UK video games industry trade bodies have responded to the UK’s decision to leave the European Union.
In a press release issued this morning, Dr Richard Wilson, CEO of UK video games association TIGA, called for policy makers to “ensure games companies have access to sufficient finance, benefit from Video Games Tax Relief and R&D Tax Relief” following the referendum, and can “access highly skilled people from outside of the UK”.
“The UK video games industry is a high technology sector that provides high skilled employment for over 30,000 people, including approximately 11,000 development staff and which contributes £1.1 billion to UK GDP,” he said.
“It is also export oriented, with at least 95 per cent of studios exporting. Following the referendum in favour of ‘Brexit’, it will be more vital than ever to strengthen (and avoid harming) those sectors where the UK has a comparative competitive advantage: for example, aerospace, defence, high-value manufacturing and engineering, high technology industries, higher education, low carbon technology and the creative industries, including the video games sector.
“For the video games industry, it is particularly important that policy makers ensure games companies have access to sufficient finance, benefit from Video Games Tax Relief and R&D Tax Relief, have clear and stable IP rights and can access highly skilled people from outside of the UK. Any new points based migration system must not be onerous or complicated, otherwise the industry’s growth could be held back.”
Meanwhile, Dr Jo Twist, the CEO of video games trade network Ukie has said that the “political uncertainty” following the referendum “will have an impact on our businesses”, but adds that it is “important to remember that we are already a globally successful sector and a leading exporter in the digital economy”.
“Ukie is committed to ensuring the UK is the best place in the world to make and sell games,” she said, “and although this decision and the political uncertainty it brings will have an impact on our businesses it is important to remember that we are already a globally successful sector and a leading exporter in the digital economy.
“Ukie will continue to work hard with colleagues in government to ensure we continue to have the best possible business environment and we will be following developments closely as well as advising members as they unfold.”
Despite the uncertainty, Jason Kingsley, CEO of UK developer Rebellion and TIGA Chairman believes the “UK video games industry will remain strong”.
“The UK video games development sector is an export focused industry that sells content all over the globe,” Kingsley said. “We have a highly skilled workforce, a creative and growing studio population and a heritage of thirty years of success. While uncertainty is unwelcome for business, the UK video games industry will remain strong, resilient and competitive.”
