Ukie launches Go To Market Academy in partnership with Discord to support UK indie games studios

Ukie, the trade association for the UK’s games industry, has today launched the Go To Market Academy, a new business programme delivered in partnership with communications platform, Discord, and GameFlex to help early-stage UK indie games companies strengthen their go-to-market strategies and build sustainable communities around their games.

Discoverability has become one of the biggest challenges facing small studios today, as more games launch than ever and player attention splits across an expanding range of platforms and channels. A great game is not always enough to get noticed in this highly competitive landscape.

The Go To Market Academy will provide studios with an in-depth understanding of how to build their approach to market, audience and community, and support them in finding long-term success.

The Academy will run as six online modules covering diagnostics and insight, marketing strategy, leveraging the best of Discord, tactical campaign execution and long-term studio branding, supported by guest speakers drawn from across the games industry.

The cohort will participate in a dedicated session on how to best leverage Discord as a core pillar of their go-to-market strategy, with an expert from Discord providing bespoke advice.

Cohort places are limited to 10-12 participants, giving studios direct access to specialist input and peer learning throughout the programme. Between sessions, participants will have access to a dedicated Discord server to continue discussions and share knowledge with the wider cohort.

The programme opens with an in-person session at MCM London/EGX on 30 October 2026, before moving online for sessions running through November and early December. It concludes with an in-person celebration event where participating studios will present their go-to-market plans, developed through a shared case study over the course of the programme.

Nick Poole OBE, CEO, Ukie said: 

“Go-to-market planning is where a lot of promising games fall down, not because studios lack good ideas, but because they haven’t had the time or support to build the audience and community that gives those ideas a chance to flourish. The Go To Market Academy gives indie studios the space to work through that properly, with direct input from Discord on a platform that’s become central to how games communities actually form and grow.”

Mauro Sanna, Director of Public Policy, EMEA at Discord said: 

“The UK’s indie games scene is full of talent and opportunity, and we’re delighted to partner with Ukie to help it thrive. We’re excited to help this group of UK developers learn how to make the most of Discord to connect with our highly engaged gaming audience, build communities and grow their games. Discord gives developers a direct connection to their players and real-time insight into what’s working and what isn’t, creating a powerful advantage for long-term success.”

The Go To Market Academy is open to UK-registered games companies with a project ready to begin go-to-market planning, and is particularly suited to indie studios looking to strengthen their approach to market, audience and community development. As with all Ukie initiatives, applications are encouraged from companies and individuals representing a diverse range of locations, genders, ethnicities and backgrounds across the UK.

Applications open 1 September 2026 and close 30 September 2026.

For more information, contact [email protected]