UK Games Fund enters its third round

November 1, 2016 | 10:06

Tags: #financial #funding #games-industry #government-grant #grant #matt-hancock #startup #uk-games-industry

Companies: #uk-games-fund

The government has announced the launch of a new round of funding for UK games developers, with up to £25,000 per company up for grabs under the imaginatively named UK Games Fund.

Now in its third round of funding, the UK Games Fund's stated aim is to foster success in the UK games industry - in particular for smaller companies which do not benefit from the financial clout of corporate overlords like, say, Grand Theft Auto V creator Rockstar Leeds. Thus far, the fund has provided grants to more than 50 developers totalling £1.3 million.

'The UK is a world leader when it comes to making video games, and we’re determined to make sure this continues long into the future,' claimed Matt Hancock MP, Minister of State for Digital and Culture, of the fund's progress thus far. 'Our UK Games Fund has already helped many young games companies turn prototypes into a reality. Together with the Government’s video games tax reliefs this shows how we’re supporting this dynamic sector to attract further investment and new talent.'

Funding is available not just for video games but for physical gaming, too: Developer Sensible Object, which received funding in the programme's first round, is set to launch mixed-media tabletop title Beasts of Balance, which uses smartphone software to score a stacked tower, in the coming weeks. 'Launching any venture is fraught with risks, but creative businesses like game companies come with even more challenges and the UK Games Fund is a very timely form of support for those that hope to grow and succeed in that area,' claimed Sensible Object founder Alex Fleetwood. 'The fund is well-run, straightforward to apply for, and clear in its decision-making, making it a valuable asset to game companies like ours and the industry as a whole.'

The UK represents the sixth-largest market for video games in the world, trailing China, the USA, Japan, South Korea, and Germany, with consumer spending hitting £4.2 billion last year. More information on the UK Games Fund itself, including how to apply, can be found on the official website.
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