A New Frontier for the UK Gaming Industry: Game Republic's New Horizons

The UK's southern region, particularly London, has long been the epicenter of the country's gaming industry, drawing in opportunities and talent like a magnet. However, this dominance has led to a sense of disenfranchisement among northern-based game developers, who often find themselves having to travel extensive distances to attend key industry events, such as the Develop conference in Brighton. A glance at a map of UK-based games companies reveals a sea of activity in the south, with London at its center, while smaller, yet significant, clusters of industry presence exist in the north. The demise of Newcastle's GameHorizon event in 2014 and the non-return of Develop:North after its debut in 2024 left a void in the north, with locals facing a choice between attending Develop:Brighton or DICE Europe. Game Republic, a games business network co-directed by Dr. Jackie Mulligan and Jamie Sefton, has been working tirelessly to promote the north's gaming industry for over a decade, hosting numerous events that have drawn in members such as Team17 and Radical Forge. Their latest endeavor, New Horizons, aims to establish a Develop-style conference of national significance in the north. Judging by the impressive turnout at the inaugural event, they may be onto something. The conference kicked off with a VIP reception at Double Eleven's HQ in Middlesbrough, featuring an impressive lineup of speakers, including Lasse Seppänen, general manager of Supercell's London office, who had made the journey from the south. While the event was still largely attended by local industry professionals, such as representatives from Tanglewood Games and Observer Interactive, the fact that some southern-based industry figures were in attendance bodes well for the conference's future prospects. The main event, held at Middlesbrough FC's Riverside Stadium, provided a unique and impressive backdrop for the conference, with its linear layout facilitating natural networking opportunities among attendees. The talks on offer were diverse and well-curated, covering topics such as transmedia, international markets, and the making of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. Although the expo area was somewhat isolated, the overall atmosphere was one of excitement and optimism, with many attendees praising the event's organization and value for money. With early bird tickets already on sale for next year's event at a discounted price of £89, it remains to be seen whether New Horizons can persuade southern-based industry professionals to make the trip north, but one thing is certain – the north now has a gaming industry event to be proud of.