UKIE to form developer group – Livingstone to lead

British games industry trade body UKIE is to establish a dedicated developer group, the organisation has revealed.

UKIE said the division will "help all development studios, including indie start-ups, grow and scale”.

It said it wants to assist independent British studios as they find a route to market, as well as support them to become investment-ready.

Industry figurehead Ian Livingstone, a UKIE board member and the most recent recipient of the Develop Legend Award, is to spearhead the UKIE Development Group.

The new initiative comes days after UKIE announced it has now accumulated 100 members – a steady increase driven in part by development studios signing up.

UKIE, formerly known as ELSPA, was traditionally a publisher-led entity, yet in recent months it has also campaigned for the interests of developers. However, the UKIE board membership still largely consists of executives from overseas publishing entities.

The body has, on at least two occasions, attempted to merge with fellow UK trade body Tiga.

Tiga, which has solely represented British independent studios since 2001, has declined on UKIE’s advances.

But the distinction between the two is now lessening. UKIE and Tiga are both courting developers and want to campaign for their rights and assist in their business.

The growing similarities between both groups, now that a merger is unlikely, paves the way for both to be in more direct competition.