Meeting of the Parliament 03 February 2026 [Draft]
I congratulate Michael Marra on lodging the motion and bringing the debate to Parliament this evening. I welcome the publication of the national games action plan by the Scottish Games Network. Scotland’s games sector is a shining example of what is possible when entrepreneurial talent, creativity, innovation and technical expertise come together.
The sector is one of Scotland’s greatest modern-day success stories and international exports. As the Scottish Government considers the recommendations of the action plan and the financial commitments involved, it is important to remember that the games sector already has a proven track record of success. The action plan is not making a funding request but asking for an investment in growth. This is not about rescuing a struggling industry or backing a speculative venture but about supercharging a sector that is already thriving and delivering real economic and creative impact.
Scotland’s video games industry delivers exceptionally high productivity; it generates more than £150,000 in GVA per employee, which is more than double the Scottish national average. The Scottish Government should seize every opportunity to grow the sector further and create even more well-paid, highly skilled, export-driven jobs while attracting investment, strengthening regional economies and retaining skilled talent.
The action plan calls on the Scottish Government to recognise games as a national priority; provide strong leadership and co-ordination; invest in studios and talent; support skills development; back regional hubs such as Dundee; and promote Scottish games on the global stage. Those measures are designed to ensure that the sector can grow sustainably and deliver real economic and creative impact across Scotland.
Dundee exemplifies why that support is important. The city is the birthplace and beating heart of Scotland’s video games industry. Its success began with pioneering studios such as DMA Design, which was the forerunner of Rockstar North, and it continues today through a thriving cluster of independent studios. The role of Dundee-based companies in the development of iconic games such as Grand Theft Auto and Minecraft cannot be overstated.
Central to Dundee’s global reputation is Abertay University, which was one of the first universities in the world to offer dedicated courses in video game development. Abertay has supplied generations of highly skilled graduates who have shaped the industry locally and globally.
Through the delivery of the action plan, there is an opportunity to recognise Dundee’s unique role and to deliver targeted support to strengthen its cluster. That includes backing local studios through funding and investment, supporting Abertay and other educational institutions to extend and expand their skills pipelines, and promoting Dundee as a centre of excellence in Scotland’s wider games sector.
By building on Dundee’s historic achievements and leveraging world-class talent and infrastructure, the action plan can help to cement the city’s position as a global leader. I fully support the motion and encourage the Scottish Government to use all the levers at its disposal to support the action plan, and I call on it to set out in full how it will engage with the plan’s recommendations.