All Posts

What happens when worlds stop being platforms and start becoming places people can live, play, and create together? At a recent conversation featuring Skyler Laston-Gaeta and Vicki Thompson from Epic Games, Sol Rogers from Magnopus, and Carol Trang from The LEGO Group, the panel explored how cross-platform worlds are reshaping storytelling, IP, and audience participation. The message was clear: the future isn’t about broadcasting stories at audiences — it’s about inviting the

Choosing between games executive search and traditional recruitment can shape the success of a senior hire. Here is how studios and entertainment businesses can decide.

We attended the 2026 launch presentation of Ukie's latest Census, renamed for ‘26 as the ‘UK Games Industry Workforce Demographics Survey 2025.’ The results paint a picture of an industry that is more diverse than the UK workforce at large — but one still working through the aftershocks of a tough few years of job losses, and still facing real questions about who gets to progress once they're in the door. So, what stands out? A workforce that looks different to the wider labo

Out Making Games, of which JDA’s James Dodd is a Director, today announced the release of Trapped in the Network, a new report commissioned by the organisation and authored by Video Games Industry Memo. The report provides a comprehensive examination of the escalating censorship of LGBTQ+ content within video games across the globe, and sets out a clear framework for how the industry can respond. The report traces the history of digital censorship, examining how increasingly

When Phil Spencer retired in February 2026, Microsoft's gaming division was in a precarious position. Console hardware sales had fallen 32% year-over-year. Gaming revenue had declined for the fourth time in six quarters. The "This is an Xbox" marketing campaign had become a punchline. And the multi-store, platform-agnostic future that Sarah Bond had signalled just a year prior — a vision that raised serious questions about whether Xbox even needed a console anymore — had left

What follows is a roundup of insights from the Guildford Games Fest industry panel, featuring Samantha Ebelthite of Amplified Games, Simon Byron of Yogscast, James Brooksby of Absolutely Games, and Gary Burchell of Fireblade Software - developers, publishers, and studio founders, chaired by Ukie’s Sam Collins, reflecting on where the games industry is heading. The Mood in the Room: Cautious Optimism If there one sentiment which captures the collective outlook, it's 2026 isn’t

The UK theatre sector is facing a perfect storm when it comes to senior leadership recruitment. While audiences are returning post-pandemic and productions continue to dazzle, behind the scenes a quieter crisis is unfolding—one that threatens the very sustainability of Britain's world-renowned theatre industry. Recent industry analysis reveals that recruiting and retaining senior leaders has become increasingly difficult, driven by a confluence of financial pressures, systemi

For decades, post-production has been cinema's unsung hero—the meticulous craft that transforms raw footage into finished art. But in 2026, we're witnessing something unprecedented: post-production is no longer just refining stories; it's fundamentally reimagining how stories can be told. The Convergence of AI and Artistry The integration of AI tools into editorial workflows has moved beyond the hype cycle into practical transformation. Modern AI assistants don't replace edit

The games industry stands at a crossroads. As studios increasingly pivot towards freelance models and face mounting economic pressures, we're confronting an uncomfortable truth: our traditional approach to talent development is no longer sustainable. As a speaker at the recent UK Games Skills Summit and an experienced professional in the industry, this is abundantly clear. A collaboration between the British Film Institute (BFI) and The Association of UK Interactive Entertain

The global theatre sector enters 2026 demonstrating resilience and adaptability while navigating structural transformation. Here are a few key projections for the year, from our conversations so far: Optimistic Scenario (No Economic Disruption) Global theatre market grows 7-9% to $156-158 billion Broadway reaches $2.1 billion with 13.8 million attendees Asian markets continue double-digit growth, particularly China and Southeast Asia Technology integration enhances without re

For years, we've heard breathless predictions about how AI would transform online shopping. Virtual assistants would anticipate our needs. Algorithms would know us better than we know ourselves. Shopping would become frictionless, personalised, almost telepathic. The reality of 2026 is more subtle and, in many ways, more profound. Ecommerce hasn't been revolutionised by a single breakthrough but rather by the convergence of several technologies that are finally mature enough