UK Launching Investigation into Video Game Industry Exodus to Canada

The UK is poised to start a trade war with Canada over the video game industry. The British government has been waging a moral war against video games; decrying mature content and investigating it’s detrimental effect on the human psyche. Now this same governing body has noticed that the video game industry is departing for the greener pastures of to Ontario, Quebec and B.C.

“The Canadians have driven a tank over the French Citroen and have now parked on our lawn,” Paul Jackson, head of the industry organization representing British games studios, complained to the Financial Times earlier this week. “It is becoming very challenging to keep core development studios here.”

Now, the U.K. Ministry of Culture, Media and Sport has formally initiated an investigation of Canada’s trade practices through the European Commission, a British government spokesperson told Canwest News Service on Thursday.

“The U.K. government is concerned that state aid offered to computer games companies by a number of federal institutions in Canada may not be compatible with World Trade Organization principles,” the ministry said.

I find it hysterical that the UK government acts surprised that the video games industry would leave a hostile, restrictive environment for countries that have made game development and publishing much more lucrative. It’s also much less of a hassle. The exodus seems like it makes sense to me.

via The Vancouver Sun