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How remakes and remasters are driving the UK gaming economy

Published

6 years ago

August 11, 2020

George Miller

Reading Time: 4 minutes

With 37.3 million gamers, the UK gaming industry is the biggest in Europe
New report finds remastered games to be a driving force behind industry growth
Gaming is more accessible than ever thanks to the rise of mobile gaming

Nineties teens are 69%1 more likely than the national average to spend between 21 and 28 hours gaming every week. And with this age group 47% more likely to have access to a Nintendo Switch, PS4 (42%) and Xbox One (44%), a new report reveals how developers are tapping into this market to drive the UK gaming economy.

From the impact of remakes and remasters, to how digital downloads are changing the industry, online smartphone retailer, Mobiles.co.uk, has taken an in-depth look at how the UK’s gaming industry is evolving.

The study reveals that the UK gaming industry has experienced huge growth in the past 10 years, with retail sales revenue between 2009 and 2019 increasing by a huge 72.6%2. Further insight also reveals that in 2019, the entire UK video game industry generated a huge £5.35 billion1 in revenue, with £3.77 billion3 of that total generated from video game software sales. But with an impressive 37.3 million4 gamers in the UK alone, what exactly is contributing to this growth?

According to Mobiles.co.uk’s report, the trend for remastered games including Crash Bandicoot N.Sane Trilogy, Resident Evil 2 and The Legend of Zelda Link’s Awakening, all play significant roles in the growth of the gaming industry here in the UK.

The new UKIE UK Top Selling Games List for 2019 revealed the below remakes/remastered games were amongst the top 100 best selling boxed games sold in 2019, while the more recent Final Fantasy VII remake quickly became one of the PS4’s best selling game to date:

Rank	Title	Monthly Search Volume
16	Crash Bandicoot N.SaneTrilogy	6,6005
21	Resident Evil 2	27,1005
32	The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening	8,1005

Still remaining in the top 20 for the UK’s best-selling games of 2019 two years after its release, Crash Bandicoot N.Sane Trilogy receives around 6,600 unique searches every month4, its continuing popularity indicates that British gamers are becoming increasingly nostalgic when it comes to their gaming choices.

Crash Bandicoot also features at number 21 in the 2019 list. The remaster spiked the interest of gamers in the UK with a huge 49% increase in search volume over the past 12 months alone5. With an average of 27,100 monthly searches5, the franchise’s decision to reboot this classic was certainly welcomed by the industry, indicating there is a huge appetite for nostalgic gameplay here in the UK.

The final remaster included in the list of the top-selling games is The Legend of Zelda Link’s Awakening. Originally launched on the Game Boy in 1993, the remake was designed for the Nintendo Switch. As of March 2020, the new Link’s Awakening had sold more than four million copies globally6, and it’s one of the best-selling games of all time for the Nintendo Switch.

Lee Chambers, Psychologist and gaming expert, commented on the research: “Gaming and nostalgia are heavily interconnected, to the point where it fuels trends and shapes the industry direction. Video games are incredible triggers for nostalgia, anchoring us back to an often carefree time, when we had fewer responsibilities and gaming became a social construct as groups of children all sat around in a bedroom socialising while playing.

“The reality of the industry is that nostalgic gamers are now the ones with purchasing power to relive past glories fighting dragons of their youth, while being decision-makers for buying games as presents for their children. And that is gradually shaping the industry, risk aversion for the new, settling for the old. Your average early millennial is approaching 40. They don’t have the time they did as a child to form an emotional bond to a game’s story with life’s distractions, but a remake removes that barrier, making it all the more attractive.”

The new study also reveals the impact digital downloads are having on the industry, with over two thirds (70%)6 of the UK’s total video game sales revenue, generating a total of £2.63 billion6, coming from digital downloads. Even more remarkably, 42%6 of this revenue came directly from mobile games, indicating a shift in the industry towards smartphone gaming.

The report indicates that UK gamers are not only changing the way they purchase games but thanks to recent advancements in smartphone technology – including cinematic displays, advanced GPUs and even the introduction of high-speed 5G – they’re also expanding the devices they play on.

With a projected 2%7 compound annual growth rate, the huge surge in the mobile gaming sector is predicted to maintain its momentum in 2020 and beyond. An estimated 21 million people in the UK played a mobile game in 20197, with 19% of users aged 18 to 24, 37% falling in the 25-34 age bracket and 23% aged 35-447.

Andrew Cartledge, mobile expert at Mobiles.co.uk, says “In the UK, and all across the world, there’s no doubt that the gaming industry is growing at a rapid speed. The excitement for the next remake or remaster makes sure there’s still a place for the old, while the huge shift towards digital assures the industry and its consumers can keep up with the new.

“Mobile gaming is already huge in 2020 and will only get bigger in the years to come. If you’re interested in trying out some of the very best mobile games like PUBG and Fortnite for yourself, make sure you have a powerful handset to play on.”

For the full report on the UK gaming industry, mobile gaming, remasters and more, please visit: https://www.mobiles.co.uk/blog/understanding-the-uk-gaming-industry-mobiles-remasters-and-more/#fn1

Compliance Updates

Platipus Granted UK B2B Licence

Published

40 minutes ago

February 18, 2026

Wladimir P.

Platipus Gaming has secured a B2B license to function in the United Kingdom. This license permits the company to supply gaming content to operators licensed in the UK and marks an important achievement in Platipus’ continuous emphasis on regulatory compliance, operational uniformity, and responsible product delivery.

The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) is acknowledged worldwide for its comprehensive regulatory structure and exceptional benchmarks in safeguarding players, ensuring technical compliance, and overseeing operations. Obtaining a UK B2B licence verifies that Platipus’ products, operational methods, and development strategies adhere to these criteria, showing that the firm can deliver content in line with rigorous regulatory requirements.

Importance for Operators

Collaborating with a Platipus-licensed provider allows UK-licensed operators to guarantee that content complies with UKGC standards. This minimizes the requirement for extra regulatory evaluations and facilitates more seamless incorporation of third-party content into licensed activities. All products are created and provided with a focus on responsible gambling and player safety, conforming to the technical and operational criteria set by the Commission.

Strategic Significance for Platipus

The UK licence showcases Platipus’ philosophy of compliance by design. Regulatory factors are incorporated early in the development process instead of being treated as a final review point. This method guarantees that products, processes, and operational frameworks are ready for regulated settings from the beginning.

Being regulated by the UKGC also allows Platipus to participate in other markets, where UK standards frequently serve as reference points. The license backs the company’s objective of ensuring steady product quality, dependable operations, and accountable content provision in various regions.

Priscila Ribeiro, Chief Strategic Officer, said: “Obtaining a UK B2B licence confirms that our internal processes, development approach, and products meet the regulatory expectations of one of the most scrutinised iGaming markets globally. It allows us to operate with UK-licensed operators within a clear compliance framework.”

Viktoriia Andreasen, Head of Marketing: “The UK market is highly structured and regulated, with detailed expectations for content providers. Holding this licence allows Platipus to engage with licensed operators while maintaining consistent operational and compliance standards, and ensures our content is designed and delivered responsibly.”

A Milestone for Operational Maturity

With its B2B license in the UK, Platipus Gaming begins a new phase of compliant operations. The license demonstrates the organization’s dedication to enduring operational dependability, adherence to regulations, and accountable product provision. It further verifies that Platipus is capable of providing content in one of the most strictly regulated iGaming markets globally, with all technical, operational, and compliance standards met.

This milestone signifies more than just an expansion in geography. It indicates that Platipus has organized procedures, strong governance, and a development approach centered on compliance, establishing a basis for ongoing regulated activities and sustainable growth across various markets.

The post Platipus Granted UK B2B Licence appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Compliance Updates

How to Apply for a Finnish iGaming License: Gaming in Finland Webinar on Application Steps and Technical Standards

Published

40 minutes ago

February 18, 2026

Wladimir P.

how-to-apply-for-a-finnish-igaming-license:-gaming-in-finland-webinar-on-application-steps-and-technical-standards

Starting March 1, 2027, Finland’s gambling authority will begin handling online gambling license requests in anticipation of the iGaming market launch on July 1, 2027.

The necessary secondary legislation and associated technical requirements for effectively submitting an iGaming license application are anticipated to be released soon.

While the precise details remain unclear, it is evident that Finnish regulations will significantly differ from those in other Nordic countries, like Sweden or Denmark.

Due to these developments, Gaming in Finland will host a webinar on Thursday, March 5 at 14:00 CET/15:00 EET, titled “How Finland is different.”

Gaming in Finland founder Willem van Oort commented: “If you are considering entering the Finnish iGaming market, this webinar comes at a most opportune time: one or perhaps two weeks after the publication of the secondary legislation that is necessary to submit your license application. Naturally, we are particularly grateful to our local partners for helping us make sense of the license application process and the associated technical requirements.”

Topics and speakers

The webinar will cover the following topics:

Regulatory update
FAQ: The license application form
Technical requirements & acceptable solutions

At present, the following speakers have been confirmed:

Morten Ronde, Founding Partner, Nordic Legal
Pekka Ilmivalta, Head of Finnish Office, Nordic Legal
Technical expert, Ubetec

Registration

Registration for the Gaming in Finland webinar is now open: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_z604czymTd6un1ER7Lu0ng#/registration

The post How to Apply for a Finnish iGaming License: Gaming in Finland Webinar on Application Steps and Technical Standards appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

affiliate platform

Ihor Zarechnyi signs up to the Gamblers Connect Contributors Program

Published

11 hours ago

February 17, 2026

Wladimir P.

ihor-zarechnyi-signs-up-to-the-gamblers-connect-contributors-program

Gamblers Connect, the award‑winning iGaming media and affiliate platform, has welcomed Ihor Zarechnyi, CEO and Founder of NeverEnding, as the latest expert in its Gamblers Connect Contributors Program.

Zarechnyi becomes the second established industry professional to join this curated roster, which prioritizes experienced practitioners over guest bloggers and emphasizes real‑world insight from leaders with “skin in the game.”

As head of NeverEnding, a dynamic iGaming studio built to eliminate bureaucracy and drive innovation, Zarechnyi brings a performance‑driven approach, rooted in his “Games, Growth, and No Excuses” philosophy. In his new role as one of the program’s 12 contributors, he will offer behind‑the‑scenes perspectives on building a game studio from scratch and launching effective global content strategies based on his extensive executive experience.

Gamblers Connect’s Founder, Gjorgje Ristikj, highlighted Zarechnyi’s unique outlook on product development. Ristikj noted that Zarechnyi’s “B2B backed by B2C power” approach focuses on creating games that deliver genuine market traction and strong player engagement — a shift away from superficial visibility toward meaningful industry impact. This aligns with the platform’s goal of delivering high‑value educational content on game mechanics, technological stability, and real operational challenges.

The post Ihor Zarechnyi signs up to the Gamblers Connect Contributors Program appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.