Twelve creative businesses awarded funding to develop
cutting-edge video games and immersive experiences
Twelve Wales-based game development studios are to share over
£580,000 to help them to develop innovative video games and
immersive experiences for commercial release.
The funding, via Creative Wales' Games Development Fund, offered
£10,000 to £50,000 per project, with the idea of bringing fresh
gaming concepts to market.
The programme encourages new creative concepts with robust market
strategies, supporting businesses on their way to achieving
self-sustaining growth and long-term commercial success.
Recipients span the breadth of Wales, with successful applicants
based in locations from Caernarfon to Pembrokeshire and with
their content varying from quests set in the rural mountains, to
virtual reality experiences and Welsh mythology-inspired
adventures.
Gaz Thomas, from Rarebit Studios in Conwy, said:
"Thanks to the Development Fund, Rarebit Studios is doubling
in size and launching an ambitious new Solitaire.io project.
We're proud to be creating world-class games from North Wales and
Creative Wales' support is helping us take it to another
level!"
Cardiff-based businesses also secured six awards, showcasing the
capital's growing reputation as a creative digital hub.
Will Humphrey, from Sugar Creative in Cardiff,
said:
“Securing support from Creative Wales has been transformative
for Sugar Creative. This funding has enabled us to push the
boundaries of immersive storytelling and accelerate the
development of a project with Hat Trick Productions and HTM
Television, scaling our ambitions further. It's more than just
financial support; it's a vote of confidence in our vision and in
Wales as a hub for cutting-edge games innovation.”
The Minister for Creative, , visited Sugar Creative
earlier this week [Thursday 16 October] to talk to them
about their work, including a recent collaboration with Ubisoft
on an educational app called Medieval Baghdad, a resource to
complement the world-famous land of Assassin's Creed Mirage. The
creative powerhouse has over 45 studios worldwide and around
18,000 employees.
Following his visit, said:
"Wales has a proud tradition of storytelling and creativity,
and these awards demonstrate how our digital creative sector is
developing that in new and exciting ways. From immersive
experiences that transport players to the Himalayas to games
inspired by the Mabinogion, these projects showcase the
innovation and talent we have right here in Wales.
"This investment is another part of our work to build Wales'
reputation as a leading destination for games development and
helping our creative industries compete on the global stage. I'm
particularly pleased to see projects from across Wales
contributing to this digital revolution."
This fund is just part of a raft of initiatives Creative Wales
offers the gaming industry. Their other support includes the
Scale Up Fund, which recently awarded £850,000 to 6 Welsh
companies; supporting numerous studios to join a trade mission to
the Game Developers Conference (GDC) in San Francisco earlier
this year, as well as another trade trip planned for next month
to Slush 2025, in partnership with Games London.
Notes to editors
Full list of successful applicants:
- Free Games Online Ltd T/A Rarebit Studios (Conwy)
- Good Gate Media Ltd (Cardiff)
- Hypertonic Games Limited (Pembrokeshire)
- Squarehead Studios Ltd (Blaenau Gwent)
- Bumpybox Limited (Cardiff)
- Story Mode Ltd (Vale of Glamorgan)
- Sugar Creative Studio Ltd (Cardiff)
- Wild Dream Films (Cardiff)
- Dragon Scale Studios Ltd (Cardiff)
- Free Range Devs Ltd (Wrexham)
- Palatine Games Ltd (Cardiff)
- Rondo Media Cyf/Galactig (Caernarfon)
