UK video games industry currently employs more than 22,000 people, according to Screen Digest ? reflecting a rise of 7.5% since 2000. However, between 2000 and 2004, the number of employees working for UK game development studios shrunk by 6%. The increased cost in developing current generation console games has reduced the number of development companies who have been able to survive. The overall rise in employment can be explained by the increase in people working in other sectors of the games industry ? publishing, distribution and retail.