Developing a Resilient and Inclusive Video Game Industry: Insights from Develop:Brighton

Develop:Brighton is always such a great way to showcase the best of the video games industry and its huge range of talent, business support, and knowledge. This year's event raised some all-important questions, and amongst the chatter in the networks of people, there was a real sense that things must change to make the industry more resilient and adaptable as we battle for our global foothold. After all the layoffs of the last year or more, it's hardly surprising that discussions are turning to "what now, what next?"

Our Managing Director, Sarah Brewster, sat with Gina Jackson OBE, CEO of Pitchify; Liz Prince, Managing Director of Amiqus; and Dom Shaw, EDI Lead of #RaisetheGame, at a roundtable talking about "No More Boom and Bust: How to Empower Inclusive, Sustainable Businesses." They explored the root issues in the industry and how to foster better discussions with investors to access funding that is suitable and enables studios to plan for skills that are not always headcount. This conversation echoed throughout the three days and will reverberate for some time to come; investors need to understand that headcount shouldn't be tallied by payroll but by expertise and talent in a wider, more diverse way.

Furthermore, how studio heads have those conversations and secure investment is fundamental to ensuring we're not stuck in the cycle of inflating headcount when things are booming and making vast layoffs when things return to normal or financial markets shift. The disconnect between the industry's economic output of £7.82 billion and the risks investors are prepared to take seems inequitable. The roundtable really challenged if this was due to the communication skills and power balance between investors and studios. What investors need to understand, it seems, is not just the financial risk in terms of game design and development but the use of headcount, contractors, and freelance talent to maximize not just diversity but gameplay, story, and audience reach.

In addition, the session challenged whether studio heads pitching for the investment know how to have those conversations. No matter the studio size, the balance of play is between what we create and what investors understand; increasingly, we're questioning what's happening in that balance of power and who is understanding what we need. We are often compared to other screen sectors, and differentiating is really important, but one strong parallel is the current issues in TV that have led to a dearth of job losses and set diversity back by years. With the value of the games industry, we seem to be at risk of the same cycle, yet without the loss of economic value. So where is it going wrong, and what can we do to fix it?

The roundtable identified some core trends: better knowledge around the language used between studios and investors, enabling studio founders to have conversations that demonstrate their value and how they will skill up the studios; better knowledge to push back against headcount to enable the use of contractors and freelancers; and better knowledge of investors about the risks this industry represents. The question, it seems, is how do we get this to change? What programs and united conversations are there to bring about this change?

Develop:Brighton highlighted the critical need for a shift in how the video game industry communicates and collaborates. By fostering better understanding and more equitable practices, we can ensure a more resilient and inclusive future for the industry.

If you're interested in talking to Sarah about this roundtable or indeed the work she's doing with DCMS to foster a better connection to the industry then please get in touch via info@freshseed.co.uk and we can set up a call.