Thistle & Thorn is a new games studio, created by industry leader Kim MacAskill. Many of you will be familiar with Kim, thanks to her work as the Narrative Director at PlayStation, Narrative Lead at Riot Games, Principal Narrative Designer at NaturalMotion, as well as roles with Ubisoft, Playground Games, Rocksteady, her work as a screenwriter – and so much more.
Scotland’s games sector is a hotbed of potential, with initiatives like the National Action Plan, the formation of a dedicated cross-party group at the Scottish Parliament, and the annual Scottish Games Week all working to support visibility, growth and recognition. But challenges remain, and industry veteran Kim has launched her new venture, Thistle & Thorn, to tackle these issues head-on.
We spoke with Kim to learn more about her vision for the company – and the state of the games ecosystem in Scotland.
SGN: Kim, thanks for joining us. To start, could you give us a little background on your experience in the games world?
Kim MacAskill: Thanks for having me. I’m a veteran AAA Narrative Director and Creative Director. Over the years, I’ve been fortunate enough to take on leadership roles across some incredible titles, including League of Legends, Fable, and the Arkham series, as well as working at PlayStation.
SGN: That’s quite a pedigree! So, what exactly does Thistle & Thorn do, and what are your goals for the company?
Kim: We have three main goals at Thistle & Thorn. First, we want to bolster Scotland’s status in the global games market by producing high-quality videogames. Second, we’re dedicated to creating opportunities for creatives of all backgrounds. This is a real passion point for me. I’m particularly concerned about graduates who leave colleges and universities, often after taking courses that haven’t adequately prepared them, only to find very few opportunities here in Scotland. At worst, it feels like a scam; at best, it’s a broken system. And third, we aim to convince Scotland to finally invest in its games sector for the long term.
SGN: It sounds like you’re addressing some critical issues. Who are you hoping to connect with?
Kim: At this stage, I’m keen to hear from educational bodies, investors, politicians, and anyone who understands the importance of what we’re trying to achieve. I’m already in discussions with people across these areas, and I want to keep that momentum going. This isn’t just about making games and turning a profit. It’s about Scotland seizing the opportunities that are right in front of us and providing a future for its creative talent. We’ve seen the success of games like Still Wakes the Deep, which garnered so many awards – and was set in Scotland but made in Brighton. We need to change that. I want to connect with people who see the same issues I see and are ready to work towards a better future.
SGN: Could you tell us why you founded Thistle & Thorn and what your aspirations are?
KM: Absolutely. With Scotland’s creatives floundering in an ever-closing pool, videogames are finally back on the rise, and now is the time for Scotland to utilise its talents, create quality games for a lucrative market, and put an iron stamp on the map.
SGN: Where can people find Thistle & Thorn online?
Kim: You can find us at www.thistleandthorngames.com and also on Instagram.
SGN: Finally, Kim, what makes you happy about being part of the Scottish games community?
Kim: To be honest, very little – and that’s precisely the point. I’m a proud Scot, and I constantly meet incredibly talented Scots who have had to do the same thing I did a decade ago: move away for work. I’m currently based in Glasgow, and my desire to relocate for work is decreasing with time. But as that lessens, my frustration with the lack of creative opportunity in Scotland is growing.
When I was working for PlayStation, I was stunned to learn that a Creative Director at a major AAA studio lived in Glasgow. Then, I saw him on the same flight to Finland – we were both commuting to Helsinki for work! Finland invests heavily in video games and has reaped the rewards, but Scotland, it seems, is still playing catch-up.
People often talk about Rockstar, but it’s important to remember that it’s an American company with 12 studios worldwide – it’s not a Scottish company. And while I commend the former President of Rockstar North for starting Build a Rocket Boy, even with their success across Scotland and Belgium, the leadership is predominantly not Scottish. They secured over $100 million – American money. Tag Games, a fantastic Dundee-based mobile studio, was acquired by an American company.
The pattern is clear: we build, and then we sell to the highest international bidder. That model limits the positive impact on the Scottish games community. If you’re lucky, you get a job making profits for an international company. But what about the community? An American company doesn’t necessarily care about that.
My question to Scotland is this: video games are the most lucrative art industry – isn’t it time we started investing in ourselves and became a true industry player?
SGN: Kim, thank you for being so open and honest. We wish you the very best of luck with Thistle & Thorn. We’re looking forward to hearing more about the studio and hope to work with you moving forward.
KM: Thank you.