The smartphone market has become the most popular gaming platform for videogame developers in the UK .
Moreoever, an increasing number of videogame developers are turning to self-publishing. The Independent reported, citing a TIGA’s State of the Development Sector report, that 47% of UK game developers self-publish games and of those, 67% develop for the Apple iPhone.
Self-publishing gives developers greater control over their games and platforms.
The study found that social networks are also popular among self-publishers with 31% developing games for Facebook. At the same time, 18% of those surveyed said that some of their staff have left to work abroad.
"There are distinct advantages for games developers which operate in countries where there are subsidies," says TIGA’s CEO Dr Richard Wilson.
"They are able to attract greater global investment and this cements the need for tax breaks in the UK for game developers."
"It is interesting that we are seeing a large number of smaller developers emerge in the UK," adds Wilson.
"In our survey, 46 per cent of respondents were micro-firms with up to 10 staff. For them, smartphone platforms are ideal because the barriers to entry are low."
