TIGA: UK's Publisher-Owned Studios Much Larger Than Independents

Independent developers are only about a fifth of the size of publisher-owned studios in the UK, says a new TIGA report on the state of the region's industry. The UK trade body representing video game developers looked at 78 mid to large-sized game development companies in the region, and found the average independent developer is 51 people strong; the average independent developer that also publishes is 45. On the other hand, studios owned by publishers average 245 employees, says the report. TIGA's survey also offered some insights on the region's workforce composition: 88 percent of the staff is male while 12 percent is female. That's the same percentage as UK citizens versus non-citizens, where 12 percent of the average staff is foreign. The average independently owned game developer on TIGA's radar sees about £3,130,600 ($4,995,811) in revenue in an average year; if that developer is also a publisher, the number rises to £4,055,000 ($6,470,969). When a studio is owned by a publisher the average is significantly larger, at £15,500,000 ($24,734,900). The average UK game company has been open seven years, and 72 percent consider the U.S. one of their most important markets. TIGA says the survey is intended to help create a clear model of the larger video game industry in the UK, and it comes on the heels of challenges for the region's business in getting financial support from its government. Many in the UK's industry are concerned about the UK game industry's future health and ability to compete internationally in the face of tax incentives in other regions. "The report clearly showed the incredible diversity that exists in the development community from size of studio to location, genre of game and distribution method," says TIGA CEO Richard Wilson. "Games development is a real UK success story; we have an immensely talented workforce and we are at the cutting edge of changes in technology and business practices."