No merger, but UKIE will wants to work with Tiga

It may have seen its proposals to merge rejected by rival trade body Tiga, but UKIE is still hopeful the two can work together.

UK games industry trade association UKIE today put out a statement saying it is ‘deeply disappointed’ developers body Tiga wants to stay separate, but said the two must maintain a working relationship “on the key issues that the industry faces in the very near future”.

It was revealed by Develop sister publication MCV at the start of February that UKIE was keen on the merger and was meeting with Tiga to see what could be done – but the developer organisation last week confirmed its board had voted against the suggestion it align itself much closer with UKIE.

In recent years, both had heard regular calls to unite for ‘one voice’ in the industry. Historically, the two had differing agendas and memberships – Tiga was formed for developers in late 2000 whereas UKIE, formerly ELSPA, was founded by publishers in the ‘80s.

But Government, industry execs and other commentators had suggested they double-up as the boundary between the two camps blurred, the audience widened and the industry returned to more democratic publishing models.

“The board of UKIE are deeply disappointed that TIGA have ruled out potential talks to discuss forming one trade body to represent the entire UK games industry,” said a statement from UKIE today.

“We would like to thank the TIGA board for their time and consideration of the matter and their CEO for informal talks and meetings over the past six months.

“Furthermore UKIE’s board hopes that both trade associations can and will work together on the key issues that the industry faces in the very near future.

“We have had a good track record of working together with TIGA, the latest example being our sharing of UKIE’s evidence for the government’s Growth Review back in December and hope that this collaborative working can continue, all be it as two separate associations for now.”