Skip to main content

 

EM3 backs region’s video game industry as Guildford Games Festival goes global

Last updated 29 October 2020
bookmark Add to bookmarks
Guidlford Games Festival

Enterprise M3 continues its backing of the region's game industry with its support for the Guildford Games Festival as it aims to reach an even wider international audience in 2020.

The Festival is returning for a second year on Friday 13 and Saturday 14 November and will be held online, streaming its content through video game distribution network Steam, furthering the borough's reputation as 'the Hollywood of video games'.

The 2020 line-up features an industry expert helpline and careers guidance, plus video reports on the prestige and success of the industry in Guildford at a time when the digital games sector continues to thrive in Guildford despite the huge economic challenges being posed by the Coronavirus pandemic.

The Festival is sponsored by Enterprise M3 LEP and Guildford Borough Council and supported by the UK's games industry trade body UKIE and age ratings advisory body AskAboutGames.

Sam Read, Games Sector Specialist at Enterprise M3 LEP said:

Enterprise M3 LEP is delighted to support the delivery of this year's Guildford Games Festival. I hope that the virtual event will be able to reach and engage with an enormous audience. It will also be a great opportunity for the LEP to promote the local industry as a high-growth sector critical to the area's general economic recovery and renewal.

The LEP is working closely with the Department for International Trade to raise awareness of Guildford's games industry internationally. The area was recently awarded 'High Potential Opportunity' status in recognition of these strengths and collaboration with Guildford Borough Council to deliver Guildford Games Festival in 2020 significantly benefits this work. Jobs site Adzuna recently listed Guildford as one of the top two places in the country for jobs in digital and tech, where its job openings now outnumber jobseekers. This further proves the value that our digital economy is bringing to the region, serving as encouragement for people considering this sector as a future career opportunity.

 

Some of the industry's biggest and most innovative developers are based in Guildford, including Criterion, DPS Games, EA Games, Hello Games, Media Molecule and Supermassive. Both DPS Games (formerly known as Wargaming UK) and EA Games - best known for FIFA, The Sims and Madden NFL - have expanded their offices in town. DPS Games has tripled the size of its headquarters at Guildford Business Park, now taking 35,000 sq ft of office space, and is also recruiting 22 new UK staff as part of its expansion plans. This follows the recent expansion of EA Games' headquarters at Onslow House.

Collaborate with us to connect with organisations, people and ideas