UK devs unite in bid to transform publishing

A consortium of eight UK studios will band together under with a mission to build their own publishing business, in a new scheme backed by key trade associations and the government.

This collaboration of digital, social and independent UK developers already has the support of creative industry investment group NESTA, as well as industry associations Tiga and UKIE.

The consortium’s eight members will build their own games under the scheme and self-publish through various digital channels “outside the constraints of the traditional publisher and developer model”, a statement read.

The theory is that the democratised publishing body won’t snaffle developer IP, and promises a return on investment that is more favourable for the studios.

Culture Minister Ed Vaizey said that such a scheme is “exactly what the games industry needs to grow”.

The eight-studio consortium is being established by NESTA, with the view for the body to break away after a year, leaving with it a self-sustaining publishing business.

Vaizey added, “By bringing companies together through this new initiative, NESTA is helping developers get the most out of their IP. We need a sustainable UK industry and this initiative will really help.”

The specific terms of NESTA’s investment has not been made public.

The collaboration still has spaces for studios to join, as well as a vacant CEO spot.

UKIE chair Andy Payne said that UKIE “wholeheartedly supports this new initiative”.

“The strength of the UK video games and interactive entertainment industry is dependent on successful products being released into the market, and this is an innovative new approach which can learn lessons from the past, whilst optimising the opportunities through technology to successful monetisation of the creative content,” he added.

Tiga’s Richard Wilson said the scheme is in line with the association’s aim “to help UK developers publish their own games, retain ownership of their IP and exploit it.”

Wilson added, “NESTA’s proposed video game consortium seeks to provide another route for developers to retain their IP. I am sure that Tiga members will look forward to learning more about the NESTA proposed consortium and Tiga wishes it every success.”

NESTA is calling on devs to attend regional meetings taking place in London, Scotland and Leeds to enquire, pitch, and take part. Event details are found below:

* Thursday 2 December, Edinburgh, Apex Waterloo Hotel, 27 Waterloo Place, EH1 3BH 2-4pm

* Tuesday 7 December-London, Osborne Clarke Offices, 1 London Wall, EC2Y 5EB 10am-12pm

* Thursday 20 January- Leeds, Radisson BLU, No 1 The Light, LS1 8TL, 6-8pm

Email gamesconsortium@nesta.org.uk to register.