Liverpool boasts a long-standing affinity with video games dating back to some of the earliest incarnations which were launched during the 1980s.
The city has attracted plenty of foreign investment since then, most notably when Sweden’s Avalanche Studios chose it as the location for its second international studio after New York.
Numerous other firms are thriving locally, developing games which have made an impact in the overarching gaming industry and its associated sub-divisions.
These include the iGaming sector, which is a multi-billion-pound industry in its own right due to the revenues generated by online slots and other casino games.
Some Liverpool game development companies have collaborated on iGaming titles, further enhancing the city’s reputation as a gaming hub.
Liverpool’s gaming sector is also playing an increasingly influential role in the utilisation of augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technologies.
That point was perfectly evidenced by the launch of Taskmaster VR in 2024. Based on the hit television show, the game has received rave reviews.
Published by Scallywag Arcade, a Draw & Code Studio, the game gives players the opportunity to test themselves against the Taskmaster and his sidekick Alex Horne’s bizarre challenges.
Draw & Code has built a substantial international footprint, working with a vast array of clients including Sony, Google, Warner Bros, Mercedes-Benz, Red Bull and the BBC.
The studio’s director, Andy Cooper, said: “Draw & Code has been bringing the weirdest and most wonderful experiences to life for the past ten years, so to get the opportunity to transform Taskmaster into VR was a dream collaboration.
“Some of the nicest feedback so far has to be people saying that we have really grasped what Taskmaster is about. We’ve been fans of the show from the beginning, before we worked with Alex Horne and his team, so this means a lot.
“We’re really proud to have brought production of Taskmaster VR to our Liverpool studio. Not only is Liverpool a creative and innovative place, everyone is a comedian too! I guess that a Liverpool team being enlisted to work on a comedy IP like this was meant to be!”
Liverpool-based games company Ripstone has also muscled on in the action, creating a thrilling homage to the Netflix series The Queen’s Gambit.
The immersive game ‘welcomes players to Beth Harmon’s world as they take lessons, play puzzles and compete in chess matches’ aided by the star of the show.
The game cemented the firm’s status as a pioneer within Liverpool’s burgeoning gaming scene and highlighted why their talented staff are so highly-rated.
Their knowledge of the industry has been used to inspire the next wave of gaming talent currently working their way through the prestigious Liverpool Media Academy (LMA).
Ripstone staff regularly share their ‘real-world’ experiences with students and offer tips and tricks designed to help them get onto the gaming career ladder.
The company’s 3D artist, Jake Parrott, said he was delighted to have the opportunity to reassure up-an-coming gaming talents that they are on the right path.
“I’ve been visiting LMA to talk to students for the past few years now,” he said. “It’s been inspiring to see how the course has developed over that time.
“As a growing games label in the city, we’re always looking to support local talent. Going forward, we want to work closely with these institutions to bridge the gap between education and employment as much as we can.”
