Gaming hub Brighton ‘may very well be subsequent Silicon Valley’ of business

As Brighton software program developer Hanger 13 prepares for its newest main recreation launch, studio head Nick Baynes says he has excessive hopes for town as an business centre.

“There’s no reason why it can’t become the next Silicon Valley of video games,” he mentioned, citing the realm’s creativity and services.

The newest instalment of the studio’s Mafia franchise, a prequel to the unique, is launched on Friday.

The collection of narrative motion video games exploring the prison underworld has offered greater than 34 million copies throughout console and PC because it launched in 2002.

For the newest instalment, set in Sicily within the early 1900s, the group headed to the Mediterranean island to “capture the atmosphere and the culture” there.

“What we can see here is our realisation of the Sicilian landscape,” recreation director Alex Cox mentioned as he sat down along with his controller on the studio in Brighton.

The firm moved to town with 4 workers in 2017 however now has about 100 individuals working at its Sussex base.

In July, greater than 5,000 individuals attended a game-making business convention within the metropolis.

Mr Baynes mentioned: “The real mix of the creativity that’s here, the facilities in the city, the support network and how close we are to all the major travel hubs and London – it just feels like it’s something that can grow and grow.”

Nick Poole, chief government of commerce physique UK Interactive Entertainment, agreed.

He mentioned “some of the UK’s leading video game clusters” had been “emerging in areas like Brighton”, with the South East “really, really pivotal” to the UK’s gaming business.

The sector contributes £7.6bn to the UK financial system. However final 12 months, the business noticed game delays and thousands of layoffs, together with inside Microsoft’s gaming division.

Despite this, Mr Baynes was optimistic in regards to the future.

He mentioned: “More and more people play games these days without necessarily even realising it… I think more and more forms of gaming are going to emerge as well.

“Ultimately, I feel the outlook for the business is de facto sturdy.”

Mr Cox added that gaming provided “escapism” while also allowing “a way of connection and a way of neighborhood for many individuals”.