Scotland's Games Ecosystem Cluster
On Wednesday 16 September 2026, the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh will host a landmark event: Playable Heritage: Creating a Collaborative Framework for Collecting Video Game Culture. Co-hosted by National Museums Scotland, the National Library of Scotland, the National Videogame Museum, and Ukie, this free, one-day conference represents a major, coordinated attempt to build …
For years I have been asking the quesstion: How do we protect, preserve and celebrate Scotland's games heritage? The announcement of the recent videogame heritage PhD studentship in partnership with Abertay University, the University of Glasgow, and National Museums Scotland (NMS) was a massive step forward. Today, that momentum takes another major leap forward. National …
Speculative fiction and game design have always shared a common heritage. If you examine the foundations of modern narrative design, the link to sci-fi, fantasy, and horror is obvious. In an era where players expect increasingly complex, system-driven storytelling, the ability to build cohesive and convincing worlds is one of the most valuable skillsets in …
Continue reading "Speculative Worlds: Cymera 2026 Is The Ultimate Fantasy Playground"
The Scottish games ecosystem is about far more than just code and consoles. It is an industry built on the foundations of world-class storytelling and the ability to build immersive universes that can exist across multiple media. Which is why the latest project from the Edinburgh-based studio SuperForest is so interesting. The studio has launched …
Continue reading "Narrative Without Borders: SuperForest’s Little Bird Kickstarter Opens"
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 …
Continue reading "Putting Games at the Heart of the National Tech Debate"
Kyle Banks, the solo Scottish developer behind the critically acclaimed Highland adventure Farewell North, has officially announced his latest project: Donut Panic. Available to wishlist on Steam, the title represents a stark tonal departure for the Edinburgh-based developer. While his previous work focused on an emotional, atmospheric journey through the highlands and islands, Donut Panic …
The entirely awesome Tinderbox Collective has announced the return of its Room to Play programme for 2026, inviting a new cohort of emerging artists, coders, and game developers to collaborate on interactive experiences and digital performances. The initiative, which sits at the intersection of music, technology, and play, is seeking participants aged 18-26 who are …
The Scottish Game Developers Association (SGDA) has announced the return of its Games Talks Live series, with a three-city tour taking place across Scotland’s primary games hubs from 24 to 26 March 2026. The events, which have been a staple of the local industry calendar since 2019, will feature a mix of lightning talks and …
Continue reading "Games Talks Live Returns to Edinburgh, Dundee and Glasgow this March"
I am incredibly proud to announce that following our launch events in Edinburgh and Dundee - and a week of unprecedented national media coverage - the Scottish Parliament has officially scheduled a debate on the Level Up: Scotland's Games Action Plan. On the afternoon of Tuesday, February 3rd, MSPs from across the political spectrum will …
Continue reading "From Paper to Parliament: National Games Debate Confirmed for Tuesday, Feb 3rd"
If I’m honest, I’m still trying to process the last week... After two years of trying to deliver Scotland's Games Action Plan - running workshops, pulling together over a thousand data points, separating the practical and achievable from the aspirational, and finding ways to work with the country's existing infrastructure - we finally handed Level …
Continue reading "The World is Watching: Let’s Level Up Scotland"