BFI Video Games Day highlights support for thriving UK games sector

Charles Cecil MBE, Founder & CEO, Revolution Software; Amanda Nevill, BFI CEO; Ian Livingstone, CBE, Co-Founder Games Workshop, Government’s Creative Industries Champion and Co-author of Next Gen review

Leading figures from the UK’s thriving video games sector will gather today at BFI Southbank for a special Video Games Day. Hosted by the BFI Certification Unit, the day will see over 130 delegates representing games companies from across the UK learn more about the benefits of the new games tax relief and how video games companies can access it. Panel sessions and presentations from a range of experts and funders will cover topics including access to finance, diversity, culture and representation, and the education and skills development support available to the sector.

The event opens with a keynote address from Ian Livingstone CBE; Co-Founder Games Workshop, Government’s Creative Industries Champion and Co-author of Next Gen review, and closes with a keynote address from Charles Cecil MBE, Founder & CEO, Revolution Software.

The BFI today reveals that 13 video games projects have now received interim certification and one game has received final certification from the BFI Certification Unit – the first step in accessing the UK’s competitive new tax relief for video games. The BFI has been certifying video games projects through the cultural test since August when legislation was completed, and has been issuing letters of comfort to video games projects since the new tax relief began on 1 April this year. The BFI has received over 30 applications so far this year.

Among the video game projects from around the UK to receive certification from the BFI are:

• Beyond Flesh and Blood, from Manchester-based Pixelbomb Games
• Fractured Space, from Guilford-based Endless Tiger Ltd
• Gingersnap, from Hereford-based Elderberry Post Ltd
• MazeCraft, from HyperLiger
• Potion Pop, from Brighton-based Delinquent Interactive Ltd
• Shred It!, from Glasgow-based Extra Mile Studios Ltd
• SKARA — The Blade Remains, from London-based SKARA The Blade Remains Ltd
• SoccerManager.com, from Lancashire-based Soccer Manager Ltd
• Soul Axiom, from Bridgend-based Wales Interactive
• Wayward Tide, from London-based Chucklefish Games
• Spacepants, from Northamptonshire-based Boxface Games

Creative Industries Minister, Ed Vaizey comments:

Our vibrant gaming industry is going from strength to strength and is a vital contributor to the growth of the UK economy. Through tax reliefs and the development of the country’s digital infrastructure, we are building the foundations our creative industries need to continue to thrive on the global stage. It is encouraging to see that the companies already benefiting from the new tax relief represent a mix of organisations from across the UK, furthering the creation of jobs and skills development in the industry.

BFI CEO, Amanda Nevill comments:

The video games sector is one of our youngest and most dynamic creative industries and its contribution to the UK economy becomes more significant every year. We’re delighted that 14 UK companies are already poised to benefit from the new tax reliefs to support their projects and help them grow their businesses in a competitive international marketplace. We are proud to be working with Government and in partnership with UKIE, TIGA and others to support our games industry to capitalise on its success and take the UK to a new level as a global centre for video games.

BFI Video Games Day game demo

The UK video games sector is highly skilled and has close links to other disciplines across the creative industries. According to Creative Skillset the UK games sector generates £2bn in global sales and contributes almost £1bn to national GDP. UK games studios employ over 9,200 creative staff and indirectly support more than 16,800 jobs. Many video games companies are based outside London and the skills used in developing video games are transferable to a number of different industries, including animation, commercials and post-production, in particular CGI and VFX.

The BFI Certification Unit, on behalf of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), issues certificates for Film, Video Games, Animation and High End Television projects; the certificates are the gateway to accessing the UK’s competitive tax reliefs, which provide vital support for Britain’s world-leading creative industries and help to attract inward investment to the UK.

There have already been a number of panels and presentations across the UK to promote the new reliefs in conjunction with partners including the BFI, HMRC, and trade bodies including TIGA and UKIE.