adminThe Scotland games industry is aiming to grow its economic contribution to more than £1 billion by 2030. The Scottish Game Action Plan sets out a phased strategy to support studios, develop new intellectual property and strengthen the country’s role in creative technology.
Image credit: Scottish Games Network
What the Scotland games industry plan aims to achieve
The plan’s wider ambition is to establish Scotland as a “games supercluster” and a global leader in creative technology. Alongside the 2030 growth target, it aims to support the creation of 20 new studios and 50 intellectual properties (IPs) with prototype funding by 2028.
The Scottish government announced its backing for the initiative in February 2024. It had been in development for more than 18 months, with input from a public consultation involving over 350 people and dozens of companies in the games sector.
The strategy is designed to use existing government resources and infrastructure rather than rely on a single large-scale intervention. Its goals also connect with national priorities, including the National Strategy for Economic Transformation (NSET), the Scottish Technology Ecosystem Review (STER) and the Digital Economy Skills Action Plan.
Practical context: The targets are aims set by the plan, not a guarantee of future results. Studio creation, funding and the proposed innovation centre depend on the delivery and progress of the planned phases.
Phase One: funding, skills and business support
The first phase is a two-year pilot intended to establish the structures needed to coordinate support for the sector. A proposed chief games officer (CGO) would lead a cross-portfolio working group and report to the Scottish government’s Chief Entrepreneur. The role would oversee the delivery of Phase One initiatives.
£5 million Scottish Games Growth Catalyst Pilot Fund
The proposed Catalyst Pilot Fund is a two-stream, £5 million programme modelled on the UK Games Fund, Australia’s Federal Production Fund and the Victorian Regional Production Fund.
- Stream A: Grants of up to £50,000 per project for IP incubation.
- Stream B: Targeted grants of up to £100,000 per project to help work-for-hire studios compete internationally.
For applicants, the two streams have different purposes: Stream A is focused on developing original IP, while Stream B is intended to support work-for-hire businesses. The plan describes these as proposed pilot funding streams.
Skills and enterprise support
The National Games Skills & Education Forum would bring together industry leaders, educators and government to align learning with industry needs. It would also make use of existing education resources to address skills gaps.
Another Phase One proposal is the Games Enterprise & Sustainability Service. Delivered through existing enterprise agencies, it would offer on-demand business support and mentorship to new studios. This approach is intended to connect companies with practical guidance while using established support structures.
Phase Two: a national games innovation centre
The second phase proposes a National Games Innovation Centre: a physical hub intended to provide a focal point for the sector, encourage international investment and create a lasting asset for Scotland. The centre would only proceed if Phase One is successfully delivered.
The phased structure means that the initial pilot is also a test of whether the proposed support framework can be put in place before a permanent hub is developed. For studios and people working in games, the key areas to follow are the pilot fund’s launch and eligibility details, the establishment of the skills forum, and progress toward the Phase Two conditions.
Outlook for Scotland’s games industry
Scotland’s games industry plan combines ambitious growth goals with proposed funding, skills coordination and business mentorship. Its immediate focus is to build a stronger foundation through the two-year pilot; the longer-term ambition is a £1 billion sector by 2030, supported by new studios, original IP and a potential national innovation centre.
