View source for Notable Dates in UK Games Industry History

== 1950s ==

'''1952'''
*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OXO OXO (or Noughts and Crosses)] was developed by A.S Douglas for the Electronic Delay Storage Automatic Calculator (EDSAC), one of the first games developed in the early history of video games.

'''1957'''
*14th October - The British Computer Society (now known as [https://www.bcs.org/ BCS, The Chartered Institute for I.T.]) is founded [http://www.computinghistory.org.uk/det/6099/BCS%20-%20%20British%20Computer%20Society%20is%20Founded promote the study,  practice and advance the knowledge of computing].

== 1960s ==

'''1961'''

*25th July - [http://www.computinghistory.org.uk/det/5856/Clive%20Sinclair%20founds%20Sinclair%20Radionics Clive Sinclair founds Sinclair Radionics] in Cambridge, developing hi-fi products, radios, calculators and scientific instruments, a precursor to his computer company Sinclair Research.

== 1970s ==

'''1975'''

*1st April - The [http://www.computinghistory.org.uk/det/34794/The%20Magnavox%20Odyssey,%20the%20first%20video%20game%20console,%20is%20released Magnavox Odyssey], the first video game console, is released in the UK.

== 1980s ==

'''1980'''

*29th January - The [http://www.computinghistory.org.uk/det/5445/Sinclair-ZX80-Launched/ Sinclair ZX80] personal computer was launched by Sinclair Research Ltd of Cambridge.

'''1981'''

*5th March - The ZX81, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ZX81 Sinclair Research's pioneering British home computer], was released.

*May - The [http://www.computinghistory.org.uk/det/10388/VIC-20%20Released%20in%20Europe%20&%20US Commodore VIC-20] is released in the US and Europe.

*1st December - The [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBC_Micro BBC Micro], designed and built by the Acorn Computer company for the BBC, is released.

'''1982'''

*January - The [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commodore_64 Commodore 64] is launched worldwide.

*23rd April - The [http://www.computinghistory.org.uk/det/43781/Sinclair%20ZX%20Spectrum%20Launched Sinclair ZX Spectrum] is released by Sinclair Computers.

'''1983'''

*1st August - [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manic_Miner Manic Miner], developed by Matthew Smith, was released by Bug-Byte for the ZX Spectrum.

'''1984'''

*July - [https://reflections.ubisoft.com/ Ubisoft Reflections] is [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ubisoft_Reflections founded in Newcastle], 

*20th September - [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elite_(video_game) Elite], the space trading game written and developed by David Braben and Ian Bell, is published by Acornsoft for the BBC Micro and Acorn Electron computers.

'''1985'''

*April - Rare Limited is [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rare_(company) founded in Twycross], Leicestershire and would go on to have a long history of critically acclaimed and globally successful titles, including Battletoads, Goldeneye 007, Donkey Kong Country and Sea of Thieves.

*June - Atari release the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atari_ST Atari 520ST], the first of their successful ST series of home computers.

*23rd June - Commodore release the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amiga Amiga 1000], the first of the Amiga home computers.

'''1986'''

*January - Commodore launch their best-selling [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amiga_500#Releases Amiga 500], the first low-end Commodore Amiga 16/32-bit multimedia home/personal computer.

*1st September - The [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nintendo_Entertainment_System Nintendo Entertainment System], also known as the NES, is released in the UK.

*October - [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Codemasters Codemasters], one of the oldest active British game studios, founded by brothers Richard and David Darling.

'''1987'''

*18th August - [https://www.creative-assembly.com/ Creative Assembly], one of the largest studios in the UK and creators of the Total War franchise and Alien Isolation, [https://www.mobygames.com/company/creative-assembly-ltd is founded in Horsham], West Sussex by Tim Ansell.

'''1988'''

*13th May - Core Design, developers of the original Tomb Raider titles, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Core_Design is founded in Derby] by former employees of Gremlin Graphics.

'''1989'''
*March - [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Berners-Lee Tim Berners-Lee] lays out his vision for [https://webfoundation.org/about/vision/history-of-the-web/ what would become the web] in a document called “[http://info.cern.ch/Proposal.html Information Management: A Proposal]”.

*6th September - [http://ukie.org.uk Ukie], then known as ELSPA, [http://ukie.org.uk/about is founded] - the first trade association for the video games industry anywhere in the world.

*[http://www.ttgames.com/ Traveller's Tales], best known as the developers of the LEGO games franchise, is [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traveller%27s_Tales founded in Knutsford], Cheshire.

== 1990s ==

'''1990'''

*September - The [https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2017-02-24-a-complete-history-of-nintendo-console-launches Nintendo Game Boy] is released across Europe.

'''1991'''

'''1992'''

*April/June - The [https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2017-02-24-a-complete-history-of-nintendo-console-launches Super Nintendo Entertainment System], also known as the SNES, is released in Europe.

'''1993'''

'''1994'''

'''1995'''

*January - Sony Computer Entertainment Europe is [https://www.sie.com/en/corporate/history/1993_2002.html established in London].

*29th September - Sony Computer Entertainment [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PlayStation_(console) release the first PlayStation console] in Europe.

'''1996'''

*25th October - [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomb_Raider_(1996_video_game) Tomb Raider], the first game in the best-selling Tomb Raider franchise, is released worldwide by Eidos Interactive and UK developer Core Design. It would go on to sell over 7 million copies globally and and continues to be cited as one of the greatest video games ever made.

'''1997'''

*March - [https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2017-02-24-a-complete-history-of-nintendo-console-launches Nintendo's N64] console is released in Europe.

*25th August - [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GoldenEye_007_(1997_video_game) GoldenEye 007], developed for the N64 console by UK company Rare, is released.

'''1998'''

*15th July - Codemasters release the hugely successful [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colin_McRae_Rally_(video_game) Colin McRae Rally] for the PlayStation, which would go on to sell over 4 million units across all formats.

'''1999'''

*27th March - The first [https://insomniagamingfestival.com/ Insomnia Gaming Festival], Insomnia99, run by [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiplay Multiplay], brings together a [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/306431.stm reported 300 PC gamers] for the UK's then largest ever LAN party.

*14th October - SEGA release their [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dreamcast Dreamcast console] across Europe, launching the "sixth generation" of game consoles.

== 2000s ==

'''2000'''

*28th April - Jagex, creators of one of the world's largest massively multiplayer online roleplay games, Runescape, are [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jagex founded in Cambridge].

*November - Sony Computer Entertainment release the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PlayStation_2 PlayStation 2] in Europe.
'''2001'''

*8th March - [https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/a_tiga The official launch] of [http://tiga.org/ TIGA], The Independent Games Developers Assocation for the UK.

*June - Nintendo's [https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2017-02-24-a-complete-history-of-nintendo-console-launches Game Boy Advance] is released in Europe.

*22nd October - Rockstar Games release [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Theft_Auto_III Grand Theft Auto III].

'''2002'''

*14 March - Microsoft release the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xbox_(console) Xbox] console in Europe.

*May - The Nintendo [https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2017-02-24-a-complete-history-of-nintendo-console-launches GameCube] is released in Europe.

*29th Oct 2002 - Rockstar Games releases [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Theft_Auto:_Vice_City Grand Theft Auto: Vice City].

*11th December - Sony's [http://www.worldwidestudios.net/london SCE London Studio] and Team Soho [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Getaway_(video_game) releases The Getaway] for the PlayStation 2. The game is especially notable for its realistic re-creation of large areas of London.

'''2003'''

'''2004'''

*February - The first [http://awards.bafta.org/award/2004/games British Academy Games Awards] takes place.

*26th October - Rockstar Games releases [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Theft_Auto:_San_Andreas Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas].

*13 December - [http://rocksteadyltd.com Rocksteady Studios], creators of the Batman Arkham franchise, is [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocksteady_Studios founded in London].

'''2005'''

*March - Nintendo's [https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2017-02-24-a-complete-history-of-nintendo-console-launches handheld DS console] is released in Europe.

*2nd December - Microsoft release the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xbox_360 Xbox 360] console in Europe.

'''2006'''

*4th January - [http://www.mediamolecule.com/ Media Molecule], creators of the LittleBigPlanet franchise, is [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Media_Molecule founded in Guildford], Surrey.

*November / December - The [https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2017-02-24-a-complete-history-of-nintendo-console-launches Nintendo Wii] is released in Europe.

'''2007'''

*23rd March - Sony Computer Entertainment release the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PlayStation_3 PlayStation 3] in Europe.

*23rd June - Apple [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IPhone launch the iPhone] worldwide.

'''2008'''

*27th October - LittleBigPlanet is [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LittleBigPlanet released for the PlayStation 3] by UK developer [http://www.mediamolecule.com/ Media Molecule].

*28th October - The [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EGX_(expo) first Eurogamer Expo], now known as [https://www.egx.net/egx EGX] and the largest single games event in the UK, takes place at the Truman Brewery in London, attended by 4,000 people.  

*November - [https://www.playground-games.com/ Playground Games], developers of the Forza Horizon franchise, is [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Playground_Games founded in Leamington Spa], Warwickshire.

*November - The first Android-enabled smartphone, the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTC_Dream T-Mobile G1] (also known as the HTC Dream) is released in the UK.

'''2009'''
*2009 was when game profits in UK exceeded those from film for the first time (source?)

*25th August - [http://rocksteadyltd.com/ Rocksteady Games] release the much acclaimed [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batman:_Arkham_Asylum Batman: Arkham Asylum] worldwide.

== 2010s ==

'''2010'''

'''2011'''

*February / March - The [https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2017-02-24-a-complete-history-of-nintendo-console-launches Nintendo 3DS] is released in Europe.

'''2012'''

*November / December - The [https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2017-02-24-a-complete-history-of-nintendo-console-launches Nintendo Wii U] is released in Europe.

'''2013'''

*17th September - Grand Theft Auto v is released by Rockstar Games and becomes the [http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2013/10/confirmed-grand-theft-auto-breaks-six-sales-world-records-51900 fasting-selling entertainment product in history], grossing over $1bn in three days. To date, it has sold over [https://variety.com/2018/gaming/news/gta-v-100-million-sales-1203022310/ 100 million copies] and is considered the [https://variety.com/2018/gaming/news/gta-v-100-million-sales-1203022310/ most profitable entertainment product] of all time. 

*22nd November - Microsoft release the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xbox_One Xbox One] in Europe.

*29th November - Sony Interactive Entertainment release the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PlayStation_4 PlayStation 4] in Europe.

'''2014'''
*30th January - The Chancellor, George Osborne, [https://www.bfi.org.uk/news-opinion/news-bfi/announcements/launch-tax-reliefs-high-end-television-animation-video-games officially launches the video games tax relief (VGTR)].

*1st April - The Uk's [https://www.gov.uk/guidance/corporation-tax-creative-industry-tax-reliefs#video-games-tax-relief-vgtr video games tax relief] officially comes into effect.

'''2015'''

'''2016'''

*27th September - Playground Games [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forza_Horizon_3 releases Forza Horizon 3] worldwide and would go on to sell over 2.5 million copies.

'''2017'''

*3rd March - The Nintendo Switch is [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nintendo_Switch released worldwide]. 

*4rd April - The inaugural [http://www.digitalschoolhouse.org.uk/articles/2017/04/team-veracity-win-inaugural-esports-tournament Digital Schoolhouse esports tournament] culminates with the Grand Final at Gfinity's arena in London, the first immersive careers education event of its kind.

'''2018'''

*18th October - Rockstar Games release Red Dead Redemption 2 for the Playstation 4, and experiences the largest opening weekend of any product in the history of entertainment, making [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Dead_Redemption_2#Reception over $725 million in revenue in three days]. Within two weeks, it had shipped over 17 million copies, and increased to 23 million copies by February 2019.

'''2019'''

*3rd January - The Entertainment Retailer's Association announces figures showing [https://eraltd.org/news-events/press-releases/2019/streaming-drives-entertainment-sales-94-higher-in-2018-to-sixth-consecutive-year-of-growth/ UK sales of games exceed the combined sales of music and film] for the first time.