annual review 2017 our board Ukie Annual Review 2016/17 contents 02 foreword 04 Noirin Carmody - Chair Harvey Eagle chair’s report Owner and COO Xbox UK Marketing Director Our initiatives Revolution Software Microsoft 06 ceo’s report Ian Livingstone CBE - Vice Chair Miles Jacobson OBE Chairman Studio Director Playmob Sports Interactive 08 a year in westminster and brussels askaboutgames Dave Gould - Treasurer Veronique Lallier askaboutgames.com Snr Director of Sales UK & Export European Managing Director 12 Take 2 Interactive Hi-Rez Studios research and analysis Without house background Simon Barratt Warwick Light 16 Director UK Managing Director and Vice President ukie’s year in numbers Sony Interactive Entertainment Barog Game Labs INSPIRATIONAL COMPUTING 18 Katherine Bidwell Phil Mansell Digital Schoolhouse acting locally thinking globally Co-Founder CEO digitalschoolhouse.org.ukWith house background State of Play Games Jagex 20 ukie’s global trade programme Neil Boyd Andy Payne OBE INSPIRATIONAL COMPUTING European Anti-Piracy Counsel CEO Nintendo Europe AppyNation 22 the digital schoolhouse Shaun Campbell Kirsty Rigden Games London UK Country Manager Operations Director games.london 24 Electronic Arts FuturLab inspiring talent John Clark Ella Romanos 26 Senior Vice President, Commercial Director promoting a positive image Publishing Rocket Lolly Games SEGA Europe Students 27 Rob Cooper Roy Stackhouse making the most of your IP Managing Director Northern Europe and Vice President - UK, Ireland & Benelux Ukie Students Export Territories Activision Blizzard ukie.org.uk/student-membership Ubisoft 28 business support Spencer Crossley Dr Jo Twist OBE UK Sales & Marketing Director CEO Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment Ukie 30 what our members say Stuart Dinsey Tim Woodley Chairman SVP Global Brand & Marketing Next Gen Skills 32 Curve Digital 505 Games gamesambassadors.org.uk sub groups Cover image credit: Dan Lish at Bossa Studios 02 Ukie Annual Review foreword Matt Hancock MP - Minister for Digital I engage with some of the most innovative and advanced As Minister of State for businesses in the country and see first-hand how they’re Digital my brief is wide playing their part in driving our economy. I consider myself fortunate that the games than 2000 games businesses across 20 play an important part in the sector deal industry falls in my portfolio. Our games distinct clusters - encompassing global and in ensuring it continues to drive sector boasts some quite extraordinary giants and rapidly scaling start-ups - growth in our economy. Of course we are and diverse, from online talent, working across a vast range of distributed through the UK. now negotiating to leave the EU. Along disciplines, and producing some of the with the undeniable challenges there also most creative cultural output our country The digital and creative industries are a come new opportunities. has to offer. priority for this government. In January we safety to the creative launched the Industrial Strategy Green I know that Ukie members have It has developed - and continues to Paper which set out our commitment to highlighted concerns around talent and develop - skills and innovations which an early sector deal for all the creative immigration, access to markets, cross- now fuel our wider digital economy, from industries, not least video games. border data flows and cultural funding. industries, and digital advances in virtual and augmented reality to the practical application of The deal aims to build on our areas of I look forward to continuing my work with artificial intelligence. global excellence and help emerging Ukie and the wider games industry to sectors thrive, by supporting businesses make sure that, throughout and after our connectivity to skills Added to that, the industry employs to take the lead in transforming and withdrawal from the EU, the UK remains some 23,000 people and, according to growing their own industries. I look the best place in the world to make and and inclusion Ukie’s UK Games Map, there are more forward to seeing the games industry play video games. 04 Ukie Annual Review chair’s report Noirin Carmody, COO Revolution Software With a membership of over 360 of the country’s innovative games businesses, including the brightest start-ups, well established studios, multinational publishers, esports companies and service businesses, Ukie represents the broadest range of the sector. This year Ukie welcomed some of the operational expenses have decreased And this is of course not all that I am delighted to report best-known games names in the world to by 2%. This has resulted in a positive Ukie does: it runs a global trade and its already impressive membership, with position for Ukie of £98,517 and a total investment programme; provides a Jagex, Riot Games, and Codemasters of £1,181,610 in reserves. digital IP scanning and takedown further amplifying Ukie’s voice. We are service; launched Digital Schoolhouses that Ukie has never been delighted to have them on board. These reserves give us operational around the country (with support from security in uncertain times and any PlayStation); is a source of high quality Having this diverse membership surplus is reinvested in projects that industry research; and acts as the voice greatly adds weight to what we say to benefit the sector (such as the UK of the sector in the media and more. in a stronger position government, meaning that we can better Games Map) or contribute to the represent the sector and continue to be overall cost of running Ukie. This is all only possible through the at the heart of so much that makes the support of our members, so thank you all. UK a great place to make and sell games. This year we will be reviewing our banking to represent the voice arrangements to improve the return on We know that we need to work hard on I am pleased to report that a fast- the reserve. A strong trade body is the your behalf, and the Board and the entire growing, strong membership has also sign of a strong UK games sector. team are all committed to Ukie being been matched by a solid financial With an uncertain political and economic your voice and providing the support of the UK’s games and performance in the last year, as the Ukie landscape, this cannot be taken for to businesses that will help the UK to team have again worked incredibly hard granted and Ukie will be doing everything continue to be the best place in the to deliver a huge amount of activity, whilst it can to ensure the government world to make and sell games and reducing the overall operating costs. understands the sector’s needs around interactive entertainment. interactive entertainment skills, immigration, funding and every Whilst there was a slight decrease in other regulatory area that affects turnover (2%) in 2016/17, direct costs games businesses. industry have decreased by 9% and overall 06 Ukie Annual Review ceo’s report Dr Jo Twist OBE, CEO Ukie Over the last 12 months, we have invested our income into ensuring that we have the most persuasive case to present to government as we look towards a new future with and beyond Europe. Evidence is key to informing policy. Policy was very well received as an excellent, London has connected 145 games is key to the business environment that detailed, evidence-based piece of work. businesses in the UK with 109 global During a time of you operate in – at home and abroad. Your voice as members and sector investors, driving over £30m potential representatives is vital and we will be business back into UK games Whether that be in ensuring the incredibly continuing this consultative process over companies. However, London Games successful VGTR - which has seen a the next 12 months through our newly Festival does more than that: it is global political 115% increase in claims and £119m formed Immigration & Talent working successfully disrupting the cultural granted since 2014 to UK studios across group, as well as via our other sub groups perception of games and is attracting 420 claims – continues, or helping which are open to all members. more confident attention from cultural businesses make the most of global and arts institutions. business and investment opportunities, The Ukie team has worked across a upheaval, a strong, to identifying where we need to unlock broad range of industry groups and With more public, political and investor more funding and support for games Councils, across sectors to ensure our focus than ever on AR, VR and AI, we businesses and their products at local needs are represented directly at the top have the skills, experiences, and expertise and global level, skills development, or table to Parliamentarians to inform what through our blend of innovation and steady, persuasive, simple introductions – your trade body an Industrial Strategy fit for creative digital creativity to lead the world. is your trade buddy. sectors like ours looks like. We will be there to remind the world Over the last year, we have tried to Our international activity has gone from that the potential of these innovations will balance your practical needs with the strength to strength. As well as record- only be realised if we invest in the skills evidenced-based demands of the policy arena which will breaking GDC and gamescom UK and expertise that the games determine our future. Industry stands, our programme industry generates. of curated Trade Missions have In September 2016, we were quick generated £103m of business wins Ukie would be nothing without our voice of the industry out the blocks with a positioning paper for UK companies. members, but we cannot do what we on what the key priorities, threats and do without my brilliant team who are ever opportunities were concerning the sector The UK Games Map has grown in the more committed to doing the best job for following the EU referendum.