TIGA urges UK Government to enhance video games tax credits

TIGA, the trade association for the UK video games industry, has submitted proposals to the Government ahead of the Autumn Budget to enhance the Video Games Expenditure Credit (VGEC). The association aims to drive economic growth and address recent industry declines, noting that studio start-ups fell to a 15-year low of 137 in the year ending September 2025, and employment dropped by 4.5 percent, ending a 14-year growth period.

TIGA’s recommendations include raising the relief rate for smaller budget games, expanding qualifying costs to include post-release launch development, and establishing a 40-day target for HMRC to process claims. One specific proposal involves a ‘Games Growth Relief’ where games with budgets under £15 million could claim a 53 percent credit on qualifying expenditure. TIGA estimates that such measures could increase the sector’s GVA by up to £482 million and create nearly 7,000 jobs.