Applications Now Open for £28.5 Million UK Games Fund, Injecting Strong Momentum into Industry Growth

During the London Games Festival, the new UK Games Fund (UKGF) has officially launched, distributing a total of £28.5 million to British game studios over the coming years. As a core component of the UK government’s Games Growth Package under the Creative Industries Sector Plan, the fund opened for applications on 14 April. Its launch not only establishes a full-cycle support system for the UK games industry but also marks a milestone in stimulating innovation and strengthening the UK’s global position in the games sector.

Operated by UK Games Talent and Finance CIC, a not-for-profit organisation, the UK Games Fund has been dedicated to supporting early-stage game development, digital interactive businesses and the creative ecosystem since 2015. It has supported more than 400 projects, raised £20 million for independent games, and built a community of over 8,000 developers.

The new £28.5 million fund represents a major upgrade of this long-standing initiative, reflecting the government’s strong recognition of the games industry’s economic value.

As Ian Murray, Minister for Creative Industries, stated:“Video games are not only great fun, they are big business – and for too long their value to the British economy has been overlooked. This £30 million package, including £1.5 million for the London Games Festival, will turbocharge the careers of some of our most talented game developers, creating jobs and growth across the UK.”

To support studios at every stage of development, the £28.5 million fund is structured across three targeted grant tiers:

• Entry Track: £20,000 in startup funding for newly established companies.
• Emergent Track: Up to £100,000 to support the creation of game prototypes.
• Expansion Track: Up to £250,000 in production grants for scaling studios.

In addition, UK studios continue to benefit from support from the British Business Bank, UKRI, and games tax relief, forming a comprehensive support system.

For the UK games industry, this fund addresses a long-standing challenge: access to finance.As Dr Richard Wilson OBE, CEO of TIGA, noted:“Access to finance is a persistent challenge for many game developers. Today’s announcement of increased funding for startups, prototypes and expansion is great news for studios, the industry, and the wider UK economy.”

Nick Poole OBE, CEO of UKIE, added:“Targeted support across the development pipeline will help studios start, scale and stay globally competitive. We will continue working closely with government to drive growth, innovation and high-quality jobs.”

The fund also strengthens the UK’s global competitiveness by nurturing original IP, supporting creative risk-taking, and helping studios scale from early concepts to fully realised products. Previous recipients have achieved significant growth, expanded teams, secured publishing deals, and built sustainable businesses.

Dr Marie-Claire Isaaman, CEO of Women in Games, welcomed the investment while highlighting the need for greater inclusivity:“To unlock the full potential of this funding, we must address structural barriers that limit women’s participation. Women-led studios receive less than 3% of total investment. Closing this gap will fuel entrepreneurship, broaden creativity and strengthen long-term competitiveness.”

From prototype development to global expansion, from talent cultivation to IP innovation, the newly enhanced UK Games Fund delivers tangible financial support and builds a robust, inclusive ecosystem for the UK games industry.

Its launch signals a new level of government commitment to the sector, helping resolve key industry challenges, unlock creative potential, and drive sustainable, high-quality growth for the UK games sector — while offering valuable lessons for the global games industry.