June 3, 2019

The trade association, TIGA, has released new findings that show the UK video games development sector grew to record levels in 2018, with studio headcounts, wider games industry employment, tax revenues and investment surpassing previous records. The UK’s games developer headcount grew to over 14,350 in 2018, an annualised increase of 8.1%. The games development sector also now contributes £1.8 billion to the UK’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

The findings come from TIGA’s forthcoming annual report into the state and health of the UK video games industry “Making Games in the UK Today (TIGA, 2019)” which is based on an extensive survey of UK games businesses, with analysis by Games Investor Consulting.

TIGA’s research shows that in the year from November 2017 to November 2018:

• the number of creative staff in studios surged by an annualised rate of 8.1% from 13,277 to almost 14,353 full-time and full-time equivalent staff, with much of the growth in employment being driven by larger companies;
• the total games development workforce, including contractors, grew from 15,851 to 16,532, a record high;
• the number of jobs indirectly supported by studios rose from 24,274 to 26,241;
• combined direct and indirect tax revenues generated by the sector for the Treasury are estimated to have increased from £613 million to £747 million;
• annual investment by studios rose from £737 million to £818 million; and
• the game development sector’s annual contribution to UK Gross Domestic Product increased from £1.6 billion to £1.8 billion.

To read TIGA’s news release in full, click here.