify opportunities for a cross-policy agenda that recognises how the industry intersects with creative, enterprise, education, technology and innovation sectors”, and to improve institutional knowledge within Scottish Government that will lead to a data strategy which provides “accurate, timely insight for shaping policy and investment”.

It is also calling for greater collaboration with agencies to promote “appropriate funding opportunities for the video game sector” and develop a targeted pilot funding scheme informed by best practice from Wales and Northern Ireland. It’s suggested that the Scottish National Investment Bank could provide opportunities.

And the manifesto calls for collaboration between industry, stakeholders and experts to ensure computing science and digital creativity are “consistently available” across primary and secondary schools.

The call follows the announcement of the latest phase of the Techscaler International programme, which seeks to attract overseas interest in Scottish tech firms.

Nick Poole, Ukie chief executive, commented: “Scotland has long been a pioneer in the global video games industry. Now, with the support of a new Scottish Government, we have an opportunity to help games businesses across Scotland build a long-term platform for growth, jobs and international investment. We are proud to support Interactive Entertainment Scotland in bringing this exciting vision to life.”