MCV/DEVELOP News, events, research and jobs from the games industry
We first took 22 UK businesses to Gamescom in Cologne in 2012. The UK industry stand at Europe’s largest consumer games show has been the focal point of Ukie’s annual International Trade programme ever since, helping the industry network with international companies, secure investment and promote the UK industry as a real player in the global games scene.
The stand has continued to grow and scale as the industry has. In 2016 alone, businesses exhibiting with Ukie secured wins of over £14.46m in three days and exhibitors made 2,100 new international business contacts.
As we negotiate our exit from the EU, and we work on details of future trade deals, it is critical that businesses continue to make connections, build partnerships and develop opportunities. The UK is already world-renowned for its games prowess in development, publishing and technology services, so we see enabling companies of all sizes to easily access potential business as a key part of what Ukie does as a trade body.
This year, in the sixth year that Ukie has run the UK pavilion, we sold out of our usual space in record time, so we are excited to announce that we have doubled the stand size. This means we have space for over 80 of the top UK content makers, developers, publishers and service companies coming together in Europe as one strong, unified UK games industry, ready to do business.
The diversity of the companies already signed up to be on the UK industry stand mirrors just how diverse and talented our ecosystem is in the UK, a feature of our industry that sets us apart from the competition. We will continue long after Gamescom to make sure the UK government understands the potential we have to be even bigger global leaders, and what both industry and government can do to make sure this happens.
Gamescom with Ukie offers a great opportunity to increase brand awareness for games companies – whether or not you can be in Cologne – through sponsorship.
Jo Twist, Ukie
Our (in)famous bunting will be back – this year as part of a veritable feast of classic Britishness to support our pub theme. And we will have more space to squeeze in hundreds of guests to our two free open drinks receptions on Tuesday and Wednesday, held on the stand.
The UK Game of the Show Award also returns, celebrating the best of British creativity and innovation with the award for the best UK developed, but as yet unreleased, game on show at the expo.
Although our space on the stand has been extended, the remaining space is now extremely limited – but there is still a chance for your company to be a part of the UK community in the biggest games show in Europe. Gamescom with Ukie offers a great opportunity to increase brand awareness for games companies – whether or not you can be in Cologne – through sponsorship. Companies can sponsor the drinks receptions, the hospitality on the stand and a variety of the best-loved and recognised Ukie bits and bobs that visitors love.
We want to make sure our international trade programme continues to help the games community build the kind of resilient, successful, creative and innovative sector we need: the UK remains, and will continue to grow, as the best place in the world to make and sell games. So come and be part of it.
For any enquiries, please contact: sam@ukie.org.uk
Jo Twist is CEO of Ukie, the trade body for UK games and interactive entertainment, making the UK the best place in the world to make games. She is also deputy chair of the British Screen Advisory Council, London Tech ambassador and BAFTA Games Committee member
