TIGA, the network for game developers and digital publishers, has released new findings which show the UK video games development sector grew to record levels in 2014, with studio headcounts, wider games industry employment, tax revenues and investment smashing previous records.
The UK's games developer headcount reached 10,869 in 2014, a huge 9.8 per cent increase on 2013. The games development sector also now contributes more than £1.1 bn to the UK's Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
TIGA's research shows that between December 2013 and December 2014 the number of creative staff in studios surged by almost 10 per cent from 9,896 to 10,869 full-time and full-time equivalent staff (a record).
The number of jobs also indirectly supported by studios rose from 18,093 to 19,872. Combined direct and indirect tax revenues generated by the sector for the Treasury increased from £419 mn to £460 mn.
Annual investment by studios rose from £458 mn to £503 mn as well.
"The industry's growth over the last year has been driven by three factors. Firstly, the increasing prevalence of mobile and tablet devices, the growth of PC gaming and the new console generation have combined to stimulate investment and job creation," said Richard Wilson, TIGA CEO in a statement. "Secondly, a rise in start-ups has been mirrored by an expansion amongst many existing studios. Thirdly, Games Tax Relief (GTR), which TIGA played a critical role in achieving, is fuelling growth."
"GTR effectively reduces the cost and risk of games development and it incentivises investment and job creation in the games industry. GTR will create more jobs, more investment and more culturally British video games in the years ahead," added Wilson.
The findings come from TIGA's definitive annual report into the state and health of the UK video games industry Making Games in the UK Today: June 2015 which is based on an extensive survey of UK games businesses, with analysis by Games Investor Consulting.