A landmark report from Creative Dundee has revealed that Dundee’s creative industries now contribute an astonishing £353 million to the local economy, positioning the sector as the city’s primary economic driver. This is a monumental achievement, and at the heart of this success story lies the innovation, talent, and global reach of its world-renowned games industry.
For decades, Dundee has been a powerhouse of game development, from the foundational days of DMA Design to the thriving ecosystem of studios and startups that call the city home today. This report provides powerful evidence of what many of us have long known: that the games sector is not just a cultural asset but a critical economic engine, creating high-value jobs and driving significant growth.
This success is built on a unique ecosystem that includes the world’s first-ever games degree, with the centre for excellence in computer games education at Abertay University, producing a pipeline of skilled graduates, and a collaborative network of studios pushing creative and technical boundaries. The city is home to an estimated 7.7% of the UK’s total games companies and nearly 10% of its developer headcount, making it one of the most significant games clusters in the country.
Making Dundee’s Creative Industries A Catalyst For Creative Collaboration
Beyond its direct economic contribution, the games industry in Dundee serves as a focal point for wider creative and technological innovation. The advanced skills and technologies inherent in game development – such as real-time 3D visualisation, interactive design, and complex system modelling – are increasingly being adopted by other sectors, from film and animation to healthcare and architecture.
This positions the games sector not just as a leader within the creative industries, but as a transformative force with the potential to drive innovation across the entire economy. There is a clear and present opportunity for greater collaboration, with games technology acting as the engine for new products, services, and experiences across the creative spectrum.
Connecting Local Success to National Strategy
This news from Dundee could not be more timely. It provides a powerful, data-driven case study that reinforces the core arguments being made in the development of the national Games Action Plan for Scotland. The message to policymakers and enterprise agencies is clear: strategic investment in the games ecosystem yields immense returns.
The £353 million figure is a testament to what can be achieved. It validates the need for dedicated support and a cohesive national strategy to build upon these successes, not just in Dundee but across all of Scotland. It shows that by fostering our games companies, we are not only supporting a key industry but are also nurturing a catalyst for wider economic and creative growth.
GIllian Easson, the Director of Creative Dundee, told the Courier:
The economic value brought by the creative and digital sectors is great, of course,” Gillian said. But our creative and digital industries offer so much more for the city and surrounding area. There is growth beyond the economic impact. There is the social impact, and contributions to our health and lifestyles. And there is also the sense of identity creative enterprises contribute to the people who live here. Our creative and digital industries are powered by SME and freelance companies. 225 of the businesses in our creative and digital sector employ between zero and 49 people, so would be considered small. But the impact they have and opportunities they create are massive. Now is the time to leverage our regional advantage by further prioritising our creative and digital industries to strengthen and grow the sector.
We encourage everyone in the Scottish games community to share this fantastic news. It is a moment to celebrate the hard work and innovation of our friends in Dundee and to use this success story to amplify our collective voice, ensuring the entire Scottish games sector gets the recognition and support it rightly deserves.