The UK government has today announced the formation of the new UK Videogames Council, a strategic body of industry leaders established to advise on policy and support the continued growth of the sector. The council brings together a diverse group of experts from across the games industry to help shape the future of the UK’s interactive entertainment ecosystem.
The new council will work in partnership with the government to drive innovation, provide expert insight, and help implement the ambitions set out in the UK’s Creative Industries Sector Plan. Its primary goal is to ensure the UK remains a world-leading destination for the games industry by boosting investment and international competitiveness.
Jason Kingsley CBE, CEO of Rebellion, and Nick Button-Brown, Chair of Outright Games co-chair the council. They are joined by a wide range of leaders representing various facets of the UK industry.
The UK Videogames Council members are:
- Emily Bailey, JECO
- Saad Choudri, Miniclip
- Charu Desodt, Interior/Night
- Dave Gould, T2
- Chris van der Kuyl CBE, FRSE, 4J Studios
- Donna Orlowski, Chucklefish
- Nick Poole OBE, CEO, Ukie
- Kirsty Rigden, Futurlab
- Tara Saunders, Larian
- Maria Sayans, ustwo Games
- Tim Varney, Microsoft
- Dr Richard Wilson OBE, CEO, TIGA
In the official announcement, Sir Chris Bryant MP, Minister for Creative Industries, Arts and Tourism, said:
The UK’s video games sector is truly world-leading and a vital part of our creative industries. As set out in our Creative Industries Sector Plan, we want to make the UK the best place globally to invest in creativity and innovation. That’s why I asked the industry to design and establish a new UK Video Games Council, which will play a vital role in representing the views of the sector. I look forward to working with its members to support the continued growth of our first-class games industry.
The creation of the council, with its diverse and experienced membership, is a welcome step, signifying the government’s recognition of the games industry’s economic and cultural importance. The Scottish Games Network looks forward to seeing how the council’s work will complement and interact with strategic initiatives being developed within Scotland, including the cross-party group on Scotland’s Games Ecosystem, and the development of the national Games Action Plan.