Direct answer: The UK government announced a £30 million Games Growth Package in April 2026 to boost indie studios and the London Games Festival, with £28.5 million for the UK Games Fund and £1.5 million for festival support. This package opened funding tracks for newcomers, prototyping, and scaling up to completion.
Key details you might find useful
- UK Games Fund tracks: Entry up to £20,000; Emergent up to £100,000; Expansion up to £250,000.
- London Games Festival support: £1.5 million over three years to strengthen the festival as a global showcase.
- Timing: Applications for the fund opened mid-April 2026, aligning with the London Games Festival events.
What this means for applicants
- If you’re a newly formed studio or a small team, you could apply for the Entry or Emergent tracks to get early-stage funding.
- Established studios with working prototypes or a plan to complete a title can aim for the Expansion track to secure larger grants.
- The festival funding helps elevate visibility and investment opportunities for UK developers abroad.
Cited sources
- UK government and industry press coverage confirming the £30 million package, with the breakdown of the £28.5m fund and £1.5m festival support.[1][2][3]
Sources
Ukie welcomes Government's announcement of a £30 million Games Growth Package
ukie.org.ukGet your share of the £30 million funding boost to help the next generation of games developers take their ideas to the next level.
www.freelanceinformer.com£28.5 million UK Games Fund to support video games studios with great ideas create the next Grand Theft Auto or Tomb Raider
www.gov.ukThe UK government has unveiled a £30 million Games Growth Package to support indie studios and the next generation of British game developers. Learn how to apply.
www.gameshub.comThe latest £30 million uk games funding package is more than a headline grant announcement. It marks a sharper government bet on an industry that already sits at the intersection of creativity, export potential and regional jobs. The plan combines support for emerging studios with backing for a major London festival, while ministers frame the …
www.el-balad.comIt’s not every day the UK government throws its weight behind the video games industry. So when ministers unveiled a £30 million funding commitment as part of the Creative Industries Sector Vision, it was more than just a photo-op with upbeat soundbites - it was a rare, welcome, sign that the people in charge are starting to take games seriously. Because they should. Video games are no longer a side-show to the “real” creative industries of film, television, and music. They are the creative...
www.globalgamesforum.comUkie welcomes Government's announcement of a £30 million Games Growth Package
ukie.org.ukMore than £3 million of government funding has been awarded to emerging video game developers and start-up studios to help them scale their businesses and create the next British gaming hits.
www.gov.ukA £28.5m UK Games Fund, a three-year deal for the London Games Festival and new industry data underline the value of the UK games sector.
www.thecreativeindustries.co.ukThe UK Government has launched a new £30 million Games Growth Package aimed at boosting the country's games industry on the global stage.
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