A new gaming programme designed to accelerate the growth of games
companies in Wales has launched, fully funded by Creative Wales
and delivered by award-winning tech hub Tramshed Tech.
The Gaming Academy Programme will provide intensive business
support to 12 games companies over eight months, equipping
developers with the skills, mentoring and connections needed to
build commercially viable and investor-ready ventures.
The programme is being offered to recipients of the latest round
of Creative Wales' Development Funding, who have already received
between £25,000 and £50,000 to help them develop their ideas for
commercial release. The Gaming Academy Programme aims to make
maximum use of this funding by ensuring it is backed up by the
best industry support and mentoring.
Recipients span the breadth of Wales, with successful applicants
based in locations from Caernarfon and Pembrokeshire to Cardiff
and Blaenau Gwent.
The programme consists of two phases. The first is a two-month
intensive accelerator where founders will test, refine and
validate their gaming business ideas through expert-led
workshops, mentoring sessions and a final showcase event.
The second phase provides up to six months of follow-on support
including personalised mentoring, networking opportunities and
preparation for major international industry events such as Game
Developers Conference in San Francisco and Gamescom.
The programme also aims to address a significant gap in support
for gaming founders. Participants will receive support with
business modelling, user research, market sizing, revenue
planning and pitch refinement, with all sessions delivered by
experienced founders and domain experts.
The UK gaming market was reportedly worth around £7.82 billion in
2023 and an estimated £352 billion globally.
Creative Wales has directly supported 77 digital companies
including games, animation and immersive tech studios.
Minister for Creative, , said:
"This programme is about giving games developers in Wales the
complete package they need to succeed. It's not just funding -
it's expert mentoring, practical business skills, and the
connections needed to achieve commercial success.
"We're backing talented entrepreneurs with the tools to turn
innovative ideas into thriving businesses. That means support
with everything from refining their pitch to preparing for major
international events.
"Wales has real strengths in this sector, and through Creative
Wales and partners like Tramshed Tech, we're making sure our
games companies have every opportunity to grow and attract
investment."
Tramshed Tech, named by Wired magazine as a UK Top Ten co-working
space, has supported over 300 startups through its ventures'
unit.
Sophie Webber, Head of Ventures at
Tramshed Tech said:
"Wales has incredible creative talent in games, but
too often founders don't get the commercial and investor
support needed to scale globally. The Gaming Academy is about
bridging that gap. With the backing of Creative Wales, we're
helping ambitious studios turn strong ideas into sustainable,
investor-ready businesses and giving them the confidence, skills
and connections to compete on the world
stage.”
, Founder of Hypertonic Games
Limited said:
“Honey & Hives aims to use virtual reality to immerse players
in the peaceful world of beekeeping. Developing immersive VR
experiences is both creatively exciting and technically
challenging in such a fast-moving industry. Access to funding and
wider support is vital for emerging Welsh studios like mine,
helping us navigate both technical and commercial challenges and
giving ambitious projects the best possible chance to succeed.”
Alex Lightman, Head of Development at Good Gate Media,
said:
"The wraparound support and funding from Creative Wales is a
massive boost for us. Combining targeted funding with their
industry network and expertise fuels our ability scale up and
maximise commercial potential. It's about more than just making a
great game—it's about building our production slate and ensuring
our games continue to successfully reach global markets.”
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)
Tramshed Tech
