Video game executives from major studios, including Nintendo and 4J Studios, have lauded Scotland’s growing influence in the global gaming industry following the conclusion of DICE Europe, the annual European video game conference hosted by the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences. The event, held in Dundee and Edinburgh, brought together around 200 senior industry leaders for a week of discussions, networking, and high-profile presentations. The conference was supported by the Scottish Government and Scottish Enterprise, with the opening keynote delivered by Satoru Shibata, Managing Executive Officer at Nintendo. Shibata highlighted the company’s mission to deliver unique entertainment and originality, praising Scotland’s strong reputation in game development. He emphasized the value of connecting with peers to shape the future of the industry, noting that Scotland’s creative ecosystem is a vital contributor to global innovation. Chris van der Kuyl, Chairman of 4J Studios—the developer behind the Minecraft console edition and a key force in bringing DICE to Scotland—spoke about the country’s potential to lead the next wave of gaming evolution. He pointed to major upcoming releases such as Nintendo’s Switch 2, Rockstar’s anticipated GTA 6, and the new title Reforj, underscoring Scotland’s role in shaping the future of interactive entertainment. “Scotland is well placed to have an outsized impact on the global stage,” van der Kuyl said. Scotland is home to approximately 500 gaming studios, employing thousands of creative professionals and releasing hundreds of new titles annually. This week, it was announced that van der Kuyl will become the first chair of Interactive Entertainment Scotland, a newly formed organization under Ukie, the UK’s trade body for games and interactive entertainment, aimed at promoting and supporting the nation’s sector. The global gaming market reached an estimated $200 billion in 2024, with mobile gaming accounting for nearly half of that revenue. The year also saw significant advancements in AI integration, a slowdown in venture capital investment after a period of record funding, and ongoing shifts in market dynamics driven by post-pandemic changes. Key topics at DICE Europe included the transformative role of AI in game creation, the convergence of creative vision and commercial viability, strategies for building sustainable studios, and the increasing importance of player-centric design. Matthew Short, Partner at Aream & Co, a global investment bank specializing in interactive entertainment, noted that players are now deeply engaged with games, treating them as long-term social communities that rival the connectivity of traditional social media. “Players stay with their favorite games far longer than many initially expected,” Short said. “The market is more mature, funding priorities are evolving, but the sector remains as innovative, confident, and exciting as ever.”