The CEO of UK video games trade body UKIE Dr Jo Twist OBE has said that the British government needs to provide robust support to the games industry.

In a statement to PCGamesInsider.biz, the trade body boss said that companies need support at a government level in order to help it continue to compete on the global stage. This comes following a French campaign called Join the Game which launched yesterday, designed to attempt to attract global games companies to the nation.

"The UK is one of the best places in the world to make and sell games. The sector has fought hard to earn that reputation over the course of decades, working in partnership with government to achieve that goal," Twist said.

"However, that reputation can be eroded in a globally competitive industry. The emergence of a programme designed to poach talent and businesses from the UK should remind policymakers of this fact.

"At the moment, the UK government provides strong support to games businesses through Video Game Tax Relief, the UK Games Fund and our international trade programme.

"But continued uncertainty caused by Brexit and potential for disproportionate regulation of our industry without the support of a robust evidence base risks diminishing that positive approach - potentially turning talented individuals and businesses away from the UK.

"We must, therefore, continue to have a meaningful and constructive conversation between our sector and government to ensure we safeguard the position of our forward-thinking, thriving creative sector.”