Arkham City developer laments health of UK games industry

London-based Batman: Arkham City developer Rocksteady Studios has called on the government to step in and help revitalise the flagging UK games industry.

Speaking in an interview with CVG, studio game director Sefton Hill lamented the talent brain-drain caused by superior tax incentives abroad, especially in Canada.

"A lot of my friends have moved abroad to get work; there's a real talent drain," he said.

"Montreal is a central place for development and it's mainly because the tax breaks they give are so phenomenal.

"It's a real shame, because home computers were so popular and the bedroom programming scene was so big we have some of the best talent in the world in this country. That situation is rapidly changing and it's such a shame."

Hill went on suggest that the UK could have been a world leader in game development had the industry received better government support.

"We have great developers here but those numbers are dwindling. You just think about quality developers like Bizarre Creations, Black Rock - people who are making really good games and going out of business. Those guys were so talented so how can that happen?

"I just think that we could have been in Montreal's position with that backing from the government. It's such a big industry now and we could be world leaders. Britain's home computing history is just incredible."

Hill's comments follow a recent TIGA study that claimed 41 per cent of UK developers made redundant in recent studio closures have taken their talents overseas.