Morning, Wednesday, 21st May 2025
Online
This conference will examine next steps for the UK video game industry, including latest thinking on opportunities for growth.
Stakeholders and policymakers will discuss implications of recent policy developments, including reactions to the Autumn Budget 2024, and expectations surrounding the Government's Invest 2035 strategy and the Spending Review 2025. Delegates will assess whether measures such as the continuation of the Video Games Expenditure Credit and funding for the UK Games Fund sufficiently address industry needs, especially for smaller games companies.
There will also be a focus on regulatory challenges facing the sector. Looking at the Online Safety Act 2023, attendees will consider next steps for industry stakeholders in relation to requirements for risk assessments, content moderation, and safety-conscious innovation in game design. We also expect discussion on balancing between legally-mandated and self-regulation of loot boxes, and ensuring developers adhere to their own guidelines.
Sessions will also address the skills shortage within the industry. We expect discussion on potential benefits that could be achieved through the Government's replacement of the apprenticeship levy with a growth and skills levy, alongside how effective collaborative frameworks can be put in place to tackle skills shortages.
Further sessions will examine implications of international regulatory developments, notably the European Commission's Fitness Check of EU Consumer Law on Digital Fairness. The agenda will also explore the impact of generative AI, and how the industry can harness innovation while addressing ethical concerns.
With the agenda currently in the drafting stage, overall areas for discussion include:
- policy: evaluating the Autumn Budget 2024 measures - assessing the Video Games Expenditure Credit - support for smaller game companies - adequacy of funding to the UK Games Fund - anticipating reforms following the Government Spending Review 2025
- promoting sector growth: funding and investment priorities - expectations from Invest 2035 - identifying funding needs of small and medium enterprises - options for grants or funding pools
- safeguarding: responding to recent safety concerns on gaming platforms - enhancing protection for young users - implementing effective content moderation - ensuring regulatory compliance
- regulation: implications of the Online Safety Act 2023 - Ofcom’s upcoming codes of practice - preparing for risk assessments and content moderation requirements - innovation with safety
- loot boxes: balancing between self-regulation and legal mandates - effectiveness of current industry guidelines - international approaches to loot boxes - addressing concerns over addictive design
- international developments: outcomes of the European Commission’s Fitness Check - anticipating effects of the Digital Fairness Act - potential impact on UK regulations - transparency and consumer protection
- skills: addressing industry-specific training needs - evaluating the growth and skills levy - developing tailored apprenticeship programmes - fostering collaboration between industry and education
- AI: developments, opportunities, and priorities for innovation - impact of generative AI on the industry - addressing IP rights concerns - employment implications - the voice actor strikes
