This ”brilliant decision” by the coalition government is ”terrific news” for UK studios, and they call it a ”decisive victory won by TIGA” through sheer determination. No more brain drain?
”Today, we turn Britain into Europe’s technology centre. We will start with digital content,” declared Conservative MP George Osborne. This is fantastic, long overdue news.
“The film tax credit, protected in our spending review, helps generate over a £1 billion of film production investment in the UK last year alone,” he continued. ”Today, I’m announcing our intention to introduce similar schemes for the videogames, animation and high-end TV production industries.”
Currently it’s Canada that offers the best tax incentives and local support for games studios to start up and operate. Many criticised the UK governments back peddling on tax breaks and warned it would lead to a mass exodus of British talent costing hundreds of millions in the long run.
“This is a brilliant decision by the Government and terrific news for the UK video games industry. It is also a decisive victory won by TIGA through audacity, determination and endurance,” said TIGA CEO Richard Wilson.
”Like a boxer knocked down by his opponent, we refused to accept defeat and kept getting back in the ring. This victory will benefit not just the UK games development and digital publishing sector but also the wider UK economy.”
Is British talent worth saving? Well we’ve got the likes of Grand Theft Auto’s Rockstar North and Batman: Arkham Asylum/City’s Rocksteady calling ol Blighty their home, and many other talents: Ninja Theory, Crytek UK (formerly Free Radical), Rebellion, Lionhead Studios, Introversion, Codemasters, SCE London, Rare, Hello Games…
