80 per cent of new UK Games Companies Focused on Network Gaming

By February 6, 2012 Press Releases

TIGA, the trade association representing the UK
games industry, revealed today that 67 per cent of the UK games development
sector is working either exclusively or in part on network gaming – mobile,
massively multiplayer, social and online gaming. Only 33 per cent of UK game companies
work exclusively on retail games. The findings are based on a survey conducted
by Games Investor Consulting in 2011 of 75 per cent of the UK’s games
businesses and published by TIGA in Making
Games in the UK Today: A Census of the UK Developer and Digital Publishing
Sector.

 

Key findings from the Report include: 

 

  • 71 cent work on both network
    gaming and retail. Just 19 per cent of these new UK games development
    businesses work exclusively on retail gaming.
  • Across
    the British games industry as a whole, 67 per cent of British games companies
    now work either exclusively or in part on network gaming.

  • Network gaming is projected to grow at 21 per cent
    every year between 2009 and 2015 (versus retail gaming which is falling by over
    3 per cent per year over the same period).
  • Network gaming grew in 2010 to represent 44 per
    cent of the global video games software market.

  • 80 per cent of new start-ups between 2010 and 2011
    are independent developers.

     

Dr Richard Wilson, TIGA CEO, said:

 

“TIGA’s new research shows that in the UK digital distribution
is in the ascent and retail is in sharp decline. Four-fifths of new UK game companies
are working exclusively or in part on network gaming, such as mobile, massively
multiplayer and social gaming. TIGA wants to see a flourishing developer and
digital publisher sector, with rising numbers of start-ups and growing
sustainable studios and declining business mortality rates. The rise in network
gaming offers the opportunity to achieve these objectives.”

 

Patrick O'Luanaigh,
Chairman of TIGA’s Self-Publishing Committee and MD of nDreams, said:

 

“For
too long developers have laboured under the traditional ‘give your IP away,
never see royalties’ model. So TIGA strongly supports the trend towards online
gaming and self-publishing. Online gaming can deliver greater company stability
and revenue sustainability for studios. This is because studios can circumvent
traditional publisher business models and build relationships directly with
customers. Network gaming businesses can create original games, retain their IP
and attain greater financial stability.

“TIGA
will help indie developers and digital publishers to take advantage of the
shift towards self-publishing and network gaming. As part of this process, we
will shortly publish the TIGA Guide to Self-Publishing which will provide
useful expert advice for start-up studios. By helping start-ups navigate the
challenge of self-publishing (and co-publishing), TIGA will help to realise its
vision of making the UK the best place in the world to do games business.”

TIGA’s report,
Making Games in the UK Today: A Census of the UK Developer and Digital
Publishing Sector provides important information about the state of the UK
video games development sector, with data on employment and the structure of
the industry and its economic contribution. 
The report is available on the TIGA website: www.tiga.org

 

 

Notes to editors:

About
TIGA:

TIGA is the trade association representing the UK’s games industry. The
majority of our members are either independent games developers or in-house
publisher owned developers. We also have games publishers, outsourcing
companies, technology businesses and
universities amongst our membership. TIGA won 10
business awards and was nominated a finalist for 9 other awards during 2010 and
2011.  In 2010
TIGA won two business awards including ‘Trade Association of the Year’ from the
Trade Association Forum.

In 2011, TIGA won eight business awards including
‘Trade Association of the Year’ from the Trade Association Forum, ‘Outstanding
Organisation’ from the Chartered Management Institute and two Global Business
Excellence Awards, including ‘Outstanding Marketing Campaign’.  Richard Wilson won the ‘Leadership Award’
from the Trade Association Forum and the ‘Outstanding Leader’ award from the
Chartered Management Institute. TIGA is an Investors in People organisation.

TIGA's vision is to make
the UK the best place in the world to do games business.  We focus on
three sets of activities: political representation, generating media coverage
and developing services that enhance the competitiveness of our members. 
This means that TIGA members are effectively represented in the corridors of
power, their voice is heard in the media and they receive benefits that make a
material difference to their businesses, including a reduction in costs and
improved commercial opportunities.

For
further information, please contact Dr Richard Wilson, TIGA CEO on: 07875 939
643, or email richard.wilson@tiga.org.

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