UK Games Fund Opens Fifth Funding Round

The UK Games Fund is intended to support UK video games development. Aimed at helping smaller companies get concepts into production, the Fund provides additional support to the video games sector, helping to maximise the contribution to economic growth this sector is already delivering.

The Fund offers grants to support video games projects, as well as creating jobs, nurturing talent and furthering the growth of games clusters all around the UK.

Round 5 differs from previous rounds as it is targeted at applicants with early-stage projects, with funding provided to refine and improve pitching skills, whilst also developing a playable demo for showcasing at a consumer games show.

An initial support package will be provided to the value of £10,000, comprising:

an award of £5,000 paid in two £2,500 instalments (the first in July, the second in September);

involvement in a community of funded companies, along with pitch guidance and informative web-cast sessions;

invitation to a Pitch Preparation Event in September to test and improve pitches in front of the UK Games Fund team (plus invited publishers, platform holders, and investors); and

an opportunity to showcase projects at a large-scale consumer games show in the autumn.

Applicants selected to participate in the compulsory showcasing at the consumer games show will also be required to pitch for further funding from the UK Games Fund, where grants of up to £20,000 will be available. The money can be used to help create working prototype games and raise the private investment necessary to see a concept turned into a finished product.

The provider will normally accept applications from UK registered, early-stage games development companies employing fewer than 50 people.

The deadline for submission of Expressions of Interest is midday on Monday 28 January 2019.

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