Ask George: February 2025

The February 2025 edition of the industry analysis column provides strategic guidance on three core challenges facing the global video games sector: geographic barriers to entry, European market competitiveness, and the industry’s failure to leverage political influence. The primary thesis posits that while the games industry has matured into a significant economic force, it remains hampered by a lack of strategic coordination, short-sighted leadership, and an inability to effectively navigate the political landscape compared to more established creative sectors like film and television.

Regarding career development, the analysis emphasizes that while remote work exists, physical proximity to established game clusters remains a critical advantage for professional growth. Aspiring entrants are advised to target secondary hubs—such as Guildford or Brighton in the UK—or to develop highly specialized, niche skill sets that provide leverage for independent work. On a macro level, the European games industry is identified as having a strong, cost-effective workforce and a unified market, yet it suffers from fragmented capital access and a cumbersome regulatory environment. To remain competitive, the region must define a clear, unified vision for its industry and foster healthy competition between member states through targeted tax incentives and strategic funding.

Finally, the analysis concludes that the games industry significantly underperforms in public affairs. Unlike the film and television sectors, which actively engage with policymakers to secure funding and protect interests, the games industry remains overly secretive and focused on short-term commercial returns. The author argues that for the industry to mature and secure long-term stability, companies must invest in professional public affairs teams to better communicate their economic value and influence policy outcomes.