
Isn’t it Time That Devon’s Video Game Industry Started to Take Off?
There’s no doubting that Devon’s economy has suffered some severe hits in the past. The decline of fishing, mining and even agriculture has meant that not only is tourism now vitally important, but other service industries are also too.
The better news is that many of these have been growing in the county in recent years. The effect is easy to see in terms of economic output. In 2019, this reached a high of £26 billion, outstripping both Manchester and Edinburgh.
Especially helpful has been the arrival of several new industries drawn to the county because of several factors. For example, there is now a burgeoning cluster of businesses in the digital and financial sectors who have set up in Devon or relocated to take advantage of lower property prices and the lifestyle the region can offer their employees.
But one sector that seems to be rather under-represented, for the moment at least, is video games development.
A new industry in a new region
The conditions would seem to be perfect for the industry to thrive in the region. More and more young professionals are taking a look at their urban-centric lives and deciding to move out in search of a less pressured environment. Video games development is a prime example of the sort of industry many may work in. It’s also a sector that can thrive anywhere with global demand for new games always on the increase – and not just video games either.
"Video Game Programming" (CC BY 2.0) by qubodup
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A new future requires fresh talent
In terms of recruiting staff, there are those who we’ve already mentioned who are looking for a better quality of life. Then there is the new generation of talent coming out of the area’s universities and colleges of further education. The computing department at Exeter University, in particular, has a first-class pedigree. So all it could take is persuading students to stay in the area after graduation. After all, it’s somewhere they’ve spent three enjoyable years and having the right job opportunities could keep them here.
Plus, other parts of the South West have already shown that video gaming developers can thrive in the region. Bristol is a particular hotbed of activity, with several businesses steadily building a reputation for themselves. And, over the border in Cornwall, the Truro-based Antimatter Games have also been making waves in the last few years.
So here’s hoping that things soon start to happen in Devon’s video game scene. And, before very long, we could become a county that’s famous for much more than just our delicious clotted cream teas.