212 games have been approved for UK games tax breaks during the last 12 months.

That’s up from the 133 games that successfully applied for the incentives during the period of April 2015 to March 2016, an increase of 59.4%.

EEA/UK spend also increased to £220 million from £189 million, though the total budget decreased to £258 million from £275 million.

58 titles received final certification in Q1 2017, up from 35 in Q1 2016. Spend during this quarter was £41 million, an increase from £22 million in Q1 2016.

Given the greenlight

Interim certification, games that have passed the cultural test but aren’t yet finished, was given to 51 titles in Q1 2017.

This was up from the 40 games that received interim certification in Q1 2016. EEA/UK spend stood at £152 million with a total budget of £164 million.

Between April 2016 and March 2017, 187 games received interim certification with an expected spend of £412 million, and a total budget of £482 million.

The number of games was up from 135 during the April 2015 to March 2016 period. However, spend was significantly down from £576 million and £631 million between April 2015 and March 2016.

“The continued year-on-year rise of games businesses applying for video games tax relief is a clear message to government that it is critical that the funding is protected and improved over the important political period we are entering into,” said Ukie CEO Jo Twist.

“As we leave the EU, Ukie calls on the next government to continue to recognise the value of the games sector in driving cultural and technological innovation and growth; continue to support this much valued scheme, and to consider other opportunities to improve access to finance in order to continue to take risks with innovative, cultural content."