Latest news with #NickPoole
BBC News
5 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Games industry welcomes first generation of pensioner gamers
Companies in the East of England are preparing to welcome the first generation of pensioner gamers, more than half a century after the first home video game hit the market. People who have grown up playing games are hungry for new, more sophisticated games, which has prompted start-ups in places including Norwich to compete with more established companies like Jagex, Ninja Theory and Frontier Developments, all based in Poole, chief executive of Ukie, the trade body representing the UK's gaming industry, said: "It's been the most incredible 50 years."We're about to see the first-ever generation of pensioner gamers.. it's amazing." Part of the recent success is down to what he describes as the "crossover" phenomenon, with TV and film adapting video games like The Last of Us and Fallout."The transformation of the role of games in people's lives as a form of entertainment has been beyond anything we could have imagined 40 years ago," he said."I think the reason is if you love the world and you enjoyed playing it in-game, then you want to spend time watching and living it in other media as well." Rich Newbold is a game director at one of the country's biggest gaming companies, Frontier Developments in began working in the industry in the early 2000s."We've been around for 30 years, growing from a team of people working on a farm in Ely to where we are now," he said."When I joined the company there were only 70 of us. Now, there are about 600."Frontier makes several different types of games including Planet Coaster 2 and Planet Zoo, where players can run their own F1 team, explore space, and build theme parks and his time in the gaming business, he has seen demand grow cites the Covid pandemic as a turning point."Appetites have grown. Video games can bring joy but more than that, they fulfil a need as people prioritise leisure time," he said. Figures from Ukie reflect the boom in estimates 2,400 people worked in the games industry in the East of England in there are more than 3,105, across 160 games industry in the East contributes about £212m to the economy, up from £122m in 2016. Iz Head, 23, is one of those who has entered the competitive industry in that co-founded Moss Monkey in their final year at Norwich University of the Arts, after their mother suggested gaming as a career."The gaming scene is growing massively in Norwich at the moment," they said."I absolutely love it. We're at a point where tonnes of new studios are coming through; tonnes of new games."Their current game, Outclaw, features a spirit cat called Giblet which travels around the world, causing chaos wherever it goes."It's been brilliant to work on, but a lot of hours have been put in applying for grants," they added that there had been periods where they had considered other sources of income such as part-time jobs, but then it would take twice as long to get the game out there. Their story chimes with Mark Backler, founder of Sketchbook Games, also based in Norwich."Gaming can give you a broad, diverse career and while there's a good degree of support for start-ups, more could be done," he said."France and Canada have world-class support and tax relief for the games industry. Any more that could be done would make a huge difference, especially against our main competitors in the US and Japan."His current video game, Lost Words, is based on a book written by Rhianna Pratchett, daughter of Discworld series author Terry Pratchett, and is about a character who uses the fantasy world to deal with Backler believes the growth of the industry could explode as games become more sophisticated."There are lots of different roles that you can do within games," he said."It's not just programming. There's composing the music and making the sound effects."There's writing the story, there's production, there's marketing and as games evolve, you never know, economists might play a part, or even architects." Follow East of England news on X, Instagram and Facebook: BBC Beds, Herts & Bucks, BBC Cambridgeshire, BBC Essex, BBC Norfolk, BBC Northamptonshire or BBC Suffolk.
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Xsolla and Ukie Announce Partnership at GDC 2025 to Empower Game Developers in the United Kingdom and Throughout EMEA
Xsolla and Ukie Join Forces at the Game Developers Conference 2025 to Support Game Developers and Drive Industry Innovation in the UK LONDON, March 19, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Xsolla, a global leader in video game commerce, is proud to partner with UK Interactive Entertainment (Ukie), the United Kingdom's industry trade body. This strategic collaboration names Xsolla as Ukie's official monetization partner and exclusive programming sponsor, reinforcing their commitment to providing game developers with the tools, services, and solutions needed to succeed in today's rapidly evolving gaming market. The primary objective of this partnership is to create a new collaboration that delivers an exclusive programme, showcasing Xsolla's unique strengths and capabilities for monetization and commercialization in games. By focusing on commercial excellence, the partnership aims to transform the long-term success of the UK video games industry, fostering sustainable growth and innovation. Additionally, the collaboration seeks to build confidence among government bodies, investors, and key stakeholders, demonstrating the UK's potential as a global leader in the video games sector. To achieve these objectives, Xsolla and Ukie will implement a series of targeted activations across the UK designed to support and empower game developers directly. One key initiative will be a programme of UK-wide activations, including bespoke workshops delivered through Ukie's new Supercharged Sessions. As part of this effort, Ukie will manage and deliver two tailored workshops for Xsolla at two different game hubs across the UK, equipping developers with the knowledge and tools to maximize commercial success. In addition to the UK-based initiatives, the partnership will include a strategic activation at Gamescom, one of the world's largest gaming events. This presence will showcase Xsolla's cutting-edge solutions, strengthen international connections, and reinforce the UK's position as a global leader in game development. Throughout the year, Xsolla and Ukie will explore further opportunities to support the UK games industry through additional activations and community engagements. "We are thrilled to partner with Ukie, a leading voice in the UK games industry," said Chris Meredith, Senior Vice President of Business Development - EMEA at Xsolla. "This collaboration allows us to help UK-based developers unlock new revenue opportunities and streamline the monetization process. At Xsolla, we're committed to providing a seamless, scalable experience for developers, and working with Ukie enables us to extend our support to a vibrant community of gaming professionals." Nick Poole, CEO at Ukie, added: "This partnership with Xsolla is an exciting development for our members. As the video game landscape continues to evolve, developers must have access to the best tools to support their financial growth. With Xsolla's expertise in monetization and global payment solutions, Ukie members are strongly positioned to thrive in domestic and international markets." "In 2025, we are looking to partners in the industry to collaborate and help connect with video game developers of all sizes and from all regions around the world to provide distribution, monetization, and payment solutions to help developers create a successful gaming business," Berkley Egenes, Chief Marketing & Growth Officer at Xsolla. "We remain committed to providing access and bringing opportunities together for the video game industry. We look forward to connecting and building a long-lasting relationship with Ukie and its member companies and individuals in the UK and beyond." Through this collaboration and partnership, Ukie and Xsolla will create custom programming, events, and opportunities for game developers to share the challenges and opportunities facing them in the growing video game industry. A full schedule of activities will be shared through Ukie and Xsolla in 2025 and beyond, as their mission is to bring opportunities together for the gaming industry and to help stimulate the growth of gaming businesses in the UK and Europe. About Xsolla Xsolla is a leading global video game commerce company with a robust and powerful set of tools and services designed specifically for the industry. Since its founding in 2005, Xsolla has helped thousands of game developers and publishers of all sizes fund, market, launch, and monetize their games globally and across multiple platforms. As an innovative leader in game commerce, Xsolla's mission is to solve the inherent complexities of global distribution, marketing, and monetization to help our partners reach more geographies, generate more revenue, and create relationships with gamers worldwide. Headquartered and incorporated in Los Angeles, California, with offices in London, Berlin, Seoul, Beijing, Kuala Lumpur, Raleigh, Tokyo, Montreal, and cities around the world. For more information, visit About Ukie Ukie (UK Interactive Entertainment) is the trade body for the UK's games and interactive entertainment industry, representing developers, publishers, service companies, and esports organisations across the sector. Representing over 700 games businesses, Ukie's mission is to supercharge the growth and success of the UK games industry by championing its contribution to culture, society, and the economy on a global stage. Ukie empowers talent by supporting skills development, education, and career pathways to unlock potential. It energises the industry by driving growth, innovation, and sustainability across the sector. And it elevates games by promoting their cultural and economic value both domestically and internationally. Through initiatives such as Raise The Game, Digital Schoolhouse, and Ask About Games, Ukie ensures that everyone, everywhere, benefits from the social, cultural, and educational power of video games and interactive entertainment. For more information, visit View source version on Contacts Media Contact Derrick StembridgeVice President of Global Public Relations, Sign in to access your portfolio
