Government to launch £4m fund to help boost UK’s video games industry
A £4m fund has been launched by the government to help boost the UK's booming video games industry, hoping to help smaller companies to a sector "which has already given the world global blockbusters like Tomb Raider, Little Big Planet, Runescape, Monument Valley and Batman: Arkham Knight".
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The four year fund will offer grants of up to £25,000 to support projects, which should also create jobs and nurture talent.
Grants of up to £50,000 for a limited number of projects to take their ideas beyond the prototype phase are also going to be made available.
The Video Games Prototype Fund follows other measures the government has undertaken to boost in the industry, including tax reliefs.
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Britain’s video games punch well above their weight internationally and we need to build on this and invest in the strength of our creativity, said minister for culture and the digital economy Ed Vaizey. "This fund will give small businesses, start-ups and individuals the support they need to better attract private investment and go on to create the blockbusters of tomorrow."
The UK’s video games industry currently generates more than £4.5 million* a day for the UK economy and directly employs more than 19,000 people.