Since its beginnings back in March, Jamie Brayshaw, Ripstone Head of Marketing & GameChangers Chair, and Gary King, Ripstone Brand Champion, have been among the dedicated GameChangers team who have helped bring the initiative to fruition.
The pledge, recently endorsed by Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram, was formally announced in an event at Mann Island on 28th September and already has major players such as Avalanche Studios Group, D3T, Firesprite, Lucid Games, and Wushu onboard.
What is the GameChangers Partnership and what makes it important?
As individual studios, we’re all aware of the challenges our industry faces. Many of us are already doing stellar work to address these issues, but in isolation our reach is limited.
The GameChangers initiative, led by the Combined Authority’s Careers Hub, aims to change this by uniting studios, educators, and industry entities to coordinate our efforts, making us far more effective in tackling issues that face the games industry in the region and providing better opportunities for emerging local games talent.
Alison Lacy, Avalanche Studios Group & Co-Chair of GameChangers, emphasised the importance of the unique collaborative spirit of Liverpool’s games community: “There’s a different way of working in Liverpool. Partnerships and connections are always encouraged, and there’s a genuine belief that we do our best work together. Our games industry is a shining example of this. The effort that Jamie and the Ripstone team have put in to unite the community for the GameChangers partnership has been exemplary, and the response from Liverpool’s games industry has already been massively encouraging. It has given us confidence that – when this industry is united – the change we want to see is well within our reach.”
Over 20 of Liverpool’s prominent games studios, educational institutions, and charitable organisations have already endorsed the pledge. These include Avalanche Studios Group, D3T, Firesprite, Lucid Games, Scenegraph Studios, Skyhook Games, Universally Speaking, Wushu Studios and, of course, Ripstone.
On the process of getting the new initiative up and running, Gary King added; “Being a part of GameChangers and witnessing its transformation from the inception of an idea into a flourishing partnership has truly been awe-inspiring. It’s being propelled by diverse perspectives, yet unified by a singular goal that has catapulted us forward within a remarkably short span. This sense of inclusion permeates every facet of what GameChangers represents, and the initiative has been thoughtfully crafted as an open, welcoming gateway for all who share its vision.”
Following the launch event, the GameChangers programme is now being delivered by All About Futures/All About STEM, on behalf of the Liverpool City Region Careers Hub.
Speaking ahead of the launch event, Jamie Brayshaw highlighted the importance of collective action;
“Collaboration is the cornerstone of the GameChangers mission and has always been at the heart of the Liverpool games industry. Many studios and organisations are already doing great work individually to support and nurture local career opportunities, and by pledging to combine our enthusiasm and effort, we can achieve much more. Today’s announcement is just the start. We look forward to welcoming more employers, educators, skills partners and as many participants as possible to the pledge. Together, we can make a lasting impact on the future of talent in the Liverpool City Region and beyond.”
It’s now time for action: join the GameChangers initiative
In the wake of the GameChangers launch event, the Liverpool City Region now stands at the threshold of an exciting new era for its games industry.
Ripstone and all other GameChangers are now urging other game developers, industry organisations, and education providers to join in.
Together, we can continue to pave the way for a brighter future, ensuring that the Liverpool City Region continues to grow as a thriving hub for innovation and creativity in the world of gaming.
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