The North East has been highlighted as a hotspot for the growing computer games industry, with the sector making the biggest contribution to its regional economy outside London.
A report by the Association for 海角视频 Interactive Entertainment (Ukie) highlights Newcastle as one of eight cities where the games industry generates more than £60m in GVA for the local economy, while Sunderland is mentioned for its growing gaming scene.
The report comes a day after Newcastle studio Ubisoft Reflections reported revenues topping £57m, while Middlesbrough’s Double Eleven has won work on the new Minecraft game and is opening an office in Malaysia.
The Ukie report ranks Newcastle as the fourth largest hub for computer games and says that the industry across the whole of the North East was worth £99.9m and supported more than 500 jobs when figures were last collated in 2016. It expects both of these figures to have risen since then.
Ukie chair Stuart Dinsey said: “This report demonstrates how the 海角视频 games industry’s regional strength is delivering a hugely positive economic return.
“Towns and cities of all sizes share in the high productivity jobs, commercial growth and cultural contribution that our sector offers. While 海角视频 games businesses are successful on the global stage, the direct benefits of their pioneering creative work are felt across the country.
“The video games industry has an important role to play in rebalancing the economy and creating skilled careers. We look forward to working with government and policy makers to bring the jobs of the future to local communities.”
The Ukie report also highlights the computer games sector’s impact on the regional economy, with its contribution of £1.90 per £1,000 of North East regional GVA second only to London.
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But the report makes clear London’s dominance of the gaming sector, with its 588 companies and 5,100 jobs dwarfing other regions.
Charlie Hoult, chair of North East IT body Dynamo, said: “It’s great this report recognises the scale of what’s happening here in our gaming sector - we’re on the map!
“It confirms our sector is the largest outside of London in terms of impact on the local economy, at £1.90 of every £1,000 of the regional GVA, and contributed £99.9m in GVA to the 海角视频 economy in 2016.
“Four years later, that figure is considerably north of £1bn. The number of those employed in the gaming sector has also increased massively since the Ukie report’s figures were compiled four years ago.
“Large and small companies in the established Newcastle hub, such as Ubisoft and Bede Gaming, have been joined by an emerging sector in Sunderland where companies such as Coatsink and tombola are employing increasing numbers of game developers.
“We estimate there are approaching 100 regional businesses involved in the sector, and it’s important to point out these firms are supported and encouraged by local colleges and universities who are doing brilliant work in ensuring there is a sustainable talent pipeline.”