Scotland bucks trend with 'substantial' games industry growth
The statistics also show that there were 130 computer game enterprises in Scotland in 2024, compared to just 15 in 2010 – a 766.67% increase.
READ MORE: Martin Compston says Unionist abuse made him stop independence posts
In 2022 the industry had a turnover of £339.7 million, compared to profits of £38.1m made in 2010 – a 791.6% increase.
The data also showed that there had been a 103.3% increase in the number of staff working in the industry (including additional PAYE units), up from 1,045 in 2015 to 2,125 in 2023.
With the sector globally experiencing significant jobs losses and changes to job patterns, Scotland's computer game industry is bucking the trend.
Commenting, SNP MSP for Dundee City West, Joe FitzPatrick, said: 'At a time when the computer games industry is struggling globally, thanks to SNP investment, Scotland is bucking the trend.
'Scotland was the first part of the UK to develop a video games strategy to support the industry and invests in exhibiting Scottish-built games across the world.
'Our world-leading computer game developers, including those based in Dundee, are thriving thanks to a unique blend of government support, creativity, innovation, and talent.'
READ MORE: TransPennine Express to run up to 3 additional services during Edinburgh Fringe
Rockstar North, a computer game studio based in Edinburgh and set up as DMA Design by Dundonian David Jones, is arguably the most notable firm in the Scottish industry.
The company are behind the Grand Theft Auto series, including Grand Theft Auto V – the second-best selling video game and reportedly most profitable entertainment product of all time.
FitzPatrick continued: 'From globally recognised studios to bold new start-ups, this is an industry that not only creates economic value but connects people across the world and brings opportunity to Scotland.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The National
an hour ago
- The National
FC Twente in Robin Propper threat amid Rangers stand off
The Ibrox club have accepted an offer from the Dutch side who are keen on taking their former captain back a year after selling him. However, the 31-year-old would have to take a pay cut to make the move and that is causing the delay. It is understood he is keen for Rangers to make up the difference before he commits. However, Streuer has now hinted playing time might be a factor too, with Propper potentially interested in waiting to see if he still gets time on the pitch under Russell Martin. But the technical director has suggested his club may have to move on if there is no decision soon. He told De Volkskrant: "All sorts of factors beyond your control (dictate transfers). Just before last season, our captain Robin Propper left at the last minute. "We really missed him. Rangers bought him. A top Scottish club. You can't compete with them. Read more: "Now there's a new manager at Rangers, he might play less. Then he might be able to return. "But he'll want to wait and see first if he actually plays less. We have to decide: do we wait for that or do we see what happens next?" It comes after similar comments from Streuer as he urged Propper to sort out the financial situation. He said: "Robin and his agent will first have to settle some matters with the club. "He still has a contract, of course. "We're waiting for that to conclude and won't be calling him every day. "But since he wasn't at our training camp, a solution will have to be found quickly."
Scotsman
2 hours ago
- Scotsman
What's on at Edinburgh Fringe: Glasgow & Bristol based theatre makers bring powerful show to festival for 2025
Ad Infinitum Productions A powerful piece of theatre will have its Edinburgh Fringe debut this year – be ready for a production critics have called 'Tremendous', 'Extremely moving' and 'Exceptional'. Sign up to our Arts and Culture newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... When The Scotsman reviewed Last Rites, the critic called it 'A mighty theatrical lyricism' and audiences can expect a feast for all the senses when the performance comes to the Pleasance Courtyard, as part of Edinburgh Fringe this August. What's the story? The beating heart of the story, and the performance, is Arjun. His father has just died and, as well as coping with that profound loss he has to find a way to honour him through his culture's traditional funeral rites – and it's not easy. It's a journey that takes him back to India, where ancient traditions meet modern reality. But here's the twist. Arjun and his father couldn't communicate - Arjun is Deaf, and his father never learned to sign. Theirs was a complex relationship built on love but without a common language, which brought its own tensions. As Arjun starts to look back at his time with his father, it is through this lens that the story unfolds. Even in his grief, Arjun's memories are not all dark. He remembers his father with humour and tenderness, and recalls the exhilaration and wonder of growing up. And though he can't fix everything in the past, there is hope for the future - in the form of his own son, Krishna. This boundary-breaking production has been devised to be accessible to Deaf, hard of hearing and hearing people and is told through a mix of movement, music, visual imagery, sign language and projected text. The bass-heavy sounds can be felt pounding in the body, animated captions projected onto the screen help the story to flow, and above all the intricate, dynamic and expressive movements of Arjun lead us through this emotional journey into Arjun's past. George Mann & Ramesh Meyyappan, the show's co-creators, said: 'The show is powerful, funny and moving, and ultimately uplifting. Everyone will relate to this show – the story is so universal, so human.' Ad Infinitum Productions Scottish connections Last Rites is the latest show from award-winning company and Fringe favourites Ad Infinitum and is co-created by Ad Infinitum's Co-Artistic Director George Mann and Glasgow-based theatremaker Ramesh Meyyappan. Ramesh takes the role of Arjun, a man who left his homeland behind for a new life in the UK but who now finds himself called back to his father's deathbed and expected to fulfil the duties of the eldest son in Hindu culture. Ramesh, who is himself Deaf, is able to express the complex relationship, the intense emotions and frustration and anger of his situation and his grief, through this performance which uses the movement, lighting, words, images, sounds and signing to add to the narrative. Ramesh is based in Glasgow, and came to Edinburgh Fringe last year with Love Beyond, a co-production with Raw Material and Vanishing Point, which won the Leading Light Award for Best Scottish Production at the Scottish Theatre Awards On the Fringe. An internationally award-winning artist, Edinburgh audiences will recognise him from his titular role in this summer's critically acclaimed Lear at the Traverse Theatre. Ad Infinitum has been coming to the Fringe since 2007 and has a longstanding relationship with Pleasance Theatres. Known for their signature physical style and dynamic storytelling, their last performance at Edinburgh Festival Fringe was 2023's Beautiful Evil Things, a fast-paced retelling of the Trojan war through the eyes of Medusa. The run was hugely successful, with a 5* review from The Scotsman describing it as "dynamic, illuminating and hugely entertaining". Last Rites premiered 18 months ago as part of MimeLondon 2024, but this will be its Fringe debut as part of the Here & Now showcase, one of four showcase programmes of work from the four UK nations at the Edinburgh Festivals. Here & Now focuses on forging new relationships between artists making performance in England and international partners. Ad Infinitum Productions Book tickets Last Rites is suitable for ages 14+. The show contains occasional flashing video and lighting, haze, loud music and heavy use of bass and contains themes of grief and death, parental abuse and trauma.
STV News
3 hours ago
- STV News
New AI tool could speed up skin cancer diagnoses in remote areas
A researcher at a Scottish university has developed AI tools that could give people in remote areas of the world access to fast and potentially life-saving skin cancer diagnoses. Tess Watt, the PhD student at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh who led the project to develop the technology, said it is intended to enable early detection of skin conditions anywhere in the world, and without the need for direct access to dermatologists. The technology also works without internet access. The system involves a patient taking a photograph of their skin complaint using a small camera attached to a Raspberry Pi device – a cheap, energy-efficient handheld computer that is capable of storing vast amounts of information. The photograph is analysed in real-time using the latest state-of-the-art image classification, comparing it to an enormous dataset of thousands of images stored on the device to reach a diagnosis. The findings are then shared with a local GP service to begin a suitable treatment plan. The project is understood to be the first of its kind to combine AI medical diagnosis with the aim of serving remote communities. Ms Watt explained: 'Healthcare from home is a really important topic at the moment, especially as GP wait times continue to grow. 'If we can empower people to monitor skin conditions from their own homes using AI, we can dramatically reduce delays in diagnosis.' A prototype of the device has already been demonstrated at Heriot-Watt's advanced health and care technologies suite. The research team said the tool is up to 85% accurate in its diagnostic capabilities, but they hope to increase this further by gaining access to more skin lesion datasets, aided by advanced machine tools. Ms Watt is also in talks with NHS Scotland to begin the ethical approval process for testing the technology in real-world clinical settings. 'Hopefully in the next year or two, we'll have a pilot project under way,' she said, noting medical technology often takes years to move from prototype to implementation. She added: 'By the time I finish my PhD, three years from now, I'd love to see something well into the pipeline that's on its way to real-world use.' The university said the long-term vision is to roll the system out first across remote regions of Scotland, before expanding to global areas with limited access to dermatological care. It added the technology could also offer vital support to patients who are infirm or unable to travel, allowing loved ones to assist with capturing and submitting diagnostic images to GPs. Ms Watt's academic supervisor, Dr Christos Chrysoulas, said: 'E-health devices must be engineered to operate independently of external connectivity to ensure continuity of patient service and safety. 'In the event of a network or cloud service failure, such devices must fail safely and maintain all essential clinical operations without functional degradation. 'While auxiliary or non-critical features may become temporarily unavailable, the core diagnostic and even therapeutic capabilities must remain fully operational, in compliance of course with safety and regulatory requirements. 'Ensuring this level of resilience in affordable, low-cost medical devices is the essence of our research, particularly for deployment in resource-limited settings and areas with limited or no connectivity, where uninterrupted patient care must still be guaranteed.' UK science and technology secretary Peter Kyle commented on the research, saying: 'Low-cost technology which could help detect skin cancer early and at home, without even the need for internet access, is an incredible example of AI's potential to break down barriers in healthcare and save lives. 'Promising, first of its kind research like this also demonstrates the crucial role UK innovators can play in improving the lives of people of all backgrounds, wherever they live, and makes clear the value of government investing in research to deliver our plan for change.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
