THE VIDEO games industry in Scotland is now the largest of its kind in the UK outside of London and the south east, having grown employees by a quarter.

Trade association TIGA has published figures that show Scotland has 1,290 permanent and full-time equivalent creative staff working on games development in 85 companies, making it the third largest “cluster group” in the UK.

Dr Richard Wilson, TIGA chief executive, said: “TIGA’s latest research shows that the Scottish video games industry grew dramatically in 2015-16. The Scottish video games industry is now the third largest games cluster, after the South East and London. The Scottish games sector is diverse, with companies working in games for mobile, online, educational and console markets.”

The industry in Scotland has been pioneered by the likes of Edinburgh-based Rockstar, which developed the Grand Theft Auto series of games.