Scottish games industry calls on government for enhanced support

17 February 2026, 6am: Scottish games industry calls on government for enhanced support with an industry Manifesto. Ahead of the Scottish elections, video games and interactive entertainment industry manifesto urges next Scottish Government to strengthen policy, unlock investment, and build talent pipeline.

Interactive Entertainment Scotland has launched a comprehensive manifesto ahead of the 2026 Scottish Parliament Election, calling on all political parties to provide enhanced support at a time of significant change for the global industry.

The manifesto has been backed by members of Interactive Entertainment Scotland and leading games businesses across the country, representing studios of all sizes from emerging independents to established global exporters, including Ukie.

The manifesto comes as Scotland’s position as a creative and cultural hub for the global games industry continues to strengthen.

The industry has set out three core priority areas for the next Scottish Government:

1 – Reviewing and strengthening existing policy support

The sector is calling for a task-and-finish review to identify opportunities for a cross-policy agenda that recognises how the industry intersects with creative, enterprise, education, technology and innovation sectors. The review would also look to strengthen institutional knowledge within Scottish Government and develop a data strategy to provide accurate, timely insight for shaping policy and investment.

2- Unlocking access to funding for growth and innovation

With access to finance proving more difficult than in previous years, the manifesto asks the next Scottish Government to enhance collaboration with agencies to promote appropriate funding opportunities for the video game sector, provide long-term finance for existing successful programmes which support the industry, and develop a targeted pilot funding scheme drawing on best practice from Wales and Northern Ireland. The industry also seeks the exploration of opportunities with the Scottish National Investment Bank and for targeted support to reach existing and emerging clusters around all of Scotland.

3 – Investing in Scotland’s talent pipeline

The manifesto calls for collaboration between industry, stakeholders and experts to ensure Computing Science and Digital Creativity are consistently available across primary and secondary schools. The sector is also seeking exploration of funded apprenticeships and opportunities for reskilling and upskilling within the industry.

The industry currently benefits from Scottish Government support through initiatives including Techscaler, CodeBase and the previous backing for DICE Europe which took place in Edinburgh in 2025. The manifesto builds on this foundation, calling for enhanced support to unlock the sector’s full economic, social and cultural potential.

Interactive Entertainment Scotland is calling on all political parties standing in the May election to engage with the industry and commit to the manifesto priorities. The sector stands ready to work collaboratively with the next Scottish Government to deliver policies that support growth, innovation and talent development across Scotland’s video games and interactive entertainment industry.

Chris van der Kuyl, 4J Studios, IES Chair: 

“Scotland has all the ingredients to be one of the most dynamic video games ecosystems in the world: exceptional universities, ambitious studios, strong clusters and a global reputation for creativity. But the global industry is changing rapidly, and we cannot stand still.

This manifesto is about practical, targeted action, improving access to capital, strengthening institutional understanding of the sector, and embedding digital creativity throughout our education system.

We look forward to working with all parties ahead of the election to ensure Scotland remains a world-leading home for video games development and innovation.”

Nick Poole, Chief Executive of UK Interactive Entertainment (Ukie) commented:

“Scotland has long been a pioneer in the global video games industry. Now, with the support of a new Scottish Government, we have an opportunity to help games businesses across Scotland build a long-term platform for growth, jobs and international investment. We are proud to support Interactive Entertainment Scotland in bringing this exciting vision to life.”

Notes to Editors:

• The government receives approximately £3.43 for every £1 invested through Video Games Tax Relief. The sector is worth £6 billion in Gross Value Added to the UK economy, with spillover value to other sectors estimated at £760 million GDP. The UK ranks as the world’s fourth largest exporter of video games.

• Interactive Entertainment Scotland is a part of Ukie. Ukie represents the UK’s games and interactive entertainment industry, championing businesses from start-ups to global publishers.