Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the contribution of the video game industry to economic growth and job creation; and what steps they are taking to support the development of the industry.

The Government is committed to supporting the growth of the UK’s video games sector as part of the upcoming creative industries sector plan, having identified the creative industries as one of eight priority sectors in the industrial strategy.

We recognise that the UK’s video games sector brings economic, cultural and social benefits across the UK. DCMS estimates the UK video games sector generated £2.1bn in GVA in 2023, with industry trade body Ukie estimating that 26,000 are people employed directly in the sector in the UK.

To support the growth of the sector, the Government has announced £5.5 million funding for the UK Games Fund (UKGF) for 2025/26, which will provide grants to early-stage studios across the UK to develop prototypes and new intellectual property, and run development programmes for new graduates.

Additionally, video games companies benefit from the Video Games Expenditure Credit, UK Global Screen Fund, and can access support from the Create Growth Programme.