NEW research has revealed that Dundee is the best city in Scotland for gamers, with the second-best gaming culture in the UK and high rankings for gaming jobs and download speeds.
The research was commissioned by SolitaireBliss, conducting data studies within UK cities to determine the best cities for gamers to live based on four categories.
Factors considered were average download speed; gaming stores in the local area; local gaming culture (determined by local gaming events and companies per 100,000), and gaming job opportunities per 100,000 people within a 10-mile radius.
Dundee comes in seventh place in the UK, earning its place by ranking high for its selection of local gaming stores, prevalent gaming culture, and employment opportunities.
Dundee gamers enjoy above average download speeds, at 98.63 megabits (Mbits) – 34% higher than the national average.
In terms of gaming culture, Dundee is second only to Brighton, with 12.69 gaming events per 100,000 people, and has 22.56 gaming companies per 100,000 people, the ninth highest in the UK. Dundee is the only city in Scotland to appear in the top ten, putting it top in Scotland.
The analysis also revealed that Cambridge is the best UK city for gamers overall. It has the ninth highest average download speed, 98.95 Mbit(s), which is 35% higher than the national average.
Cambridge has the third strongest local gaming culture, with the second highest number of gaming companies and third highest number of local gaming events per 100,000 people.
The city also ranks third for gaming job opportunities in the UK, with 126.72 opportunities per 100,000 people, the third highest in the UK after Wakefield and Salford.
Cambridge ranks high for gaming culture and employment, with 52.46 gaming companies per 100,000 people, the second highest in the nation behind Brighton, but missed out on second place for culture, due to hosting less gaming events.
Commenting on the findings, a spokesperson from SolitaireBliss said: “During 2020, 62% of UK adults played video games. Gaming is a huge industry that is enjoyed by people of all ages, and the UK has a reputation for producing some of the world’s biggest game developers.
“These findings highlight the best cities in the country for gamers to live. Cambridge made the top spot as it scored well across the board, with its residents receiving high download speeds and a rich local gaming culture thanks to its reputation and history as a centre of innovation.
“Other cities in the UK could learn from Cambridge, who shows that gaming is not only just a hobby, but also a global digital industry that is growing each year.”
