Government to give video game startups £4 million to build the next 'Grand Theft Auto'

According to various media reports, the UK government is allocating a total of £4 million over the next four years in a bid to aid companies build a new generation of video games in the UK.

The Video Games Prototype Fund is under the Department for Media, Culture and Sport (DCMS) and aimed at helping video game companies get their concepts “off the drawing board and into production.”

From until 2019, grants of up to £25,000 will offered to early stage video game companies. These grants are sculpted to help new and young gaming companies create working prototypes.

Companies looking to go beyond the prototype stage will be eligible for a limited number of £50,000 grants.

The UK Government maintains that the video gaming industry is one of the UK’s biggest successes and is using the launch of the new fund as to highlight the nation’s previous successes in the field.

For example, early releases of “Grand Theft Auto” were largely created by a team of programmers at Rockstar North in Scotland, while the “Tomb Raider” series was originally developed by the London headquarters of Eidos Interactive.

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Ed Vaizey, Minister for Culture and the Digital Economy said: “Britain’s video games punch well above their weight internationally and we need to build on this and invest in the strength of our creativity."

“This fund will give small businesses, startups and individuals the support they need to better attract private investment and go on to create the blockbusters of tomorrow.”

The fund will be managed by the UK Games Talent and Finance Community Interest Company, a company that will also explore joint ventures with organisations such as Digital Catapult, BAFTA, Ukie, Creative England, Creative Scotland and BFI.