Games and esports in London
Here are five reasons why London excels in video games and esports:
1. Games success
The UK games industry is leading the European market, with London at its heart.[1] Some of the world’s biggest successes – Football Manager, Monument Valley, Candy Crush Saga and the Batman Arkham series – have all been created in London.
Those famous games are matched with a network of expert games studios and publishers, such as Activision Blizzard, SEGA, Sony Interactive Entertainment, King, Bossa Studios and Niantic.
2. Exceptional talent
With more than 700 games developers and publishers based in London – and almost half of them in the centre – there’s a dense population of engineering and design talent in the capital.[2]
London’s talent pool for games companies is heightened by graduates from 140 undergraduate courses for gaming from 31 different providers and 31 postgraduate courses from 10 providers.[3]
3. Growth incentives
The UK’s creative sector is thriving, thanks to a high level of support from government and industry bodies.
The Video Games Tax Relief (VGTR) allows studios to claim back 20% of qualifying spend for a game wholly developed in the UK or European Economic Area. The UK Games Fund provides prototype grants to help young games companies.
London is an incredible centre of innovation, which lends itself to the creation of new gaming genres, that's unmatched elsewhere in the world.Roberta Lucca, Co-founder and Chief Brand Officer
Bossa Studios
4. Investment hotspot
The UK games industry is rapidly expanding and is attracting incredible levels of VC investment including from overseas investors, with London leading the way.
Between 2017 and 2022, VC deals worth more than $735m have been completed in London's video games and esports sector. In 2022, London tech firms attracted $19.8bn in VC funding, remaining the highest in Europe.[4]
London is also home to games-specific venture capitalists, including Hiro Capital and London Venture Partners, to further boost research and development in the games industry.
5. The next wave
London has an open, innovative mindset ready to explore new technologies. Meta has teamed up with universities and colleges across the UK, including Imperial College London, to enhance immersive learning with Meta Quest headsets.[5]
VR is one of the UK’s fastest-growing entertainment and media sectors, showing the huge potential of the UK customer base for technology businesses.
Showcasing the capital's innovative spirit, the city is home to London and Luxembourg-based Hiro Capital, which has launched a €300m fund for metaverse and video game technologies.[6] There are also a multitude of London game studios dotted around the capital.
StoryFutures Academy, run by Royal Holloway, University of London and the National Film & Television School, is developing cutting-edge creative training and research programmes to ensure the UK's creative workforce is the most skilled in the world in the use of virtual, augmented and real-time production technology for immersive storytelling.
Use the filters in the map to discover the city's ecosystem. See the full list featured on the map [PDF].
Success stories
How we can help
London & Partners offers free advice to potential and existing overseas investors, from startups to established companies.
We can help you:
- Stay informed and access the latest developments, initiatives and incentives.
- Connect with the wider ecosystem, including support networks and trade associations.
- Future-proof the setup of your London business.
Sources: