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Barclays and Ukie partner to find the UK’s next generation of innovative indie games developers

  • Barclays has partnered with Ukie to launch the Ukie Games Demo Day
  • The virtual event will see innovative indie games developers showcase their work in front of a panel of investors and industry experts
  • Applications are now open for developers to take part and close on Friday 23rd July

01/07/21: Barclays has partnered with Ukie, the trade body for the UK’s games and interactive entertainment sector, to hold the Ukie Games Demo Day, to find and support the UK’s next generation of innovative indie games developers.

The Demo Day, which will be held in September, will see participants demonstrate their games virtually in front of a panel of experienced investors and industry experts, as well as an audience of wider industry players and potential backers, to help create connections for the up and coming developers that could lead to funding.

Applications are now open to developers who want to showcase their games. Eight finalists, who will be chosen to demonstrate on the day, will be selected based on a number of criteria, including how their game demonstrates innovation and originality.

Dr Jo Twist OBE at Ukie, said: “Independent game development studios have always been at the heart of the UK’s fantastically creative, innovative and culturally significant games industry. We look forward to working with Barclays to both celebrate and support the next generation of talent that’ll shape our sector for years to come.”

Earlier this year, Barclays exclusive data* revealed that spending on video games rose by 43 per cent year-on-year in 2020, with customer numbers up by a fifth, demonstrating the increasing strength of the already booming industry. However, despite this growth, even with a minimum viable product or pre‑release demonstration game, indie game developers can still struggle to attract interest from a publisher or Triple-A games company to fund further development and launch.

David Gowans, Head of Games and Esports at Barclays, said: “One of the biggest hurdles for independent games developers is finding the right funding, even as larger games businesses and investors are looking for the right game and teams to work with. By partnering with Ukie on the Games Demo Day, we hope to create an avenue to come together and build connections that will help the UK games industry continue to thrive.”

For more information, or to apply to take part in the Ukie Games Demo Day, visit: https://labs.uk.barclays/gamestech/demo-day

To find out how Barclays is supporting the games and esports industries, visit: games.barclays

ENDS

For more information, contact:

George Shorrock / george.shorrock@barclays.com / 07384433593

Notes to Editors

*Barclays debit and Barclaycard credit card spend on digital merchants identified as gaming retailers in 2020 and 2019, not including mobile gaming and transactions in mobile app stores.

About Barclays

Barclays is a British universal bank.  We are diversified by business, by different types of customers and clients, and by geography.  Our businesses include consumer banking and payments operations around the world, as well as a top-tier, full service, global corporate and investment bank, all of which are supported by our service company, which provides technology, operations and functional services across the Group.

For further information about Barclays, please visit our website home.barclays        

About Ukie

Ukie is a not for profit trade body that represents the UK games and interactive entertainment industry. Its mission is to make the UK into the best place to make, sell and play games in the world.

It represents over 500 businesses working across the UK, including game developers, publishers, platforms and service providers. It supports companies through business support programmes, political engagement, speaking with the media on behalf of the sector and running education initiatives to boost the industry talent pipeline.

The organisation also supports and manages key industry responsibility campaigns such as www.askaboutgames.com and the Get Smart About P.L.A.Y. parental outreach campaign.

Discover more about Ukie at www.ukie.org.uk.