Scotland to showcase gaming industry at world-renowned event

Eight Scottish games companies are set to travel to Japan to showcase their products at an event attended by millions.

On Saturday, the cohort will head to Tokyo, as part of a Techscaler venture, in a bid to attract investment and commercial contracts.

The firms will stay at Tunnel Tokyo, a startup incubator operated by the SEGA Sammy group, creator of games such as Sonic the Hedgehog, and venture capital firm Pegasus Ventures.

Head of bridge programmes at CodeBase, Ruth Oliver described the programme as “a golden chance” for firms to expand their customer base and “take their business to the next level in one of the world's most dynamic and important markets".

During the two-week stay, they will showcase their products at a Scottish Government event focused on gaming at the 2025 World Expo in Osaka, which is expected to attract more than 28 million visitors and 150 countries throughout its duration.

Business minister Richard Lochhead said: “Japan is synonymous with gaming technology and, with a market valued at around $50bn, it offers phenomenal economic opportunities for our own, hugely talented Scottish sector.

“Techscaler is about helping entrepreneurs unleash their ability to innovate, spearheading Scotland’s presence in expanding new markets.

“Techscaler Japan will present some of our most exciting gaming start-ups with considerable opportunities to unlock further investment, develop new commercial partnerships and drive and showcase their businesses on a global stage.”

Participating firms come from Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dundee, and together gather a range of expertise.

Dundee’s Konglomerate Games develops video game technology for sectors like healthcare and education, while Edinburgh-based Speech Graphics develops facial animation technology.

Other Edinburgh companies include Yaldi Games which develops education-focused software, Wardog Studios which develops virtual reality weapons and vehicles and GLITCHERS which has developed a game to support dementia research.

Glasgow-based firms include Buildstash, which helps game developers manage iOS and Android app, Blazing Griffin, a film and games producer and post-production developer and BearHammer Games, a virtual reality projects and game developer.

Blazing Griffin's co-head of games, Justin Alae-Carew said: "We're incredibly excited to take part in Techscaler's market visit to Japan. Japan is not only an incredible consumer and producer of games, but also home to a fantastic array of multi-media intellectual property (IP). We see huge opportunity in exploring cross-border partnership with a specific focus on IP - either Japanese IP coming to the West or Western IP gaining foothold in Japan.”

The spotlight event on gaming will take place on 17 April and is one of three that the Scottish Enterprise is supporting at the expo event.