A US gaming firm is experiencing strong growth since establishing its new European HQ in Cardiff last year. Rocket Science Group – a leader in game co-development and multiplayer engineering – has seen its team expand to nearly 40 and is forecasting hitting 50 much sooner than the original five year pan.
The added resource has also allowed the company to enhance its services globally and contributed to the company doubling its revenue. The Cardiff team is also evolving tech to work on some of the world’s favourite games which are played by millions of people each day.
The company, which also has bases in New York and Austin in Texas, took the decision to establish a UK base in Wales following an initial connection made between its Bridgend-born chief executive, Thomas Daniel, and members of the Creative Wales team during the Welsh Government’s trade mission to the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco in March 2022.
It was been backed also been backed by the the Welsh Government’s Economy Futures Fund.
Mr Daniel said: “Cardiff has been vital in aiding Rocket Science’s global growth plans around the world, without Cardiff we would not off been able to succeed to the degree we have this year.
“Over this period of time our Cardiff team have already contributed and worked directly on many of the biggest gaming titles out there, including live titles that are currently global household names as well as the biggest games projects that will be the blockbusters of tomorrow.
“What has been hugely apparent to us at Rocket Science is the real sense of pride and ambition that the Cardiff team have for growing the gaming ecosystem in Wales. In the future, we want to look back at not just a thriving Welsh Rocket Science business but a thriving Welsh gaming industry as a whole.”
One of the firm’s latest recruits is its senior engineering manager John Barker, senior engineering manager. He left Wales to pursue a career in games, but after 14 years working for various studios in England including Playground, an Xbox studio, and Microsoft.
Mr Barker said: “My previous experience at Xbox had given me a taste of being part of something big, and Rocket Science offered a similar sense of purpose – but with the bonus of being based in my home country.
“It’s the best of both worlds: a fulfilling career in an industry I love, combined with the comfort and familiarity of ‘home’.
“Traditionally, Wales may have been seen as a small pond, but the concentration of talent and the community here have made it a great place for aspiring developers.”
Minister for the Creative Industries Jack Sargeant said:“Rocket Science’s presence in Cardiff has been a boost to the games sector in Wales as a whole. It’s been great to hear how they have already begun working with local companies, the educational sector and local initiatives to grow employment options within Wales.
“There is huge potential for the video games sector in Wales, a market that is projected to grow to over $200bn by 2025.
“This studio is a fantastic example of how Creative Wales and Economy Futures Fund support can help drive economic growth and provide high quality employment opportunities for current and future generations.”
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