Phil Goddard, founder of Greater Manchester-based game studio Play XD, credits the Gametech365 programme as the turning point in his company’s growth journey.
“I met Simon Benson from the Gametech team for a coffee and that turned into an invitation to join the Gametech365 programme, and that’s when things really took off,” said Phil. Through Gametech365, Play XD joined a vibrant community of start-ups and indie studios, gaining access to mentorship, funding workshops, and industry showcases. In February 2024, the team debuted their in-house IP at the programme’s
launch event — an experience Phil describes as a breakthrough in confidence and visibility. A comment during one event led to a game- changing decision: “One of the programme leads, casually mentioned that Meta was investing heavily in indie developers. That changed everything.” By May 2024, Play XD had secured a development agreement with Meta for the Meta Quest platform — an opportunity that might never have happened
without the programme’s network. Beyond business breakthroughs, Gametech365 helped the studio grow its team through the Gametech Professional talent pipeline, leading to two successful hires: Miles, now a full-time animator, and Molly, who supports development and community engagement. A £25,000 grant followed, thanks to a Gametech365 funding workshop and a connection to MITIH (MediaCity Immersive
Technologies Innovation Hub). “That session changed how I think about funding,” Phil said. Now, Play XD is giving back by mentoring others in the community. “Gametech365 didn’t just help us grow — it helped us evolve. If you’re serious about scaling, this is the place to be,” he said. Phil plans to relocate Play XD’s headquarters to HOST, fully embedding in Salford’s thriving innovation ecosystem.
SUCCESS STORY From Coffee to Meta: How Gametech365 helped Play XD level up
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