UK Games Businesses Join Prime Minister’s Business and Cultural Delegation to China

28 January 2026, 12pm: Ukie, the trade body for the UK games and interactive entertainment industry, today marks a historic milestone for the sector as, for the first time, two UK games businesses, including Ukie Chair and ustwo Games CEO Maria Sayans, join Prime Minister Keir Starmer on a government-backed business and cultural delegation to China.

The delegation includes two leading figures from the UK games industry: Maria Sayans, CEO of Ukie member ustwo Games and Chair of Ukie, and Donna Orlowski, CEO of Ukie member Chucklefish. They join Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Business and Trade Secretary Peter Kyle to showcase the creativity, commercial strength and global appeal of British-made games on the world stage.

Their participation represents the first official inclusion of the UK developers in a government-backed delegation to China, signalling the sector’s growing importance to the UK’s creative economy, export strategy and global cultural influence.

The visit comes at a pivotal moment for the UK economy and global trade. China is the world’s second-largest economy and the UK’s third-largest trading partner, supporting more than 370,000 British jobs and playing a critical role in global supply chains. Over 10,000 UK businesses export to China each year, across sectors including culture, technology, financial services, life sciences and education.

Ukie’s participation in the delegation directly supports its Made in the UK campaign, which champions the UK games industry as a world-class creative and economic success story—designed, built and grown in Britain, and enjoyed by audiences worldwide. The campaign positions games as a cornerstone of the UK’s creative industries, driving exports, inward investment and highly skilled jobs across the country.

Nick Poole OBE, CEO of Ukie, said:

“UK-made games are among the most creative, commercially successful and culturally influential in the world. Backing Chucklefish and ustwo Games on this landmark mission sends a clear signal that Britain believes in its games industry and is serious about supporting it to compete and win globally. This is exactly what Made in the UK is about: British creativity, British businesses, and British success on the international stage.”

China is one of the most influential games markets globally, offering significant opportunities for partnership, publishing, investment and cultural exchange. The delegation will provide participating businesses with access to senior decision-makers, industry leaders and new commercial opportunities.

Maria Sayans, CEO of ustwo games, said:

“China has long been an incredibly important market for ustwo games, and we’ve seen first-hand how Monument Valley resonates with players there. Being part of the Prime Minister’s delegation reflects the strength of the creative and commercial relationship between the UK and China, and the global appeal of British-made games. Following our recent announcement at the TapTap Awards, we’re excited to deepen our engagement in China and explore new opportunities for collaboration, cultural exchange, and sustainable growth in one of the world’s most influential games markets.”

Donna Orlowski, Chief Operating Officer of Chucklefish, said:

“Chucklefish is proud to be part of this historic new chapter in UK-China relations. We see video games and the act of play as a powerful force for unity, and are excited to explore future collaborations with one of the world’s leading markets. By combining our shared creative talent, we can unlock significant opportunities for meaningful business and cultural exchange.”

Ukie will continue to work with government and industry partners to ensure UK games businesses are supported to scale internationally, strengthening the sector’s contribution to the UK economy and reinforcing the UK’s position as a global leader in video games and interactive entertainment.

Notes to Editors:

• Ukie represents the UK’s games and interactive entertainment industry, championing businesses from start-ups to global publishers.
• Ustwo Games is a BAFTA-winning UK games studio based in London, best known for Monument Valley and Monument Valley 2, which have been downloaded over 160 million times worldwide. The studio is recognised for creating thoughtful, beautiful games that push the boundaries of mobile gaming and interactive storytelling.
• Chucklefish is an independent UK games publisher and developer based in London, known for critically acclaimed titles including Stardew Valley (as publisher), Wargroove, and Starbound. Founded in 2011, the studio has built a reputation for supporting innovative indie games and fostering creative talent in the games industry.
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• For further information about the delegation, please visit Gov.uk.