Michael French
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London Games Festival moves to central venue for 2027 showcase
The London Games Festival will relocate its main program to the Business Design Centre starting in 2027 to enhance accessibility for international visitors and expand its professional offerings. Key events like the New Game Plus showcase and B2B Games Finance Market will be hosted there, while other cultural events will remain spread across the city. This move aims to solidify London's position as a global gaming capital.
Where did all the UK game events go?
The UK faces a significant decline in major consumer video game events, with many established shows like EGX and Insomnia folding or merging, and new attempts failing. This trend is attributed to rising costs, shifting global marketing budgets of major publishers away from such events, and the overwhelming draw of larger international shows like Gamescom. While smaller niche and B2B events remain successful, the lack of large-scale consumer gatherings is a concern for the UK's substantial gaming market.
UK government begins rollout of £30m Games Growth Package
The UK government has launched a £30 million Games Growth Package to support the domestic video game industry. The funding includes £28.5 million for the UK Games Fund, aimed at early-stage developers and studio growth, and £1.5 million for the London Games Festival over three years. The package is divided into tracks for new studios, prototyping, and expansion, with an additional £20 million designated for the Tay Cities region.
PONCLE KEYNOTE LEADS EXPANDED B2B PROGRAMME AT LONDON GAMES FESTIVAL
The London Games Festival has expanded its B2B program, featuring a keynote from Poncle, the studio behind Vampire Survivors. The event includes a two-day Games Finance Market with £247 million in potential investment, a Self-Publishing Toolkit live session, and the first Games For Change London Summit focused on social impact through games. A 'Games meets film' convergence event, Screen Play, will also explore collaborations between creative industries.