“They Did Absolutely Nothing”: Gaming Companies Criticize the UK Government

The UK National Video Game Council has expressed significant dissatisfaction with the level of government support provided to the domestic game development sector. During a roundtable discussion at the Pocket Gamer Connects London 2026 conference, industry leaders—including representatives from Miniclip, Chucklefish, JECO, The Games Angels, and the trade organization UKIE—argued that the substantial growth of the British gaming industry over the past three decades is the result of private sector initiative rather than government intervention.

The core criticism centers on a perceived lack of meaningful state assistance compared to international counterparts. Industry executives highlighted that other nations, such as Turkey, offer more robust support, including the reimbursement of marketing expenses for developers. The sentiment among participants is that the current environment in the UK is insufficient to foster new growth, with some executives explicitly stating they would not choose to establish a new studio within the country under existing conditions.

This critique follows a June 2025 government announcement regarding a £30 million funding package for local gaming startups, intended to be distributed over three years. Despite the creation of the National Video Game Council to facilitate collaboration between the industry and the government, the prevailing view among these stakeholders is that official efforts remain inadequate. The discourse underscores a growing tension between the UK’s established gaming sector and the authorities, as industry leaders call for more effective policy measures to maintain the country's competitive standing in the global market.