The UK Games Industry - an overview

The UK is the third largest computer games market in the world after the USA and Japan. It is a £2bn market of which £1.2bn is spent on games software. This has grown almost three fold since 1996 and games software is the third most popular entertainment medium after DVD movies and music CD’s. The UK has a higher share of the total population actively playing games. Nearly 31% of all males and 14% of all females play games. This is much higher than the European average of 18% and 8% respectively. Gamers tend to be male, but the UK has more women gamers than the European average. There are a high number of girls who play on Nintendo devices and PlayStation Party games.

The UK is an exciting interactive gaming marketplace and brings great cultural and financial benefits to this country. These facts are confirmed by the fact that the games industry is co sponsored by the DTI and DCMS. It is at the forefront of the most creative entertainment medium in the world and punches well above its weight on the worldwide stage.

The industry is dedicated to its charitable aims of improving the lives of disadvantaged children and in particular, it has formed the ESC to channel funds and expertise to where it can be most helpful: education and disability.

The ESC has made a three-year commitment to donating £120,000 to Whizz Kidz, the largest charity in the UK supplying mobility equipment to children. click for more

The ESC has made a three-year commitment to donating £120,000 to Whizz Kidz, the largest charity in the UK supplying mobility equipment to children. click for more

On the Run! Join the ESCapees on the Asics Reading Half-Marathon on April 9th 2006 and raise funds for the ESC