Scotland's Games Ecosystem Cluster
First Minister John Swinney has appointed Alyn Smith MSP as the Scottish Government’s new Minister for Innovation, Technology and Tertiary Education. This is a role which is central to the future of Scotland's games ecosystem and the adoption of the national Games Action Plan. Smith succeeds Ben Macpherson MSP, who stepped down from the ministerial …
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Develop: Brighton in a baking July is less of a conference and more of a multi-day endurance sport with more than games on offer.Having navigated this particular marathon for around twenty years now, I arrived prepared. The survival toolkit this year was simple: a ludicrous amount of Factor 50, a variety of killer shirts (shout …
Continue reading "Develop 2026 – Building The Interaction Economy"
This week, the UK games industry is in Westminster. Meeting politicians. Making the case for investment, recognition and support. It's the right conversation. But in the wrong room. With the wrong map. And the wrong ambition. The UK has a secret weapon. A globally significant, internationally recognised, economically extraordinary capability in interactive technology that is …
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Following the conclusion of the 2026 elections and the formation of the new Scottish Government cabinet, the Scottish Games Network has formally briefed the First Minister and their ministerial team on the immediate economic, cultural, and social opportunities waiting within our national games ecosystem. To ensure absolute transparency and to foster a truly collaborative approach …
The global games market in 2026 is more crowded, volatile, and competitive than ever before. For independent studios and established developers alike, relying solely on consumer retail success is becoming an ever-riskier strategy. That is why I am headed to Brighton this July to deliver a session on how developers can unlock entirely new, sustainable …
Apparently, the Scottish Games Network is officially 21 today. If SGN were a person, that means we are a cool three years past our first legal pint, well over our wild teenage years, and firmly staring down the barrel of responsible adulthood. In games terms, twenty-one years is not just a milestone - it is …
This week, Ukie and OKRE released a landmark report: Building a Unified Framework for UK Video Games Impacts. It is a significant piece of work that arrives at a critical moment for the country's entire games ecosystem. At a time when we are seeing a record-breaking consumer market valuation of £8.76 billion alongside ongoing sectoral …
Project Pathfinder: Last week, the Herald published its list of the 50 most powerful people in Scottish arts and culture. It was an impressive collection of talent - but it was also a perfect snapshot of why the interactive sector remains a 'billion-pound ghost' in our national policy. Despite being one of the most successful …
The Scottish Games Network (SGN) has been officially shortlisted for the Strategic Partner award at the 2026 MCV/Develop Awards. This nomination marks a significant milestone in our journey to transform SGN from a simple news platform into the primary ecosystem builder for the Scottish games industry. However, the 2026 finalists represent a banner year for …
On Thursday evening, I will be taking a seat at the high table of the national political debate. I have been invited to join the National Conversations Tech and AI Hustings, providing a critical opportunity to ensure the games sector is visible at a policy level. The event, which brings together representatives from Scotland’s major …
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