Sports Interactive, the video game developer behind Football Manager, has unveiled plans to relocate its entire operation to a new site at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London.
The company, which is owned by Japanese video game giant SEGA, is set to move its 100-strong workforce from its current Old Street site to a 13,415 sq ft space at Here East’s Broadcast Centre.
Sports Interactive will use the new site for all its business functions, including game development, R&D and communications.
The move is expected to take place in spring 2018.
“We love the fact that Here East is right in the sweet spot where sport and technology meet,” Sports Interactive’s studio director Miles Jacobson said.
He added: “We’re confident that our move to Here East will help us to shift our operations to the next level. The fact that we’re helping with the regeneration of the area, maintaining the Olympic legacy and giving our team a better chance to afford to live near the office are all added bonuses.”
The news was also welcomed by Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, who said: “It’s fantastic news that Sports Interactive is choosing to relocate to Here East, which is fast becoming a leading technology and innovation hub in London.
“Being based alongside other successful businesses and start-ups at Here East is a real open goal, presenting opportunities for collaboration on new ideas and products to grow quickly and contribute to London’s economy.”
Here East is already hope to Plexal, Europe’s largest innovation ecosystem, Loughborough University London and BT Sport.
Future tenants include Ladbrokes Coral, which is planning to establish a technology and innovation hub; Ford Motors, which is set to open its European Smart Mobility Office; and luxury fashion retailer Matchesfashion.com, which has lined up new photography and filming studios.