Ministers seek to understand more about video games
BBC By Sam Francis
Political reporter, BBC News
The government wants to find out more about the UK's booming video games industry - including whether its products harm users' mental health.
Some of the world's best-selling games - including Grand Theft Auto and the Fifa series - are made in the UK.
Over half of British adults play video games and the industry is worth 2.8bn to the UK economy.
But the government says not enough research has been done on how it can benefit the wider economy.
It also wants research on how games can be used to improve learning skills and promote "positive relationships, perceptions and behaviour" among gamers.
Researchers have also been asked to look at whether companies are using unethical methods to keep gamers playing.
Several studies have found that research into the psychological effects of playing video games has been hampered by a lack of data.
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- How the UK became a major player in the gaming world
This lack of evidence was highlighted by a government study on loot boxes - in-game features which allow users to purchase sealed mystery "boxes" with real money or points accrued in a game - last year.
