The UK video game industry is independent and mobile-focused

The UK video game industry is heavily focused on new independent studios making mobile games, according to new data from UK trade association TIGA. A new report from TIGA entitled "Making Games in the UK Today: A Census of the UK Developer and Digital Publishing Sector" found that over half of the video game companies in the UK were started in the last four years. Considering that 338 studios were opened between 2008-2012, this would suggest that there are currently more than 600 game studios based in the UK. And most of these are independent studios -- 83 percent of all video game companies started in 2011 and 2012 are independent. Mobile games are rapidly gaining precedence in the UK too. 37 percent of all UK studios are making mobile games right now, according to the report, up from just 19 percent in 2010. If you only look at the studios founded in 2011 and 2012, this grows to 53 percent. TIGA CEO Richard Wilson noted that, "The UK games development sector is young, independent and mobile," adding that strong smartphone and tablet sales are causing the influx of UK studios who are interested in mobile development. However, Wilson has said previously that start-up studios are vulnerable, with at least 21 percent of start-ups in 2010-2012 having already gone under. He believes that the upcoming Games Tax Relief will help start-ups to build their finances much more easily.