Levelling Up: The Future of Gaming in Sunderland

Last night we had the pleasure of attending the Future of Gaming in Sunderland event, hosted by the Sunderland Lit & Phil Society and what a night it was. With a brilliant panel of speakers and a room full of curious minds, the conversation flowed from story structure and scriptwriting to the booming games industry right here in the North East.

One of the most fascinating takeaways was the influence of literature on modern game development. The narrative backbone of games is more important than ever, with scriptwriters and story editors drawing heavily from literary techniques to build immersive, emotionally rich experiences. It was a powerful reminder of how connected our creative industries really are.

Even more exciting was hearing just how much the gaming sector is thriving in the North East of England. Sunderland and its surrounding cities are becoming hotspots for digital creativity, thanks to a combination of local talent, academic investment, and a growing community of indie developers and gaming studios. The region is fast becoming a serious player on the UK gaming map.

We also loved hearing how the indie game development scene is gathering serious momentum across the region. From Sunderland to Newcastle, Gateshead, Durham and Teesside, small studios and solo developers are collaborating at meetups and game jams, partnering with universities, and turning passion projects into commercial releases. The ecosystem is maturing quickly, with writers, artists and coders teaming up to prototype, playtest and ship inventive titles.

From insightful discussion to brilliant audience questions (and a fair few laughs along the way), it was a night that truly showcased the potential and passion of our region. We left feeling inspired, informed and a little bit proud to be part of such a vibrant creative landscape.