UK trade bodies call time on Edinburgh Interactive Festival

UKIE and TIGA have confirmed that Edinburgh Interactive Festival will not take place this year.

It will be the first time in a decade the event, which usually takes place in late August, has not run.

The event first debuted as a joint venture between a variety of industry stake holders and tapped into the demand to prove games could stand on a cultural stage next to the Scottish capital’s respected arts and entertainment events.

But with no sponsor this year and an overall busy events climate for games – including other Scottish events such as Dare to be Digital and Indie Fest – the trade bodies have decided to focus on bigger shows, such as Gamescom.

UKIE CEO Jo Twist told MCV: We’ve decided, along with partners TIGA, that Edinburgh Interactive will be taking a year off in 2013.

We’re currently focusing efforts on Gamescom, where we’re running the official UK industry stand and are taking more than 30 companies to Germany.

We’re still involved with what’s going on in Scotland and look forward to bringing a big industry event back to Scotland next year.”