Show me the money.
Announced in the July Budget – after much pressure from the UK games industry – the Video Games Prototype Fund will provide £4 million over the next four years to current and future games talent.
The fund will provide grants of up to £25k to help businesses turn ideas into working prototypes which can then be used to attract private investment.
An emphasis will be placed on nurturing new talent within the sector, with mentoring opportunities and skills support being provided along with the financial backing.
The scheme is aimed at young and start-up companies across the UK games industry where access to finance is an ongoing problem.
CEO of Ukie, Dr Jo Twist, responded to the announcement, saying:
We lobbied for this kind of support and we are pleased to see the Fund launch. It has enormous potential for the future of the UK games industry. Access to finance has been an on-going challenge for small and micro games businesses, and the financial support of the fund, as well as the mentoring opportunities that are provided, will open doors to a huge amount of unearthed games talent in the UK. Ukie is really proud to continue to support this project. It is one more step towards the UK becoming a world leader in games development.
It certainly sound like a better alternative to selling your soul on Kickstarter.
It also means we must bid a fond farewell to the Abertay Fund, which supported many studios between 2010 to 2014. Bye bye Abertay.
*Thumbsticks would like to point out that the Video Games Prototype Fund is not personally endorsed by Super Mario – although we’re sure he would be thrilled.
To find out how to apply visit the Video Games Prototype Fund website.
