Recent research has taught us that the North of England, particularly the North East and Yorkshire & Humber, and several other key areas, such as the Liverpool City Region, are leading the way in the video gaming industry and expanding their muscle, establishing themselves as powerhouses.
These key regions have become leading hubs in the United Kingdom for video game development.
Let’s dive in and take a look at this thriving scene, how much it has grown in recent years, and which key contributing factors have helped take Northern and Northeast England to exciting new heights.
How big is the gaming industry in the North of England today?
The video game industry in the North of England is currently flourishing, especially in the North East, Yorkshire & Humber, and the Liverpool City Region, all of which are achieving the fastest growth.
The gaming industry also continues to expand yearly in Newcastle and other major cities in the North of England.
In fact, the UK’s video gaming industry is now recognised as the largest in Europe, currently valued at a whopping £7 billion (approx. €8.4 billion or US$8.9 billion).
In 2023 alone, the video gaming industry in the United Kingdom contributed close to £3.7 billion to the GDP (Gross Domestic Product), which is the highest record figure in over a decade (since 2011).
People living in the region also now have access to some of the world’s most popular video games on the safest gaming sites.
Anyone aged 18 or above can also now legally access a handful of world-class iGaming sites to play online slots UK from over 100 market-leading, multi-award-winning software providers and game development studios.
A look at the North of England’s gaming industry in numbers
When you look at things on the global stage, the Northeast of England, in particular, is widely regarded as a powerhouse in the gaming industry.
Newcastle alone, the fourth biggest city for gaming in the United Kingdom, contributes more than £85 million to the local economy. It’s home to more than 60 international gaming companies, such as:
- Ubisoft Reflections
- Epic Games
- Silent Games
- Atomhawk
- Parlingo
- Nosebleed Interactive
- Coatsink
In the Liverpool City Region, which is home to several globally renowned companies such as Tencent and Sony, a cool £245 million in GVA is contributed annually to the economy, making it the most productive gaming sector outside of London.
With innovation, investment, collaboration, mature regulatory frameworks, and hospitable environments that are designed to nurture the video game industry, Liverpool continues to take centre stage and is the new leader for video game development, supporting local businesses and talented people with unique skill sets.
In Yorkshire & Humber in 2023, a total of 5.8% of the United Kingdom’s development workforce was based here. Between December 2021 and April 2023, the workforce witnessed an incredible 33.95% increase as people flocked to the region in search of new employment opportunities.
In the Northeast, a total of 5.4% of the UK’s video game development workforce was based here, making it one of the fastest-growing centres for development. Over 60 major companies now call this particular region home.
Final thoughts
The video gaming industry in the North of England is expected to continue expanding over the coming years, and there is huge potential for the industry to contribute even further to the UK economy and global gaming industry.
Around 44,000 highly skilled individuals work in the gaming industry in this region. They are helping to shine a light on how important the sector has become here, and can now compare themselves to several other major international video game development hubs, such as San Fransisco, New York City, Los Angeles, Madrid, Paris, Las Vegas, Seattle, Tokyo, Barcelona, Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreal.
