14 DAY TRIAL // Activision Blizzard has joined TIGA, short for The Independent Game Developers' Association, the trade association representing the gaming industry in the United Kingdom. This is seen as a clear sign from Activision that it is supporting the tax relief the interactive entertainment industry in the UK has been demanding from the government for a pretty long time now.
This comes just as the newly installed coalition government in the UK has announced having scrapped the previous plan to introduce a Games Tax Relief for the local development community. A rumor surfaced short after that, saying that the project was blocked by one of the biggest publishers in the world to stop the UK from becoming a powerful actor in game development.
Activision Blizzard's move may be seen as a message saying it was not the publisher allegedly involved in the scandal. George Rose, chief public policy officer at company stated, “The introduction of Games Tax Relief in the UK will be a game changer. It will make the UK a significantly more attractive place to invest in games development. Games Tax Relief will lead to increased investment, more job creation and power economic growth. However, if Games Tax Relief is not introduced then the UK will remain at a real disadvantage in comparison to other territories as a location for inward investment. Without Games Tax Relief the UK games industry will not fulfill its potential.”
The publisher has two of its most important studios located in the United Kingdom. Bizzare Creations is based in Liverpool and is best known for its Project Gotham Racing franchise and the recent Blur. FreeStyleGames is a Leamington Spa based developer known for its work on the DJ Hero and Guitar Hero series. This is just one of the actions Activision is taking to clear its image after the Infinity Ward debacle.