Mayor of London launches new £1.2m initiative to help make London the world’s games capital.
The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, stepped into the world of Minecraft yesterday, to launch a new venture to build on the UK video games industry and make London the world’s games capital.
Games London will be funded by the London Enterprise Panel, and is being delivered by Film London (the capital’s strategic agency for film and media) and games trade body, Ukie.
As part of it, the London Games Festival – a new consumer, cultural and business event – will take place from April 1-10 2016. It will include 15 official events across ten different venues in the capital.
Boris – who is chair of the LEP – revealed the plan via the world of Minecraft, commenting: “Through Games London we are supercharging an increasingly important sector for our economy, one that exemplifies the capital’s reputation for creativity and innovation.”
The three-year programme will aim to attract investment to the UK and help businesses based in the capital generate £35 million in new revenue, adding nearly £10 million, as well as creating hundreds of jobs and boosting skills and training.
Games London is being led by Michael French, who has been working in the video games sector for 13 years as a journalist and publisher, building brands and events that support and grow the games industry.
Further details on Games London can be found by clicking here.
