TIGA, the trade association representing the UKgames industry, says the decision by Electronics Arts founder Trip Hawkins to
open a new studio in London was evidence of a growing confidence in Britain as
a place to do business.
The studio, dubbed If You Can, is set to develop
educational games and it will release its first titles at the end of the year. Its opening coincides with the
forthcoming tax relief for the gaming sector for which TIGA campaigned for four
years.
Games tax relief has made for a more welcoming environment for games
development. Mr Hawkins told GamesIndustry.biz
that countries such as Ireland and Canada were attractive because of tax
credits. He said those benefits were becoming available in the UK and that
this, combined with UK talent, persuaded him to open the studio in the UK.
Dr Richard Wilson, TIGA CEO, said:
“There is no doubt
in our mind that games tax relief will be hugely beneficial for developers in
the UK and it will go some way to addressing many of the key issues being faced
by some of Britain's most creative companies.
“We have suffered
a massive loss of talent from the UK to countries such as Canada and tax relief
will help to readdress that. It will encourage developers to remain in the UK
and boost investment. We can look forward to greater creativity over the coming
years and we are more than pleased that not the government but key people
within the industry such as Trip Hawkins recognise this and back it. The UK has
some of the most creative people in the world and it is heartening to see that
the brain drain abroad is slowing down.”
Notes to editors:
TIGA
research has previously indicated that Games
Tax Relief should generate and safeguard 4,661 direct and indirect jobs over
five years.
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. Since 2010, TIGA has won 14 business awards and has been nominated a
finalist for 16 other awards.
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.