Job market information
Finding out about computer games
The computer games industry is part of the creative industries, which is represented by Creative Skillset. This includes: advertising; animation; computer games; corporate and commercial production; fashion and textiles; film; interactive media; photo imaging; publishing; radio; and television.
The computer games industry is firmly established as a major feature of the UK's contemporary media landscape. The industry has recently experienced massive growth in its audience and incredible advances in technology and creative possibilities.
Key facts:
- 8,850 people are employed in the computer games development industry, which is 2% of the whole creative industries.
- There are around 220 businesses of which: 155 are games development companies; 30 games publishing companies; and 35 games support companies.
- 25% of businesses employ between 1 and 5 people, 11% between 6 and 10, 18% between 11 and 20, 21% between 21 and 50 people.
- 68% of the workforce has a degree, but an estimate 90% of entrants since 2000 were at degree level.
- 27% of the degrees held by those in computer games are media related.
Jobs in the industry range from: Games Designer, Level Editor, Artist, Concept Artist, Programmer, Quality Assurance (QA) Tester, Audio Engineer, Producer, External Producer, Project Manager, Creative Director, Animator, Lead Artist, Sales Manager.
Entry and progression
There are a wide range of qualifications, such as Higher education degrees, Foundation Degrees, BTEC’s and specific vocational professional training available. Although the majority of the workforce has a degree level qualification, many successful games professionals are qualified in non‐games degrees around either art or programming ranging from architecture, art and design, computer science or physics. Employers are particularly concerned with relevant experience, portfolios and knowledge of specific software tools.
The computer games workforce, as with all the creative industries, relies more on informal approaches to gaining employment.
To specialise in the games industry may sometimes mean working long hours on high pressure projects with budgets of millions. It is a fast moving industry with opportunities. New entrants need to get used to working on other people’s games ideas as it will be awhile before they are in a position to originate their own games, so entrants need to be good at working on other people’s ideas and collaborating.
There are a range of industry endorsed courses (both at undergraduate and post‐graduate), training schemes and a Diploma available.
For job specific entry requirements, take a look at our job profiles.
Workforce statistics
| Number of UK employees: |
8,850 |
|---|
| Number of UK employers: |
220 |
|---|
| Gender: |
88% male |
12% female |
|---|
| Ethnicity: |
4% of the workforce is from a Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic background |
|---|
| Age: |
76% of workforce is under 35 years |
|---|
| 4.6% report themselves as having a disability |
| 8% of the workforce is freelance or self‐employed |
Employment trends and future prospects
Since 2002, the games industry workforce numbers have fluctuated, but remained around 8,000. Future prospects in the sector are positive. Two major developments have significantly impacted on the games industry: the internet; and wireless platforms. These developments have led to the emergence of online multi‐player gaming and wireless transmitted interactive content on the new generation of mobile phones and handheld gaming devices. However, the UK has recently dropped to the fourth largest games producing country.
Skill requirements and shortages
Employers most value technical skills such as C++ programming, online skills (servers and architecture), and asset management and different code applications. In the Art and Design areas, employers most value 3D modelling, texturing, environment and level design skills. The ability to draw and quickly rough out visuals of ideas is prized, as well as inventive character design.
The most common skill gaps reported by computer games employers are: programming; games design; business development skills; and accountancy/financial skills. Future skill gaps are anticipated in: artificial intelligence (AI): high resolution modelling; Massive Multiplayer Online games (MMO); Apps; and Casual Gaming.
Occupational trends
The most common occupation is Interactive or Games Production, accounting for 6,250 (78%) of the workforce. 900 people in Interactive or Games Operations (10%) and 700 in Interactive or Games Business (8%) make up a smaller proportion of the workforce. Around 950 people in computer games (11%) work in finance, HR, IT, sales and general management roles that fall under an umbrella heading of ‘other occupational groups’.
National and regional data
This games workforce is distributed relatively evenly across the UK, which differentiates the games sector from the rest of the creative industries. The largest number of employees in computer games is located in:
- South East
- West Midlands
- North East
The East Midlands hosts some of the UK’s leading games developers including Climax On‐line in Nottingham, Eurocom and Circle Studios in Derby, and Free Radical in Sandiacre near Nottingham.
The East of England games industry has grown considerably since 2006 and there are an estimated 400 people working in the industry. Cambridge is home to one of the UK's main games development clusters, including companies such as Jagex.
In London, there is high concentration of games publishers in London, including Eidos and the European head offices of Sony Computer Entertainment.
The games industry in the North East has grown by 113% over the past four years. In particular Merseyside played a critical role in the development of the UK Games industry and this is reflected in the pool of interactive software talent in and around Liverpool.
Major games publishers and software companies (including IBM and Microsoft) are in the South East. Surrey has a concentration of companies working in computer games development, including the European headquarters of the American games company, Electronic Arts. Other development studios are clustered in Brighton, Guildford and Oxford.
There are an estimated 200 people working in the computer games industry in the South West.
In the West Midlands, Leamington Spa is host to two of the most successful UK games companies, Blitz and Codemasters. This growing cluster is supported by the Universities of Birmingham, Coventry and Warwick, which have academic expertise in the application of Games and Artificial Intelligence technologies, virtual reality and 3D imaging.
In Yorkshire and Humber, there are 40 computer games developers and publishers.
There are around 800 people working in the computer games industry in Northern Ireland.
Scotland has carved a significant niche in the industry with a number of high‐end studios producing games for worldwide distribution and a workforce of around 600. Popular games console titles, like ‘Grand Theft Auto’, ‘State of Emergency’ and ‘Harry Potter Quidditch World Cup’ were all produced in Scottish studios. Dundee and the east coast, through to Edinburgh, are home to the majority of Scotland's computer games developers.
Wales has a growing computer gaming sector with Jester Interactive Limited, Gamesworld 7, Broadsword Interactive and Dark Rock Games.
Salary levels
The average income received by the computer games workforce is £37,364, compared to the average received by the creative industries workforce as a whole of £32,200. The average salary for a British games developer is £31,964.
Generally salaries of women are higher than men due to a higher proportion of the female workforce being involved in marketing and management posts.
BECTU 
, the industry trade union, can advise on rates for freelancers working in the industry.
Career paths
Further sources
Produced Sept 2010, using Skillet AACS LMI report (Jun 2010)
