Is the UK finally waking up to the power of video games?

Is the UK finally waking up to the power of video games?9 minutes agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleTom Richardson,BBC Newsbeat,Laura Cress,BBC NewsandMarc Cieslak,AI correspondentGetty ImagesThe Bafta Games Awards are a night for video game workers to celebrateThe Bafta Games Awards take place later, celebrating the achievements of global video game developers and British studios alike.This year smash-hit role-playing game Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 looks set to sweep the board with 12 nominations in total.Made in France, the game's developers, Sandfall Interactive, have twice been publicly praised by president Emmanuel Macron, and even honoured by the country's Ministry of Culture.But do video games get the same recognition in the UK?Hugely popular series including Grand Theft Auto, Tomb Raider, Lego: Star Wars and Football Manager were made in Britain.But some in the industry would argue that, despite their cultural and economic contributions, games aren't placed on the same pedestal as other creative sectors.But could that be starting to change?According to industry body UK Interactive Entertainment (UKIE), Britain's video game industry was worth £8.76bn in 2025 - an increase of 7.4% on the year before.They said this was made up of spending on:Software - £6.03bn, a 7% increase Game hardware (consoles, accessories) - £2.17bn, a 3% increase"Game culture" (video games-related film and TV) - £566m, a 42% increaseToys and merchandise - £333m, a 43% increaseAt the same time, the global video games industry has endured one of its biggest periods of uncertainty in recent years with thousands of developers losing jobs and studios closing.Getty ImagesAlanah Pearce has worked in the games industry since 2012Alanah Pearce, who's worked as a video game writer, actress and journalist since starting her career in the industry in 2012, tells BBC News it's a "frustrating" situation.While the industry is still "incredibl...