As we head rapidly for the holidays, it’s time for the Scottish Games Network (me) to do what we always promise: be the ‘Honest Architect’ for our ecosystem. That means celebrating the victories, acknowledging the foundations we’ve laid, and – most importantly – address the real structural challenges waiting for us in the new year.
2025 has been, frankly, turbulent. We’ve seen national highs – like some of the excellent events springing up across the whole of Scotland, the new talent support from organisations such as SGDA, Game Space (and SGN) – but also the deep, personal impact of global layoffs and job losses across our whole community.
Yet, despite the headwinds, the belief in our sector’s potential has never been higher. My personal highlight of the year was delivering the closing keynote at the TechUK Digital Economy Conference. The response in the room to the potential of games, their value to the UK’s tech sector and the ‘More Than Games’ mindset was incredible. I’ve had more connections and strategic conversations following that event than almost any other. It proved to me that the external appetite for understanding and engaging with games as a central economic and cultural engine is huge. The doors are open. I’ll ensure that more events like this happen in 2026.
The Victory: The Scottish Games Action Plan
The biggest victory of 2025 is the completion of our ‘billion-pound blueprint’. Yes, after two years, I’m delighted to share that the Scottish Games Action Plan is complete. The final notes are with the graphic designer, and I’ll be sharing the completed document with trusted individuals in the coming days. We are now actively looking for the perfect launch date and venue in early 2026.
The Games Action Plan is our collective roadmap. Based on over 1000 data points, drawn from over 250 organisations and individuals across Scotland, it is detailed, strategic, and gives us a unified voice to take to government, education, and the wider creative sector. The goal is simple, make Scotland, the UK’s first games ‘supercluster’.
The Challenge: The Four-Body Problem
However, as we look to execute the Games Action Plan in 2026, we must address the single biggest risk to its success: fragmentation.
We now have four separate, significant, and well-intentioned organisations operating in very similar areas within the ecosystem:
- SGN: The independent, non-profit ecosystem builder. Online resource hub, editorial channel, event organiser, educator and advocacy org.
- SGDA: By game developers, for game developers, focused on studio membership, Scottish-Government-funded to run the developer accelerator
- GameSpace: Business-focused ecosystem org, running the UK-Government-funded business incubator.
- IES (Interactive Entertainment Scotland): The new Scottish arm of the UK trade body, UKIE. Focused on advocacy and policy.
All four are critically important, but the sheer number of initiatives running in parallel creates the potential for confusion, duplication of effort, and – most dangerously – dilution of the limited resources and attention span of our public sector partners.
The Question for 2026 is simple: How do we align?
As the Honest Architect (and OG), I must question how we ensure every one of these initiatives works together to support the Games Action Plan. We cannot afford to have these great new organisations pulling in different directions. The challenge for all four organisations – myself included – is to establish a framework for collaboration, synergy, and clear boundaries that benefit the entire Scottish games ecosystem.
I’ve already spoken to the teams at SGDA and Game Space. I hope to catch up with the new policy advisor from IES in early January.
2026: Scottish Games ‘Fest’ and a Call to Action
On a personal note, I will be looking to focus my efforts on two key areas next year: making the Games Action Plan a reality and making Scotland’s games ecosystem more visible, connected and collaborative.
I am thrilled to formally tease the biggest announcement on the SGN calendar: the inaugural Scottish Games ‘Fest’ (SGF), scheduled for September 2026. This will be a multi-day event designed to put Scotland on the global map. Planning is underway, and I will be looking to the community for support and partnership in the new year to make this a reality.
Finally, a call to every single developer, freelancer, and student: We need your stories.
The narrative of 2026 cannot just be about politics and funding. It must be about the incredible games being made here. The studios, the events, the good work being created across the whole country.
Send us your news, your releases, your updates, and your milestones. Help us show the world why Scotland is more active – and creative – than ever. I’m looking for new writers and partners to expand our coverage into Company profiles, studio interviews, opinion pieces, thought leadership and sector analysis.
Have a safe, peaceful (and fun) well-earned break. The foundations are laid. Now, let’s all go build the future.