phd for game design

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What do you want to do?

Find out about the research we do in games design.

• Games Design PhD

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Mode of study

3 years full-time

6 years part-time

International   £21,260

UK   £4,786

Entry requirements

Research profile.

Research in games covers a wide spectrum of theoretical and practical areas; the relation between video games and other media; video game aesthetics and politics; immersive technologies and game design, game-based learning, serious games, ludomusicology, inclusive games design, agency in games, games and socio-cultural studies. Projects often happen in collaboration with industry partners in the games and other creative industries. Our students are given opportunities to participate in research so that they extend their knowledge, implement the skills they learn in their studies into real world contexts, and extend their teamwork and management skills, while enriching their portfolio.

Find out about the exciting research we do in this area. Browse profiles of our experts, discover the research groups and their inspirational research activities you too could be part of. We’ve also made available extensive reading materials published by our academics and PhD students.  

Learn more about research in this area.

You can explore our campus and facilities for yourself by taking our virtual tour .

Our researchers create knowledge and advance understanding, and equip versatile doctoral researchers with the confidence to apply what they have learnt for the benefit of society. Find out more about working with the Supervisory Team .

You are welcome to approach your potential supervisor directly to discuss your research interests. Search for expert supervisors for your chosen field of research.

While we welcome applications from student with a clear direction for their research, we are providing you with some ideas for your chosen field of research:

Research journey

This course can be studied 3 years full-time or 6 years part-time, starting in January. Or this course can be studied 3 years full-time or 6 years part-time, starting in October. Or this course can be studied 3 years full-time or 6 years part-time, starting in April.

Find out about what progress might look like at each stage of study here:  Research degree progress structure.

Research support

Excellent research support and training

The Graduate School provides a range of personal, professional and career development opportunities. This includes workshops, online training, coaching and events, to enable you to enhance your professional profile, refine your skills, and plan your next career steps as part of the Researcher Development Programme . The researcher development programme (RDP) offers workshops and seminars in a range of areas including progression, research management, research dissemination, and careers and personal development. You will also be offered a number of online, self-study courses on BBL, including Research Integrity, Research Skills Toolkit, Research Methods in Literature Review and Principles of Research Methods.

Library services

Brunel's Library is open 24 hours a day, has 400,000 books and 250,000 ebooks, and an annual budget of almost £2m. Subject information Specialists train students in the latest technology, digital literacy, and digital dissemination of scholarly outputs. As well as the physical resources available in the Library, we also provide access to a wealth of electronic resources. These include databases, journals and e-books. Access to these resources has been bought by the Library through subscription and is limited to current staff and students.

Dedicated research support staff provide guidance and training on open access, research data management, copyright and other research integrity issues.

Find out more: Brunel Library

Careers and your future

You will receive tailored careers support during your PhD and for up to three years after you complete your research at Brunel. We encourage you to actively engage in career planning and managing your personal development right from the start of your research, even (or perhaps especially) if you don't yet have a career path in mind. Our careers provision includes online information and advice, one-to-one consultations and a range of events and workshops. The Professional Development Centre runs a varied programme of careers events throughout the academic year. These include industry insight sessions, recruitment fairs, employer pop-ups and skills workshops.

In addition, where available, you may be able to undertake some paid work as we recognise that teaching and learning support duties represent an important professional and career development opportunity.

Find out more.

UK entry requirements

The general University entrance requirement for registration for a research degree is normally a First or Upper Second Class Honours degree (1st or 2:1). 

An interview will be required as part of the admissions process and will be conducted by at least two academic staff members remotely via MS Teams, Zoom, or face to face.

Applicants will be required to submit a personal statement  and a research statement. Please contact your proposed supervisor, where possible, to receive feedback and guidance on your research statement before submitting it. Learn how to prepare a research statement  here .   

EU and International entry requirements

If you require a Tier 4 visa to study in the UK, you must prove knowledge of the English language so that we can issue you a Certificate of Acceptance for Study (CAS). To do this, you will need an IELTS for UKVI or Trinity SELT test pass gained from a test centre approved by  UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) and on the Secure English Language Testing (SELT) list . This must have been taken and passed within two years from the date the CAS is made.

English language requirements

• IELTS: 6.5 (min 6 in all areas)
• Pearson: 59 (59 in all subscores)
• BrunELT : 63% (min 58% in all areas)
• TOEFL: 90 (min 20 in all) 

You can find out more about the qualifications we accept on our  English Language Requirements  page.

Should you wish to take a pre-sessional English course to improve your English prior to starting your degree course, you must sit the test at an approved SELT provider for the same reason. We offer our own BrunELT English test and have pre-sessional English language courses for students who do not meet requirements or who wish to improve their English. You can find out more information on English courses and test options through our  Brunel Language Centre .

Please check our Admissions  pages for more information on other factors we use to assess applicants. This information is for guidance only and each application is assessed on a case-by-case basis. Entry requirements are subject to review, and may change.

Fees and funding

2024/5 entry, international.

£21,260 full-time

£10,630 part-time

£4,786 full-time

£2,393 part-time

Fees quoted are per year and are subject to an annual increase.

Some courses incur  additional course related costs . You can also check our  on-campus accommodation costs  for more information on living expenses.

Brunel offers a number of funding options to research students that help cover the cost of their tuition fees, contribute to living expenses or both. Recently the UK Government made available the Doctoral Student Loans of up to £25,000 for UK and EU students and there is some funding available through the Research Councils. Many of our international students benefit from funding provided by their governments or employers. Brunel alumni enjoy tuition fee discounts of 15%.

Scholarships and bursaries

• Brunel Graduate Discount

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• Top Undergraduate Game Design 2024
• Major in Game Design

Top 25 Game Design 2024: Grad

Our 2024 Top Graduate Programs for Video Game Design list is based on institutional survey data, including quality of lab facilities, faculty credentials, career outcomes, and more.

International

• Mid-Atlantic

Unversity of Central Florida

• Orlando, FL
• Game Design Program

New York University

• Brooklyn, NY

University of Southern California

• Los Angeles, CA

University of Utah

• Salt Lake City, UT

Southern Methodist University

Abertay university.

• Dundee, Angus

Clark University

• Worcester, MA

Rochester Institute of Technology

• Rochester, NY

Northeastern University

Drexel university.

• Philadelphia, PA

Michigan State University

• East Lansing, MI

DigiPen Institute of Technology

• Redmond, WA

The University of Texas at Dallas

• Richardson, TX

Falmouth University

• Penryn, Cornwall, United Kingdom

Savannah College of Art and Design

• Savannah, GA

Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Full sail university.

• Winter Park, FL

Laguna College of Art and Design

• Laguna Beach, CA

University of Wisconsin–Stout

• Menomonie, WI

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Bradley university, american university.

• Washinton, DC

DePaul University

• Chicago, IL

University of Florida

• Gainesville, FL

University of Miami

• Coral Gables, FL

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PhD in Computational Media

Conduct interdisciplinary research that will shape the future of computationally based creative expression. Housed in WPI’s Interactive Media & Game Development program (IMGD), WPI’s new PhD in computational media provides space and expertise for students to research computational approaches that reflect, inspire, and shape human creativity and new media.

An interdisciplinary approach to how computers support and connect with human expression forms the research basis for WPI’s PhD in computational media. The best game design graduate programs like WPI’s include perspectives that cross disciplines to understand how computational media impacts society. As technology becomes increasingly entwined in all aspects of human life, professionals who can connect creativity and humanistic expression with computational media are in demand.

They will be navigating the technological complexity of this field, but shaping its future as well. With a nuanced understanding of creative methods and humanistic concerns, they will develop new tools and services that positively change the way humans work, play, express themselves, and connect with others.

This research-based program is focused on play and art as fundamentally important aspects of human experience that can be shaped in compelling ways via technological tools and methods. Join an interdisciplinary group of faculty and students in exploring the effect of technology on individual and group creative practice. The PhD in computational media supports students whose research focuses on artistic and humanistic expression--whether through the creation of new computational tools or the novel application of existing platforms. Learn more about how WPI offers some of the best game design graduate programs in the nation.

The PhD in computational media is a 60-credit hour program. Program requirements are divided equally between coursework (30 credits, 15 of which are computational media core) and research (30 credits). Individual paths could be as diverse as the study and design of human-computer interfaces, games and game engines, narratives, artificial intelligence, creativity, communication, and visual and sonic media, among others.

Computational media research is inherently interdisciplinary—students will find opportunities to explore related fields, including computer science, data science, electrical and computer engineering, systems dynamics, robotics engineering, business, and psychology.

Additional requirements for the PhD in computational media include the following:

• Paper requirement
• PhD qualifying exam
• Advancement to PhD candidacy
• Dissertation defense

Similar Majors

Refer a Friend

Do you have a friend, colleague, or family member who might be interested in Worcester Polytechnic Institute’s (WPI) graduate programs? Click below to tell them about our programs.

Research in the PhD in computational media encourages alternative forms of scholarship (published games, live performances, artistic installations) in addition to traditional publications.      

This heterogeneous approach to research will uniquely enable students to become teachers, researchers, and creators who contribute to academic and commercial institutions that are increasingly focused on ways in which computational media shape the worlds of art, entertainment, and social interaction.

Interested in degrees similar to the PhD in computational media? Explore our  Interactive Media & Game Development master of science .

Need to Obtain a Master’s in Game Development and Design First?

Do you need to start with a technical master’s degree in IMGD instead? Explore our master’s in game development and design degree which explores design, technical expertise, and more.

Maybe you’re interested in a degree that’s focused on the artistic side of IMGD? Our MFA in IMGD helps you develop your artistic voice for use in academia, industry, and your personal creative practice.

Earn a BS in Game Development IMGD First

Are you interested in an interactive media & game development path but need your bachelor’s degree first? Check out WPI’s top-ranked BS in IMGD which explores technical and artistic aspects of gaming. Maybe you prefer to explore an art-based IMGD bachelor’s degree? Our BA in IMGD has just what you’re looking for with a focus on design, animation, 3-D sculpting, and more.

You might want a solid understanding of game design and development but don’t want to pursue a full degree program. That’s why we offer a minor in IMGD that can complement your academic path.

Undergraduate Studies

• Focus in game design and game studies through our parent department, Comparative Media Studies .
• Focus in computer science through Course 6: Electrical Engineering and Computer Science . A pure Computer Science major is known as  '6-3' . Students can also achieve a Masters of Engineering with an additional year of study after their bachelor program is completed.
• Focus in psychology through Course 9: Brain & Cognitive Science with either a major or minor in Brain & Cognitive Science or a minor in Psychology .
• Focus in business through the  MIT Sloan School of Management .

Graduate Studies

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Game Design MSc by Research, MPhil, PhD

Course detail, award title.

This is a potential research degree area, subject to the approval of the University. If you are interested in undertaking a research degree in this area, please make contact with the  Dean  to discuss your proposal.

The UK video games sector is a highly dynamic and ever evolving global success story.

Abertay University continues to lead the development of games as an academic meta-discipline, incorporating computer science, computer art, digital design, sound and music, human computer interaction, and media studies.

Game Design at Abertay University covers a wide range of applied and theoretical research. As technologies evolve and audiences expand, now is an excellent time to engage with research in games, with research spanning novel game mechanics, multiplayer game balancing, narrative design and interaction design.

At Abertay, you will be supported to conduct this research by our world-leading expertise in computer games education, our connections with key industry partners such as Microsoft and Sony, and our specialist computer arts and game development facilities.

Our research is inherently cross- and inter-disciplinary, which is of particular importance for research in game design. We lead the InGAME project , one of the nine AHRC-funded Creative Industry Clusters Partnerships, which is a consortium of industrial and academic partners. This project will underpin growth of the regional games and media sector.

Dundee is one of the UK’s oldest and most successful games hubs. The city has longstanding relationships with local, national, and international game studios. Undertaking a research degree in game design at Abertay will prepare researchers for careers not only in academia, but also within wider society.

What does a research degree involve?

As a postgraduate research student, you will carry out an original, independent research and/or practice-based project, whilst being guided and supported by a team of expert academic supervisors. As you do this, you will benefit from an extensive programme of researcher development tailored to your background, needs and future ambitions. This will in turn help you develop the skills required to deliver research excellence.

Your progress will be monitored throughout the year and via an annual review. The final assessment is by examination of your submitted thesis and a viva voce (oral examination).

With the help of your supervisors, you will be encouraged to publish your research during and after your studies.

Our research degrees

You have the option of studying an MSc by Research, an MPhil or a PhD.

When deciding which degree is right for you, you should consider the level of commitment required, the duration, cost and your career aspirations.

That being said, our research degrees are flexible. You can begin an MSc or an MPhil and then seek to transfer to a PhD without having to start your project all over again. You can also switch from full-time to part-time study, and vice versa.

MSc by Research

The award of Master of Science by Research (MSc by Research) demonstrates a practical ability to undertake research studies, a systematic understanding of knowledge and a critical awareness of current problems and/or the application of original thought.

How long is an MSc by Research?

If you are studying full-time, you will be expected to complete the award in 12 months. The minimum period to receive this award is 10 months and the maximum is 14 months.

If you are studying part-time, you will be expected to complete the award in 24 months. The minimum period to receive this award on a part-time basis is 20 months and the maximum is 28 months.

The award of Master of Philosophy demonstrates a systematic understanding of knowledge and a critical awareness of current problems and/or the application of original thought, much of which is at (or informed by) the forefront of your field of study or area of professional practice.

How long is an MPhil?

If you are studying full-time, you are expected to complete the award in 24 months. The minimum period to receive this award is 12 months and the maximum is 48 months.

If you are studying part-time, you are expected to complete the award in 48 months. The minimum period to receive this award on a part-time basis is 24 months and the maximum is 72 months.

The award of the Doctor of Philosophy demonstrates that the main focus of your work is your personal contribution to knowledge in your discipline or field, through original research or the original application of existing knowledge.

How long is a PhD?

If you are studying full-time, you are expected to complete the award in 36 months. The minimum period to receive this is award is 24 months and the maximum is 48 months.

If you are studying part-time, you are expected to complete the award in 48 months. The minimum period to receive this award on a part-time basis is 72 months and the maximum is 96 months.

What makes Abertay's Graduate School different?

Abertay is a small university, which means that as a research student, you’ll be joining a close-knit community of scholars and researchers.

Watch Prof Nia White, Dean of Research and Abertay’s Graduate School, along with some of our research students discuss what makes Abertay’s Graduate School different from other universities.

Learn more about our Graduate School➟

Fees and funding

The fees you'll pay depend on factors such as your nationality, location and personal circumstances. See the links below and scroll down to find the Postgraduate section.

Postgraduate student fees - Scottish Students

Postgraduate student fees - UK Students (outside Scotland)

Postgraduate student fees - International & EU Students

More information

Find out about potential bursaries, student loans and scholarships in  our postgraduate research fees and funding section.

How to apply

1. meet the academic entry requirements.

The minimum entry requirement for all our research degrees is an Upper Second Class Honours degree (or equivalent) at undergraduate level in an appropriate discipline and/or a Master’s degree. In some cases, appropriate professional or experiential learning may be considered in combination with a lower classification of Honours degree.

2. Meet the visa and English language requirements

Visa requirements.

If you're not from the European Economic Area (EEA) and/or Switzerland, you may need to apply for a visa. You can find out more about applying for a visa and collecting your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) on our Tier 4 visa page. To identify whether or not you need to apply for a visa, please visit the UKBA website.

English language requirements

We accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in a majority English speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration:

UKVI list of majority English speaking countries

For candidates whose first language is not English or your undergraduate/Master’s degree was not awarded from a University from a UKVI designated English Speaking country, you are required to show evidence of one of the following qualifications:

IELTS Academic: total 6.5 with at least 6.0 in each component.

TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 92 with at least 20 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL “My Best Score” to meet our English language requirements.

CAE and CPE: total 176 with at least 169 in each component.

Trinity ISE: ISE II with distinctions in all four components.

PTE Academic: 62 overall with at least 59 in each component.

NECO English at B (4)

WAEC English at B (4)

If you are not a national of a majority English speaking country, then your degree must be no more than three and a half years old at the beginning of your programme of study, unless you are using IELTS, TOEFL, Trinity ISE or PTE, in which case it must be no more than two years old.

To identify whether or not you need to apply for a student visa, please see here or visit the UKVI website.

3. Find a supervisor

You can look for potential supervisors by searching keywords, names or publications in the  Staff Explorer . T his will ensure that we have appropriate expertise within Abertay. You will also gain an understanding of the prior work of the researcher.

You should consider contacting the potential supervisor to discuss your ideas and the possibility of undertaking a research degree under their supervision. Discussion will also help you tailor your application to suit Abertay’s specific expertise in the area. Ask for feedback and be prepared to take those comments into consideration when finalising your research proposal.

You can also contact the Dean of School or our Graduate School if you would like advice on potential supervisors.

Please avoid vague blanket emails to several potential supervisors as these are unlikely to be successful.

4. Secure funding

There are two different routes to studying a research degree at Abertay – you can apply for one of our funded studentships or propose your own area of research. Find out more about our funded studentships .

If you are proposing your own area of research, you will need to consider how you will fund your studies – either through self-support or by securing a scholarship or some other form of external funding. See what scholarships are available to Abertay research students .  

5. Write your research proposal

This is your opportunity to state your research objectives, to grab the reader’s attention and highlight your suitability for research degree study.

The proposal should be around 6-8 pages in length (including references) and follow the section headings below.

Abstract (summary).

Introduction/background.

Hypotheses, objectives or research question.

Proposed methodology.

How will you disseminate your findings (pathways to impact).

Ethical considerations.

Summary and conclusions.

References.

About you: briefly describe your relevant experience and how it will help you achieve your objectives, explain why you are an excellent candidate for a research degree, and identify your additional professional development and training needs.

Some good practice tips:

Be clear and concise.

Structure your proposal by breaking up blocks of text into smaller paragraphs (with headings).

Reference you work.

Justify your objectives.

6. Apply online by the relevant deadline

You can start a research degree at Abertay in February, June or October of each year. You can apply to defer from one entry point to another on one occasion, however, subsequent requests must be supported by an additional full application.

Unless otherwise stated, the deadlines for submitting a full application are:

Applications for February entry by 15 December (if you need a Tier 4 visa then the deadline is 30 November).

Applications for June entry by 30 April (if you need a Tier 4 visa then the deadline is 31 March).

Applications for October entry by 31 August (if you need a Tier 4 visa then the deadline is 31 July).

You will need to include the following documentation when you apply online:

Copies of your academic transcripts

Your research proposal

Apply now to start in:

Join Abertay University's vibrant research community

Postgraduate Research students at Abertay work alongside experts from a range of discipline areas, posing new questions and finding creative solutions to the problems facing society. Our research students are central to our research community.

If you'd like more information about our Postgraduate Research degrees, please get in touch: 

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Getting a Game Studies PhD: A Guide for Aspiring Video Game Scholars

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• Designated Emphasis Program
• Certificate in New Media
• Graduate Opportunities
• Undergraduate Certificate in New Media
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• Visiting Scholar in New Media
• Summer 2024
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• Executive Committee
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• Former Visiting Scholars & Post-Docs
• The Lyman Fellowship
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• Faculty Seed Grants
• Eugene Jarvis Scholarship for New Media Innovation
• Undergraduate Research Fellowship
• Working Groups
• Indigenous Technologies
• Hack the Bells Guide
• Maker Resources
• Strategic Plan
• AAPI Media Creatives Fellowship

Bonnie Ruberg , BCNM graduate, has co-authored a "Guide to Getting a Game Studies PhD." The guide, posted on her website - Our Glass Lake- hopes to help aspiring scholars navigate Game Studies -- and even gives BCNM a shout out!

Bonnie is a Provost’s Postdoctoral Scholar at the University of Southern California, where she works in the Interactive Media and Games Division (IMGD) where she works on issues of gender and sexuality in digital cultures. She received her PhD in Comparative Literature, New Media, and Gender, Women, and Sexuality from UC Berkeley in the summer of 2015. Bonnie got her start in digital cultures more than a decade ago writing the groundbreaking blog Heroine Sheik!

As you might have guessed, Game Studies is not a traditional field and and can be slightly tricky. To quote Bonnie, herself, "At present, there are no Ph.D. programs in North America that grant degrees (or even official secondary emphases) in video games." Encouraging yes? However, there are many ways to engage in Games Studies in the US, primarily by either (1) picking a Ph.D. program with game studies faculty, (2) picking a Ph.D. program that ties to a game design program, or (3) picking a Ph.D. program that supports interdisciplinary digital scholarship. A Designated Emphasis in New Media at UC Berkeley is an example of the last option.

Some excerpts from the post.

"Game studies is the scholarly field dedicated to exploring digital games, analog games, and play. Though some of the early texts that have become foundational for game studies come from the early- and mid-twentieth century, game studies as an academic field got started in the 1990’s. Over the past two decades, game studies scholars have produced a rich array of work that address questions like how to define games and why players play. In another sense though, game studies is still a relatively new discipline. Many scholars from other fields are surprised to hear that there is an entire corner of academia dedicated to games.

"Most recently, game studies has taken a turn away from its formalist roots and toward issues of culture and social justice. Some of the most vibrant areas of game studies today include scholarship on video games and LGBTQ issues, race, ability, identity, and diversity.

"There has never been a more exciting time to study video games, or to make a career out of researching games and their players. The medium of games is growing and changing, calling for new voices and a wider range of critical perspectives. Game studies is poised to become an increasingly important academic field. Many universities are hiring faculty in this area, and it seems this number will continue to grow. To thrive, game studies needs a vibrant next generation of scholars."

Read the guide here.

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Qualification, university name, phd degrees in computer games design.

6 degrees at 3 universities in the UK.

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• PhD Using Software

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• Course title (Z-A)
• Price: high - low
• Price: low - high

Game Technologies PhD

University of gloucestershire.

What is Game Technologies Undertake postgraduate research while drawing on university expertise. Our specialisms include VR, AR and MR, Read more...

• 4 years Full time degree: £5,100 per year (UK)
• 6 years Part time degree: £3,400 per year (UK)

Games Design PhD

Brunel university london.

Research in games covers a wide spectrum of theoretical and practical areas; the relation between video games and other media; video game Read more...

• 3 years Full time degree
• 6 years Part time degree

Game Studies PhD

Abertay university.

Game studies as an academic field investigates digital games from a humanities-oriented perspective, utilising critical, historical, and Read more...

• 3 years Full time degree: £4,829 per year (UK)
• 6 years Part time degree: £2,415 per year (UK)

Computer Games Development and Technology PhD

Games Development and Technology research considers the development of real-time 3D computer games, games networking and distributed Read more...

Applied Games PhD

This is a potential research degree area, subject to the approval of the University. If you are interested in undertaking a research Read more...

Game Design PhD

The UK video games sector is a highly dynamic and ever evolving global success story. Abertay University continues to lead the development Read more...

Course type:

• Full time PhD
• Part time PhD

Qualification:

Related subjects:.

Game Design

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Recent developments in explainable AI (XAI) aim to improve the transparency of black-box models. However, empirically ...

Carnegie Mellon University Launches Center for Transformational Play

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Carnegie Mellon University and Simcoach Games have teamed up to give high school students interested in game design on-the-job training and a first step toward a career in game design, dev...

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Games and Climate

How can games help address the challenge of climate change? Through research and design, we are exploring ways that games can motivate collective action, ...

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Bloomwood Stories: Block Party is a visual novel that aims to increase players' health self-efficacy and connect them to health resources at their local l...

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A new game developed by Jessica Hammer and Melissa Kalarchian, two Pittsburgh-based researchers, won first prize in a national competition sponsored by the United States Department of Heal...

[email protected]

646-997-0708, 370 jay street, 6th floor, brooklyn, ny 11201, site made in collaboration with cmyk.

NYU Game Center Open Letter to President Linda G. Mills on the Arrests of NYU Students and Faculty at Gould Plaza

Dear President Mills, We, the undersigned members of the NYU Game Center faculty and staff, support the rights of our students and colleagues to freely participate in peaceful protest on campus.  We therefore cannot in good conscience stand by the decision of NYU administration to allow over 120 members of our wider community to be... Read More

NYU Game Center Spring Showcase 2024

Join us for the annual NYU Game Center Spring Showcase! Students will be showing playable demos of their work ...Read More

From Prince of Persia to Replay: A video game creator’s family odyssey

Jordan Mechner (creator of “Prince of Persia”) shares his story as a pioneer in the fast-growing video game industry ...Read More

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Follow The NYU Game Center

Visit the nyu game center, nyu game center incubator showcase 2023.

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Congratulations to Abby Yaffe, Jordan Grayson (BFAs ’22) and Gurn Group for the launch of Genome: Body! Originally a project ...Read More

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Announcing the No Quarter 2023 Cohort Friday, November 17th, 7:00-11:00pm Poster art by Will Anderson. Find more of his work here.   ...Read More

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Game Studies Programs and Research

• Game Studies & Design Undergraduate Minor Requirements
• Game Studies Graduate Minor Requirements
• GAME STUDIES & DESIGN SPRING SHOWCASE 2024
• UIUC Game Studies and Design Presents: Spring Showcase 2023

Playful By Design – A Comprehensive Curriculum

The Game Studies programs at UIUC are designed around the Playful By Design curriculum model. The model incorporates Gaming Technologies, such as Mixed Reality (VR/AR/XR), AI, and other interactive and immersive technologies within the game space. Game Studies and Game Design involve the critical interdisciplinary study of gaming, game design practices, and the gaming industry. Gameful Pedagogy incorporates these studies and design principles into the classroom for immersive learning.

Game Studies and Design Minor

The Game Studies & Design Minor is intended to foster critical skills in academic game studies, and technical skills in game design. The minor will serve undergraduates who are interested in the study and design of games, gaming, game design and the digital, extended and virtual reality (XR/VR) and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies involved with the crafting of interactive systems and interfaces relevant to the game, film, education, and media industries, as well as a range of other emerging professions. Through this minor, students will learn to think critically about the history, cultural meaning, social impact, ethics, and increasingly significant role of games, gaming, and interactive media in a diverse society; they will develop the logical, algorithmic, narrative, and design capacities needed to make games, interactive narratives, and simulations; and they will become prepared for graduate work, if desired, on a path to pursuing a career in the game industry or in academic game studies research.

Game Studies Graduate Minor

The Game Studies Graduate Minor serves students whose graduate research or professional interests intersect with the study and design of games, gaming, game design, digital narratives and storytelling, and the digital, VR/XR and AI technologies involved with the crafting of interactive systems and interfaces relevant to the game, film, education, and media industries, and a range of other emerging professions. The minor will foster critical thinking and research on the history, cultural meaning, social impact, ethics, educational uses, theoretical basis, and increasingly significant role of games, gaming, and interactive media in an inclusive and diverse society, as well as advanced methodological, computational, aesthetic, and design aspects of games broadly defined. This versatile minor is intended to offer interdisciplinary support for game-related research being done within students’ primary disciplines. Students whose work is unrelated to games will also benefit from this minor, since it offers training in and experience with cutting edge technologies and design processes as well as a critical lens through which to understand these new technologies.

Due to inclement weather, all classes at Northeastern University are canceled for today, Tuesday, February 28, 2023. Click here for additional information. Test

Art + Design

Game Science and Design, MS

Focusing on the science of game development, students have an opportunity to learn the design and technological skills needed to build a game and develop a deep understanding of playability and analytics that make products successful in an increasingly competitive marketplace.

The Master of Science (MS) in Game Science and Design is a program that seeks to give students a comprehensive understanding of how successful game products are created in a player-centric environment. Focusing on the science of game development, students have an opportunity to learn the design and technological skills needed to build a game and develop a deep understanding of playability and analytics that make products successful in an increasingly competitive marketplace.

The game industry has expanded to include social and mobile gaming; games in health, education, and training; and innovations in play psychology, middleware, graphics tools, game mechanics, game evaluation methods, and advanced artificial intelligence and narrative techniques.  It has become an increasingly competitive space.

The selectiveness of the industry and the diversity of the skills required mean that students seeking entry need both broad and deep skills. As an emergent industry using diverse technology and collaborative practices, the game industry needs professionals with interdisciplinary skill sets who can meld knowledge about development with knowledge about evaluation methods and players’ behavior and psychology.

Jointly offered by Northeastern’s Colleges of Arts, Media and Design and Khoury College of Computer Sciences, the Master in Science in Game Science and Design is a one-of-a-kind interdisciplinary program that seeks to prepare students to meet this need by weaving together science and design. This is a two-year, 34-credit-hour program. The MS in Game Science and Design is a STEM-designated degree.

MS in Game Science and Design in Oakland

The MS in Game Science and Design program is also available at Northeastern University in Oakland .

Learning Outcomes

• Concept/Expression Outcome: Conceptualize and create expressive and innovative games, playable experiences, and artifacts, developing a personal style via reflective design.
• Craft Outcome: Hone craft and technical skills in a broad range of mediums, and justify the appropriate usage of techniques in the service of creating artifacts.
• Research Outcome: Gather, organize, and articulate relevant research to inform design and analysis.
• Process Outcome: Follow an iterative design process informed by user testing, external and self-critique for producing creative works.
• Values/Context Outcome: Analyze the social, political, and cultural theories embedded in games, playable experiences, and artifacts, and articulate ethical reasoning during design and production.
• Collaboration Outcome: Plan and manage the organization of people, timelines, tasks, repositories, and finances for multi-person creative projects, and constructively critique others’ work.

Career Opportunities

• Data Analyst
• User Researcher
• Game Designer
• Game Scientist

Multidisciplinary Skills

• Systems thinking
• Entrepreneurial
• Analytical skills
• Time Management
• Project Management

Co-op Opportunities

• Splash Damage Games
• Massachusetts Digital Games Institute
• Greenbrier Games
• Demiurge Studios

Featured Work

Greta Westcott

Greta Westcott, CAMD Senior Show

Verena Irawan

Verena Irawan, CAMD Senior Show

Sarah Ceniceros Gomez

Sarah Ceniceros Gomez, CAMD Senior Show

Lucy Bell, CAMD Senior Show

Kesia Davies

Kesia Davies, CAMD Senior Show

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Additional resources

Department of art + design, art + design faculty and staff, course catalog, program coordinator.

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Associate Director of Graduate Operations

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Considering a Game Design Degree? What to Know

The gaming industry is huge and growing rapidly.

Game Design Degrees and Careers

Getty Images

The field of game design requires a wide range of skills, employing both creative and scientific professionals.

About 3 billion people globally play digital games, according to industry research, and the field is only growing.

That's why pursuing a game design degree, which combines art and technical work, can potentially open doors for a long and satisfying career.

Jim Huntley, a professor and head of marketing for the University of Southern California 's games program, which offers both bachelor's and master's level coursework, says he loves watching people enjoying games that he helped to invent. "You can see their faces light up," he says.

Digital games can be designed for and played on many types of electronic devices, including personal computers, mobile devices and hand-held portable game machines. This category of games also includes video games that require a television set, gaming console and remote controller.

Huntley particularly appreciates moments when a game player is pleased with an aspect or feature of a game that he contributed to and that was inspired by a game he admired, he says. "I remember how enthusiastic and excited I was when something similar ... happened to me with this other game, and it's always a thrill to pass that enthusiasm on."

However, some game developers warn that the process of producing a game can be frustrating at times and that a gaming career isn't right for everyone.

"Definitely make sure that it's something you want to do for eight hours a day," says Miriam Harries, an advanced game designer at Schell Games, a game development company based in Pittsburgh.

How to Tell if a Game Design Career Is a Good Fit

Though it is possible for someone to create a good game on their own, game development usually involves a diverse team of people.

"It's way more collaborative than a lot of people expect," Harries says. "If you are not a good collaborator, you will not go very far, and you will not have a fun time."

The field of game design requires a wide range of skills, employing both creative and scientific professionals. For instance, some of the roles at gaming companies include:

• Artist or animator
• Audio engineer
• Creative director
• Database or data manager
• Game designer
• Machine learning engineer
• Play tester
• Programmer or software developer
• User experience designer
• Technical support specialist or manager
• Voice actor

"Working in games is not one career path, but many different career paths," explains Jessica Hammer, interim associate director of the Human-Computer Interaction Institute at Carnegie Mellon University in Pennsylvania. "Anything you do in games is going to be deeply interdisciplinary, but you need to be able to work with people who do art even if you're not an artist. You need to be able to work with programmers even if you're not a programmer."

A key indicator that someone is a good fit for a game design program is if they have created a game in the past or if they have mapped out a detailed vision for a game, Huntley says. "Those are the applicants that stand out to us, because we can tell from the time that they've invested up to that point that they are serious."

The Value of a Game Design Degree

A formal education in game design is not required to enter the gaming industry, experts say, noting that the best reason to pursue a game-related degree is to learn from skilled game developers and hone creative or scientific skills that are valuable in the industry.

"The most important thing that you are going to walk out the door with is not your credential, but your portfolio," says Hammer, who conducts research on transformational games that are designed to influence a person's thoughts, feelings or behaviors. "Our programs are a way for you to build a convincing and high-quality portfolio with a ton of support from experts in every area related to games."

Some game design schools focus on multiple aspects of game design and offer general degrees, while others concentrate on a particular aspect of game development, such as game animation. One key way to judge the quality of a game design program, experts say, is to see whether alumni of the program have a high job placement rate in the gaming industry.

Here are the top five undergraduate game design programs, according to the U.S. News ranking of such programs. This ranking is based on the number of nominations received from academic institutions that responded to a U.S. News survey.

• 1 (tie). Carnegie Mellon University
• 1 (tie). University of Southern California
• 3 (tie). Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• 3 (tie). New York University
• 3 (tie). University of Utah

Job Prospects for Game Developers

Aspiring game designers rarely appreciate the size of the gaming industry and the number of employment options within it, Huntley says. In fact, the international gaming industry is bigger and produces more revenue than the global film industry.

"There's a misperception that games are kind of a fad," Huntley says.

But the gaming industry is growing rapidly.

A study released by the Newzoo market research and analytics firm in May 2022 predicted that worldwide revenue produced by gaming companies would exceed $200 billion in 2022. By contrast, the global film industry's revenue hit $100 billion for the first time in 2019, the Motion Picture Association reported .

The median annual salary among U.S. video game designers was $79,890 in 2021, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, which predicts that employment within the field in 2030 will be 10% to 15% higher than it was in 2020.

Though a career in digital game creation is a dream come true for many, potential game developers shouldn't become so starstruck that they forget to inquire about working conditions when choosing employers, experts say.

"One of the things you want to be careful about is making sure that you have standards for yourself about the way you are willing to be treated in a job," Hammer says.

According to Harries, the best aspect of the game development field is being surrounded by fascinating coworkers. "I get to work with really awesome, creative people, and that's super fun," she says.

Searching for a grad school? Get our  complete rankings of Best Graduate Schools.

Grad Degree Jobs With $100K+ Salaries

Tags: careers , education , colleges , community colleges , graduate schools , students , technology , games , software

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Skip to main content

• Duke University
• Pratt School of Engineering

Game Design, Development & Innovation Master of Engineering

A New Way to Level Up

There are many roles to play in the game industry.

At Duke, we prepare our graduates to play the game they choose by becoming game designers, developers, and leaders of dynamic production teams.

We will empower you with the skills industry leaders are looking for, such as proficiency in programming—including C# and C++—and how to apply these skills to the leading game engines. You will also learn design principles for gameplay, art, user experience and storytelling.

Our faculty takes innovation seriously.  While at Duke, our students bring elements of game design to critical areas such as health care, education and training simulations. With campus connections to top programs in medicine, the humanities, business, policy and more, we go beyond gaming.

Regardless of your skill set, we will help you level up to a multi-skilled leader and take control of your career in the game industry.

Request info   ApplY NOW  

Advance your career at Duke | Graduate in 4 semesters

The Duke Difference

" We welcome you, no matter your level of experience. We will transform you into a multi-faceted leader, one that is able to use technology to design, develop and innovate. You'll be prepared to join an AAA or an indie studio and to create serious games in fields like education, health care, and science. Join us!" Ernesto Escobar Executive Director [email protected]

  Dynamic Curriculum

Comprehensive and industry-focused

Course Schedule

• Programming for Game Development
• Fundamentals of Game Design and Development
• Critical Analysis of Video Games
• Software Engineering and Systems for Game Development
• Advanced Game Design and Development
• Management of High-Tech Industries
• Required internship—with an AAA studio or another relevant organization
• Internship Assessment
• Business Fundamentals for Engineers
• Hands-On Capstone Project

Elective Options

• Computer and Information Security
• Mobile Application Development
• AI in Games
• Advanced Asset Creation
• User Interface and Experience in Games
• Motion Capture and Animation
• Augmented and Virtual Reality
• Emerging Topics in Game Design

  Games and Beyond

Best-in-class student experience

• Hands-on: Learn and be challenged by doing authentic industry-sponsored work
• Multi-disciplinary: Learn from faculty and students from history, art, medicine, business, psychology, physical education, engineering and others—all while working on fun and meaningful projects
• Explorational: Innovate with serious games as a solution path to societal challenges

  Connected to Industry

In a region bursting with industry leaders

• Interact with AAA and indie studios in the growing Research Triangle Region—including Epic Games, Insomniac Games, Red Storm Entertainment (Ubisoft), Virtual Heroes, Squanch, Funcom, Elephant Mouse, BitMonster, Prologue, Puny Human, Spark Plug, iMagic, Mighty Rabbit, Imangi Studios, and more
• Build a strong professional portfolio : Work on industry-sponsored projects and create industry-quality work. Build a portfolio to show potential employers

"The game industry has seen tremendous growth, including rapid expansion across new platforms and diverse markets. There is a critical need now for well-trained and experienced talent. Game development requires a complex mix of creative and technical abilities. This graduate program provides a foundation of skills and hands-on experience to create a talent pipeline well-positioned to thrive in this complex ecosystem." Rob Denton , Duke Engineering Graduate TitleCo-Founder & COO, Loric Games Founder & President, Broadsword Online Games

Developers can earn a $108,000 salary in the fast-growing $2 billion games industry.

Request Information

Game Design and Development Master of Science Degree

Request Info about graduate study Visit Apply

RIT is ranked 4th among top universities in the world for students who want to study and create games, according to new international rankings from The Princeton Review.

Co-op/Internship Encouraged

STEM-OPT Visa Eligible

Outcomes Rate of RIT Graduates from this degree

Median First-Year Salary of RIT Graduates from this degree

Overview for Game Design and Development MS

• Ranked 4th nationally among Princeton Review's “Top 50 Game Design Programs: Graduate Category” (2023)
• Develop your gaming projects with RIT’s MAGIC Spell Studios , which focuses on nurturing and growing new companies and publishing and distributing their projects.
• Engage with the Digital Games Hub , which provides resources and mentoring for students and indie developers to enter the games industry, develop new games, and launch start-up companies.
• RIT was the 1st university to publish to the Xbox One platform.

Explore the simulation, edutainment, or visualization landscape as you enhance your game design and development skills to create truly innovative games.

In the game design master’s degree, you will explore the entertainment technology landscape as well as other related areas. The program simultaneously covers the breadth of the game design and development landscape through study in topics such as computer graphics, game engines, interactive narrative, and game world design. The program is characterized by a clear focus on development, but also educates developers in the design process. The degree is intended specifically for students who aspire to hold careers within the professional games industry or a related field such as simulation, edutainment, or visualization.

RIT’s Game Design Master’s

The curriculum in the game design master’s program consists of required courses, a choice of five advanced electives, and a capstone experience. This is a two-year, on-campus, cohort-based program in which students are admitted through a portfolio review process. During the second year, students form development teams that construct a working game engine and software title as the program capstone experience. This requirement includes both individual and group expectations. The capstone culminates in a defense, public presentation, and demonstration before program faculty. Combined, these requirements provide a unique and comprehensive educational experience for individuals who aspire to a career in the game development industry.

Launch your Digital Endeavors with MAGIC

The MAGIC Center is a digital sandbox for students and faculty pushing the boundaries of technology, art and design. It includes five state-of-the-art classrooms built around delivering hands-on curriculum in game design, 2D and 3D animation, and digital design. Students learn on the same hardware and software platforms used in industry while honing their technical and creative skills. A fully outfitted sound stage and post-production studios further enhance experiential education opportunities and permit faculty to introduce real-world film, animation, and digital media workflows to the classroom.

Students are also interested in: Visual Communication Design MFA , Human-Computer Interaction MS

RIT’s MS in Game Design and Development is ranked 4 th  in the world on Princeton Review’s list of “Top Game Design Schools”

30% Tuition Scholarship for NY Residents and Graduates

Now is the perfect time to earn your Master’s degree. If you’re a New York state resident with a bachelor’s degree or have/will graduate from a college or university in New York state, you are eligible to receive a 30% tuition scholarship.

Learn more about Master Up NY

Careers and Experiential Learning

Typical job titles, cooperative education.

What makes an RIT education exceptional? It’s the ability to complete relevant, hands-on career experience. At the graduate level, and paired with an advanced degree, cooperative education and internships give you the unparalleled credentials that truly set you apart. Learn more about graduate co-op and how it provides you with the career experience employers look for in their next top hires.

Cooperative education is optional but strongly encouraged for graduate students in the game design and development program.

Creative Industry Day

RIT’s Office of Career Services and Cooperative Education hosts Creative Industry Day , which connects students majoring in art, design, film and animation, photography, and select computing majors with companies, organizations, creative agencies, design firms, and more. You’ll be able to network with company representatives and interview directly for open co-op and permanent employment positions.

Featured Work

Nuha Syed, Destiny Treptau, Sean Foley, Will o’Brien, Corinne Fair, Mason Hayes, Ajay Ramnarine, Gel Howell ’23

Overcaste is a 3D adventure game with brisk and graceful movement, and a beautiful desert to explore.

Within These Walls

Corinne Fair, Gel Howell, and Katarina Tretter

Within These Walls is a first-person psychological horror game that invites the player to question the reality that they know.

Aditya Patil, David Liu, Jackson Shuminski, Joel Shaji Kuriakose, Kesavan Shanmugasundaram ’23

The Pact is a thrilling Rogue-like magic shooter where players make a pact with a mysterious demonic voice to save their family's souls and destroy an astral world.

Curriculum for 2023-2024 for Game Design and Development MS

Current Students: See Curriculum Requirements

Game Design and Development, MS degree, typical course sequence

Advanced electives, admissions and financial aid.

This program is available on-campus only.

Full-time study is 9+ semester credit hours. International students requiring a visa to study at the RIT Rochester campus must study full‑time.

Application Details

To be considered for admission to the Game Design and Development MS program, candidates must fulfill the following requirements:

• Complete an online graduate application . 
• Submit copies of official transcript(s) (in English) of all previously completed undergraduate and graduate course work, including any transfer credit earned.
• Hold a baccalaureate degree (or US equivalent) from an accredited university or college in a relevant field such as game design, game development, information technology, computer science, software engineering, or computer graphics. Others with a strong background in a games-related field and some background in computing sciences may be considered.
• A recommended minimum cumulative GPA of 3.25 (or equivalent).
• Submit a current resume or curriculum vitae.
• Submit a personal statement of educational objectives .
• Submit two letters of recommendation .
• Entrance exam requirements: None
• Submit a portfolio. View portfolio requirements.
• Writing samples are optional.
• Submit English language test scores (TOEFL, IELTS, PTE Academic), if required. Details are below.

English Language Test Scores

International applicants whose native language is not English must submit one of the following official English language test scores. Some international applicants may be considered for an English test requirement waiver .

International students below the minimum requirement may be considered for conditional admission. Each program requires balanced sub-scores when determining an applicant’s need for additional English language courses.

How to Apply   Start or Manage Your Application

Cost and Financial Aid

An RIT graduate degree is an investment with lifelong returns. Graduate tuition varies by degree, the number of credits taken per semester, and delivery method. View the general cost of attendance or estimate the cost of your graduate degree .

A combination of sources can help fund your graduate degree. Learn how to fund your degree

Additional Information

Prerequisites.

Applicants are expected to have at least one year of programming experience in a widely-used object-oriented language (C++, C#, or Java preferred) and some experience with web development.

Bridge Courses

Applicants without significant programming experience in a current object-oriented language (C++, C#, or Java preferred) and a solid working knowledge of website development and interactive multimedia concepts will need to complete IGME 206 to bridge any educational gaps. The bridge course will not count toward degree completion.

Owen Gottlieb

Austin Willoughby

Latest News

May 15, 2024

RIT student-faculty developed video game ‘That Damn Goat’ now available for purchase on Nintendo Switch console

A video game created by RIT students and faculty has reached a long-awaited milestone. That Damn Goat , developed and published through RIT’s MAGIC Spell Studios, is now available for purchase on the popular Nintendo Switch gaming console.

March 21, 2024

Innovation unleashed: students forge transdisciplinary projects at RIT's a2ru summit

Students leveraged the variety of makerspaces in RIT's brand-new SHED facility to create arts-integrative work responding to a theme of "Play."

RIT game design and development programs ranked among top 10

RIT is one of the top 10 universities for students looking to land their dream job as a game designer, according to new international rankings from The Princeton Review.

College of Professional Studies

Game design.

The Graduate Certificate in Game Design offers a practice-oriented approach to the art and science of game making.

Game design is one of the fastest-growing fields in entertainment, business, and education. From healthcare to political science, companies use games to educate their constituents and enhance employee skills.

The Graduate Certificate in Game Design   offers a practice-oriented approach to the art and science of game making. The program emphasizes visual design and programming for video games, and fosters conceptual understanding of the principles of game design for all varieties of games—from educational board games to iPhone games.

Courses in this program also serve as a concentration in the  Master of Professional Studies in Digital Media .

More Details

Unique features.

• The program is designed to emphasize visual design and programming for video games, and foster conceptual understanding of the principles of game design for all varieties of games
• Courses in this program also serve as a concentration in the Master of Professional Studies in Digital Media

Looking for something different?

A graduate degree or certificate from Northeastern—a top-ranked university—can accelerate your career through rigorous academic coursework and hands-on professional experience in the area of your interest. Apply now—and take your career to the next level.

Program Costs

Finance Your Education We offer a variety of resources, including scholarships and assistantships.

How to Apply Learn more about the application process and requirements.

Requirements

• Online application
• Statement of purpose (500-1000 words): identifying your educational goals and expectations from the program; please be aware that the university's academic policy on plagiarism applies to applicant's statement of purpose
• Professional resumé: Current resumé that displays job responsibilities, relevant experience, and education history
• Unofficial undergraduate transcripts (Official transcripts required at the time of admission)
• Proof of English language proficiency: ONLY for students for whom English is not their primary language

Are You an International Student? Find out what additional documents are required to apply.

Admissions Details Learn more about the College of Professional Studies admissions process, policies, and required materials.

Admissions Dates

Our admissions process operates on a rolling basis; however, we do recommend the application guidelines below to ensure you can begin during your desired start term:

Domestic Application Guidelines

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*International deadlines are only applicable if the program is F1 compliant.

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16 Best Colleges for Video Game Design – 2024

May 10, 2024

Getting paid to design the next Fortnight or Overwatch may sound like a fanciful dream to obsessed young gamers. Yet, for those with the programming and design acumen, it can very much be a reality. Video game design programs are popping up at additional universities every year as the $130 billion gaming industry clamors for fresh talent. While earning a degree in video game design, you’ll take courses in animation, sound, 3D modeling and graphics, computer science, and programming. Given that this is a very new field, you’ll want to make sure that your prospective institution has a strong faculty, opportunities for hands-on learning, and top labs/facilities loaded with the latest technologies. The schools that are included on this list of the best video game design colleges all meet and even exceed these criteria.

Methodology 

Click here to read our methodology for the Best Colleges for Video Game Design.

Best Colleges for Video Game Design

Here’s a quick preview of the first video game design institutions that made our list. Detailed profiles and stats can be found when you scroll below.

1) Carnegie Mellon University

2) Georgia Institute of Technology

3) Purdue University

4) Rochester Institute of Technology

5) University of Southern California

6) Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

7) Northeastern University

8) New York University

9) Drexel University

10) Savannah College of Art and Design

All of the schools profiled below have stellar reputations in the field of video game design and commit substantial resources to undergraduate education. For each of the best video game design colleges, College Transitions will provide you with—when available—the university’s:

• Cost of Attendance
• Acceptance Rate
• Median  SAT
• Median  ACT
• Retention Rate
• Graduation Rate

We will also include a longer write-up of each college’s:

• Academic Highlights – Includes facts like student-to-faculty ratio, average class size, number of majors offered, and most popular majors.
• Professional Outcomes – Includes info on the rate of positive outcomes, companies employing alumni, and graduate school acceptances.

Carnegie Mellon University

• Pittsburgh, PA

Academic Highlights: There are a combined 80+ undergraduate majors and 90 minors available across the six schools. Impressively, particularly for a school with more graduate students than undergrads, CMU boasts a 6:1 student-to-faculty ratio and small class sizes, with 36% containing single digits. In a given school year, 800+ undergraduates conduct research through the University Research Office. The most commonly conferred degrees are in engineering (21%), computer science (16%), mathematics (12%), business (10%), and visual and performing arts (9%).

Professional Outcomes: By the end of the calendar year in which they received their diplomas, 66% of 2022 grads were employed, and 28% were continuing to graduate school. The companies that have routinely scooped up CMU grads include Google, Meta, Microsoft, Apple, Accenture, McKinsey, and Deloitte. With an average starting salary of $105,194, CMU grads outpace the average starting salary for a college grad nationally. Of those pursuing graduate education, around 20% typically enroll immediately in PhD programs.

• Enrollment: 7,509
• Cost of Attendance: $84,412
• Median SAT: 1540
• Median ACT: 35
• Acceptance Rate: 11%
• Retention Rate: 97%
• Graduation Rate: 92%

Georgia Institute of Technology

• Atlanta, GA

Academic Highlights: Georgia Tech’s engineering and computer science programs are at the top of any “best programs” list. Being a large research university, the student-to-faculty ratio is a less-than-ideal 22:1, leading to some larger undergraduate class sections. In fact, 49% of courses had enrollments of more than thirty students in 2022-23. On the other end of the spectrum, 8% of sections had single-digit enrollments. In terms of total number of degrees conferred, the most popular areas of study are engineering (51%), computer science (21%), and business (9%).

Professional Outcomes: More than three-quarters of recent grads had already procured employment by the time they were handed their diplomas. You will find graduates at every major technology company in the world. The median salary reported by that group was $80,000. Many remain on campus to earn advanced engineering degrees through Georgia Tech, but the school’s reputation is such that gaining admission into other top programs including MIT, Carnegie Mellon, Berkeley, Stanford, and Caltech.

• Enrollment: 18,416
• Cost of Attendance: $29,950 (In-State); $52,120 (Out-of-State)
• Median SAT: 1470
• Median ACT: 33
• Acceptance Rate: 17%
• Retention Rate: 98%
• Graduation Rate: 93%

Purdue University — West Lafayette

• West Lafayette, IN

Academic Highlights: Purdue offers over 200 majors at ten discipline-specific colleges, and 38% of course sections have an enrollment of 19 or fewer. Engineering and engineering technologies majors earn 34% of the degrees conferred by the university; the College of Engineering cracks the top ten on almost every list of best engineering schools. The Krannert School of Management is also well-regarded by employers; 11% of degrees conferred are in business. Other popular majors include computer science (10%) and agriculture (5%)—both are incredibly strong.

Professional Outcomes: Shortly after receiving their diplomas, 70% of 2022 grads headed to the world of employment while 24% headed to graduate/professional school. The top industries entered by grads in recent years are (1) health care, pharmaceuticals, and medical devices; (2) finance, insurance, and consulting; (3) manufacturing and machinery; (4) airline, aviation, and aerospace. Companies employing the greatest number of recent alumni were Amazon, Deloitte, PepsiCo, Labcorp, Lockheed Martin, and Microsoft. The average starting salary was $68k across all degree programs.

• Enrollment: 37,949 (undergraduate); 12,935 (graduate)
• Cost of Attendance: $22,812 (in-state); $41,614 (out-of-state)
• Median SAT: 1330
• Median ACT: 31
• Acceptance Rate: 53%
• Retention Rate: 91%
• Graduation Rate: 84%

Rochester Institute of Technology

• Rochester, NY

Academic Highlights: There are nine undergraduate colleges at RIT, including the top-ranked Gleason College of Engineering and the Golisano College of Computing and Information Sciences. The co-op program is the fourth oldest in the country; most students complete a one- or two-semester paid learning experience. The most popular majors are engineering & engineering technologies (34%), computer and information sciences (20%), visual and performing arts (10%), and business (9%). RIT’s game design program is the best on the East Coast, and programs in film, art, and design are also quite strong.

Professional Outcomes: Within six months of graduation, 95% of recent grads had found employment or a full-time graduate program. Major companies presently employing more than 500 RIT alums include Xerox and Paychex, both with offices in Rochester. Between 200 and 450 employees of IBM, Microsoft, Apple, Intel, Amazon, Google, and Cisco were educated at RIT. Starting salary figures vary greatly by major with College of Business grads landing a median starting salary of $63k and computer science majors of $102k right out of school.

• Enrollment: 13,940 (undergraduate); 2,675 (graduate)
• Cost of Attendance: $75,390
• Median SAT: 1350
• Acceptance Rate: 67%
• Retention Rate: 85%
• Graduation Rate: 74%

University of Southern California

• Los Angeles, CA

Academic Highlights : There are 140 undergraduate majors and minors within the Dornsife College of Arts & Sciences alone, the university’s oldest and largest school. The Marshall School of Business, Viterbi School of Engineering, and programs in communication, the cinematic arts, and the performing arts are highly acclaimed. Popular areas of study are business (22%), social sciences (11%), visual and performing arts (11%), communications/journalism (9%), and engineering (8%). Most courses enroll 10-19 students, and USC does an excellent job facilitating undergraduate research opportunities.

Professional Outcomes: 96% of undergrads experience positive postgraduation outcomes within six months of earning their degree. The top five industries entered were finance, consulting, advertising, software development, and engineering; the median salary across all majors is an astounding $79k. Presently, between 300 and 1,500 alumni are employed at each of Google, Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, KPMG, Goldman Sachs, and Meta. Graduate/professional schools enrolling the greatest number of 2022 USC grads include NYU, Georgetown, Harvard, Stanford, Pepperdine, and UCLA.

• Enrollment: 20,699 (undergraduate); 28,246 (graduate)
• Cost of Attendance: $90,921
• Median SAT: 1510
• Median ACT: 34
• Acceptance Rate: 12%

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Academic Highlights: There are five undergraduate schools within the larger university: the School of Architecture; the School of Management; the School of Science; the top-ranked School of Engineering; and the School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences. A solid 54% of sections contain fewer than 20 students. The most degrees are conferred in engineering (45%) and computer and information sciences (21%). Rensselaer has very strong programs in mechanical, aerospace, computer, electrical, and biomedical engineering as well as physics, architecture, and computer science.

Professional Outcomes: As they receive their diplomas, 54% of RPI grads have already landed a job and 32% have committed to a graduate school. The largest numbers of grads were hired by companies that included Google, Microsoft, Deloitte, General Dynamics, Boeing, and IBM. Massive numbers of alumni hold leadership positions in corporations like Google, Pratt & Whitney, General Motors, GE, and Microsoft. Recent grads enjoy starting salaries in excess of $81k.

• Enrollment: 5,895 (undergraduate); 1,096 (graduate)
• Cost of Attendance: $82,404
• Median SAT: 1440
• Acceptance Rate: 65%
• Retention Rate: 89%

Northeastern University

Academic Highlights: Northeastern offers 290 majors and 180 combined majors within nine colleges and programs. Experiential learning is had by virtually all graduates, thanks to the school’s illustrious and robust co-op program. The D’Amore-McKim School of Business is a top-ranked school and offers one of the best international business programs anywhere, and both the College of Engineering and College of Computer Science are highly respected as well. Criminal justice, architecture, and nursing are three other majors that rate near the top nationally.

Professional Outcomes: Nine months after leaving Northeastern, 97% of students have landed at their next employment or graduate school destination. Huskies entering the job market are quickly rounded up by the likes of State Street, Fidelity Investments, IBM, and Amazon, all of whom employ 500+ Northeastern alums. Between 200 and 500 employees at Wayfair, Google, Amazon, Oracle, IBM, and Apple have an NU lineage. Starting salaries are above average (55% make more than $60k), in part due to the stellar co-op program.

• Enrollment: 20,980 (undergraduate); 15,826 (graduate)
• Cost of Attendance: $86,821
• Median SAT: 1500
• Acceptance Rate: 7%
• Graduation Rate: 91%

New York University

• New York, NY

Academic Highlights: NYU is divided into a number of smaller (but still quite large) colleges organized by discipline; in sum, there are 230 areas of undergraduate study across nine schools and colleges. For its size, a commendable 58% of classes have an enrollment under 20 students. While all schools within NYU have solid reputations, Stern holds the distinction as one of the top undergraduate business programs in the country. For those entering film, dance, drama, or other performing arts, Tisch is as prestigious a place as you can find to study.

Professional Outcomes: Within six months of exiting, 94% of Class of 2022 grads had landed at their next destination, with 78% employed and 21% in graduate school. The top industries for employment were healthcare (11%), internet and software (9%), finance (8%), and entertainment (8%). Large numbers of alumni can be found at Google, Deloitte, Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, IBM, JP Morgan Chase, Citi, and Amazon. The mean starting salary is $75,336. In 2022, business, arts and sciences, and law school were the most popular grad school destinations.

• Enrollment: 29,401 (undergraduate); 29,711 (graduate)
• Cost of Attendance: $90,222-$96,172
• Median SAT: 1520
• Retention Rate: 95%
• Graduation Rate: 87%

Drexel University

• Philadelphia, PA

Academic Highlights: There are 80+ undergraduate majors to choose from at Drexel and they offer a reasonable 9:1 student-to-faculty ratio with commensurately reasonable class sizes. Fifty-two percent of sections contain 19 or fewer students, and just a sliver under 9% of sections contain fifty or more. Looking at the number of degrees conferred by discipline, the big three at Drexel are business (25%), health professions (21%), and engineering (17%). Visual and performing arts (9%), and CS (8%) round out the list of majors with a sizable representation.

Professional Outcomes: One year after graduating, 97%, Dragons have arrived at their next destination; 81% were employed, and 13% had matriculated into graduate or professional school. The largest employers of Drexel alumni are Comcast, Merck, Vanguard, and Johnson & Johnson. The average starting salary for Drexel grads with a full-time job was $64,774. Drexel’s medical school acceptance rate was 60%, roughly 20 points higher than the national average. It offers an accelerated BS/MD program with its own Drexel University College of Medicine.

• Enrollment: 13,881
• Cost of Attendance: $81,508
• Median ACT: 29
• Acceptance Rate: 80%
• Retention Rate: 87%
• Graduation Rate: 78%

Savannah College of Art and Design

• Savannah, GA

Academic Highlights: Savannah College of Art and Design offers more than 40 programs of study and close to half of all classes enroll no more than 19 students. The most commonly pursued degrees are Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects (21%), Illustration (14%), Digital Communication (13%), Cinematography and Film Production (9%), and Fashion/Apparel Design (6%).

Professional Outcomes:  A tremendous 99% of SCAD graduates report being employed or engaged in further study within ten months of graduating. Further, 91% state that they are working in a field/position related to their area of study. Many alumni are self-employed but sizable numbers also obtain employment with Amazon, Apple, Deloitte, Gensler, Google, Microsoft, Blizzard Entertainment, Epic Games, and Walt Disney Imagineering.

• Enrollment: 13,622
• Cost of Attendance: $65,574
• Median SAT: 1240
• Median ACT: 24
• Acceptance Rate: 82%
• Retention Rate: 75%
• Graduation Rate: 62%

University of Utah

• Salt Lake City, UT

Academic Highlights : The university’s 16 colleges and schools house 100 undergraduate programs, including the top-ranked engineering, business, and computer science departments. Forty-four percent of courses enroll 19 students or fewer while 17% are on the larger side, enrolling 50 or more students. Popular majors include the social sciences (14%), business (13%), engineering (8%), computer science (8%), psychology (8%), communication/journalism (6%), and health professions (6%).

Professional Outcomes: Within six months of graduating, 63% of recent grads planned to enter full-time employment while 25% jumped directly into an advanced degree program. Employers hiring the greatest number of Utes include Intermountain Healthcare, Goldman Sachs, Amazon, Microsoft, Adobe, Pluralsight, and Lucid. The average starting salary is $65,786, and the median is $58,240.

• Enrollment: 26,355 (undergraduate); 8,379 (graduate)
• Cost of Attendance: $32,000 (in-state); $53,704 (out-of-state)
• Median SAT: 1290
• Median ACT: 25
• Acceptance Rate: 89%
• Graduation Rate: 65%

Worcester Polytechnic Institute

• Worcester, MA

Academic Highlights: Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) offers a hands-on and innovative project-based curriculum; all students complete a minimum of two long-term research projects that are focused on solving real-world problems. A staggering 52% of its classes enroll fewer than ten students, creating an incredible level of academic intimacy. The most popular majors are under the engineering umbrella (63%) and computer science (16%). The undergraduate engineering program is respected worldwide and frequently graces lists of top schools.

Professional Outcomes: Within six months of graduating, 94% of 2022 grads landed jobs or enrolled full-time in graduate school. Recent grads found jobs at top companies including Airbnb, DraftKings, Amazon Robotics, and NASA. Hundreds of WPI alumni are employed at Raytheon, Pratt & Whitney, Dell, and BAE Systems. The average starting salary is over $74,000 and is one of the highest in the country. Over one-quarter of grads elect to pursue an advanced degree immediately after graduation, enrolling at institutions that recently included Georgia Tech, Brown, Johns Hopkins, and Stanford.

• Enrollment: 5,246 (undergraduate); 2,062 (graduate)
• Cost of Attendance: $81,751
• Median SAT: Test Blind
• Median ACT: Test Blind
• Acceptance Rate: 57%

George Mason University

• Fairfax, VA

Academic Highlights: Fifty-two percent of class sections at GMU enroll nineteen or fewer students, 13% have fifty or more students, and the remaining sections lie in between. The most popular program is business (20%) and is followed by computer and information sciences (13%), the social sciences (8%), health professions (8%), and homeland security (8%). The Volgenau College of Engineering, which houses a top-tier Information Technology Department, and the School of Business are both extremely reputable in the eyes of prospective employers

Professional Outcomes: Six months after receiving their degrees, 87% of the class of 2022 had accepted a job offer or started work in a graduate program. GMU grads flow into major consulting firms like Booz Allen Hamilton, Deloitte, and Accenture, financial institutions like Capital One and Freddie Mac, and engineering/tech firms like General Dynamics, IBM, and Microsoft. Mason graduates tend to pursue advanced degrees either at Mason itself or at other area schools including George Washington, American University, or the University of Maryland.

• Enrollment: 27,014
• Cost of Attendance: $28,963 (In-State); $53,127 (Out-of-state)
• Median ACT: 28
• Acceptance Rate: 90%
• Graduation Rate: 70%

DigiPen Institute of Technology

• Redmond, WA

Academic Highlights: DigiPen offers eight undergraduate degrees in five areas: computer science, digital art and animation, engineering, game design and development, and music and audio. Seven minors are also available in fields such as English, art, and psychology. The curriculum is highly project-based and hands-on. The game design program is particularly strong; other standout offerings include engineering, simulation, and animation production. Students benefit from a 10:1 student-to-faculty ratio and an average class size of 19 students.

Professional Outcomes: Post-graduation, 69% of students—across all majors—are employed in the field that their degree specifically prepared them for. Alumni have gone on to work for over 1,500 corporations and small businesses, and clusters can be found at Amazon, Microsoft, Bungie, Nintendo, and Disney. In addition, alumni have been credited on 2,000+ professional games as artists, designers, and programmers. Ten years post-grad, they also enjoy the highest median earnings among those who attended a Washington State college or university.

• Enrollment: 1,190 (undergraduate); 57 (graduate)
• Cost of Attendance: $65,279
• Median SAT: N/A
• Median ACT: N/A
• Acceptance Rate: 46%
• Retention Rate: 69%
• Graduation Rate: 60%

DePaul University

• Chicago, IL

Academic Highlights:  There are more than 300 undergraduate majors and graduate programs at the nation’s largest Catholic research university. The student-to-faculty ratio is 17:1 and 42% of courses enroll fewer than 20 students. A hefty 32% of all degrees awarded in 2022 were in the discipline of business/marketing. The next most popular areas of study were the visual and performing arts (13%), journalism (11%), and computer science (10%). The University rates well in the areas of overall value and facilitating social mobility.

Professional Outcomes:  92% of 2022 graduates found their next positive step in life within six months of being awarded their diploma. 81% were employed earning a modest median salary of $45,000. Sample employers included Epic. Xerox Business Solutions, UBS, KPMG, and a number of nonprofit entities. Less than 10% of DePaul graduates directly enter graduate or professional school right after completing their undergraduate education.

• Enrollment: 14,134
• Cost of Attendance: $66,798
• Median SAT: 1190
• Median ACT: 27
• Acceptance Rate: 70%
• Retention Rate: 84%
• Graduation Rate: 69%

Columbia College Chicago

Academic Highlights:  More than 150 majors, minors, and graduate programs await students at Columbia College Chicago as well as a 15:1 student-to-faculty ratio. Overall, 65% of all course sections are relatively small, containing no more than 19 students. Almost 60% come to Columbia College Chicago for the visual and performing arts, but areas such as communication technologies (20%), journalism (10%), English (4%), and business (3%) are also common selections.

Professional Outcomes:  Many graduates of the visual arts program are self-employed after graduation, but companies employing large numbers of Columbia College grads include Amazon, Apple, NBCUniversal, Live Nation Entertainment, Crate and Barrel, the Walt Disney Company, AbbVie, Google, Netflix, and FCB Chicago. Remaining in Chicago or another Illinois city after graduation is the most popular move, but there are plenty of alumni situated in Los Angeles, New York City, and San Francisco as well.

• Enrollment: 6,424
• Cost of Attendance: $51,786
• Acceptance Rate: 95%
• Retention Rate: 67%
• Graduation Rate: 47%

We hope you have found our list of the Best Colleges for Video Game Design to be useful and informative as you continue your college search process. We also invite you to check out some of our other resources and tools including:

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New study from professor jan plass explores positive impact of video games on children.

New research finds that digital games can contribute to the well-being of children, but game producers must design games to support positive outcomes.

Video games can contribute to and support the well-being of children if they are designed with the needs of children in mind, according to new research from UNICEF Innocenti and collaborating institutions, including New York University.

The report, the second in the Responsible Innovation in Technology for Children (RITEC) project, establishes that digital gaming companies and game designers can and should support the well-being of children through the games they produce and demonstrates that digital play has a particularly positive impact on children’s autonomy, competence, creativity, and identity when it responds to their deep interests, needs, and desires. The project was co-founded by UNICEF and the LEGO Group and is funded by the LEGO Foundation.

Jan L. Plass , who is a professor and the Paulette Goddard Chair in Digital Media and Learning Sciences as well as the acting program co-director of the Educational Communication and Technology program, led one of three studies appearing in the report. To understand the effect of digital play on children’s well-being, Plass and his colleagues implemented a 10-week intervention involving digital games including Lego Builder’s Journey and Rocket League with 255 children ages 8 through 12 years old. Among their findings, US children with a greater need for belonging relayed more positive feelings toward their social and parental relationships and an improved sense of autonomy. In Chile, children reported greater autonomy and improved parental relationships. In South Africa, the digital play generally supported well-being for all children.

“Many parents are concerned about screen time for their children, and this is the first study investigating the effect of digital play on well-being for this age group in the US, Chile, and South Africa,” said Plass, founding director of the Consortium for Research and Evaluation of Advanced Technology in Education (CREATE) Lab at NYU Steinhardt.

In addition to the experimental research led by Plass, observational research was conducted in the homes of 50 families over a 14-month period with children ages 6 through 12 in Australia, Cyprus, South Africa, and the UK. Lab-based research measured heart rate, eye tracking, facial expressions, and galvanic skin response (changes in sweat gland activity) of 69 children, ages 7 though 12, playing digital games in Australia.

The finding that digital play can enhance child well-being and meet children’s psychological needs, such as the need for connections to others, is especially important at a time when we are concerned about children’s mental health. Jan L. Plass, Founding Director of the CREATE Lab at NYU Steinhardt

The three studies found that games can support children’s senses of autonomy, competence, creativity, and identity, as well as help them regulate emotions and build relationships. But in order to support one or more of these aspects of well-being, games should consider certain features. For example, to support children’s sense of autonomy, a game could put them in control, allow them to make decisions about gameplay and encourage them to develop their own strategies to progress. Or to support creativity, a game could allow children to freely explore and solve problems or create their own characters or narratives.

“For decades, people have often assumed that playing video games is somehow bad for children, undermining their well-being. But our new study paints a far more complex picture – one in which these games can actually contribute to children’s well-being and positively support them as they grow up,” said Bo Viktor Nylund, director of UNICEF Innocenti.

Anna Rafferty, vice president of Digital Consumer Engagement, the LEGO Group, said: “This exciting research from UNICEF and leading academics shows that safe and inclusive digital play can have a profoundly positive impact on children’s lives. We’re proud to be partnering with like-minded organisations to understand how digital experiences can be designed in a way that puts children’s well-being first. These findings will empower responsible businesses to create a digital future where children are safe, nurtured and equipped to thrive.”

“The finding that digital play can enhance child well-being and meet children’s psychological needs, such as the need for connections to others, is especially important at a time when we are concerned about children’s mental health,” added Plass.

Said Nylund, “This research helps us understand not only how video games can impact the well-being of children, but also helps the producers and designers of these games understand what elements they can include to support children. We hope they will consider these findings as they design the games our children will be playing in the future.”

Also included in the RITEC project is the Joan Ganz Cooney Center; the Young & Resilient Research Centre at Western Sydney University; the Graduate Center, City University of New York; the University of Sheffield; and the Australian Centre of Excellence for the Digital Child.

The findings will be followed later this year by the launch of a guide to assist businesses to incorporate these findings into the games they design.

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The Consortium for Research and Evaluation of Advanced Technologies in Education (CREATE) engages in research on the design, critique, and evaluation of wide-ranging advanced digital technologies for learning. Projects housed in the consortium involve interdisciplinary teams of scholars and developers who bridge basic and applied research, development, and evaluation.

Video games can have a positive impact on children—if designed with the right features, says new study

New research finds that digital games can contribute to the well-being of children, but game producers must design games to support positive outcomes.

Video games can contribute to and support the well-being of children if they are designed with the needs of children in mind, according to new research from UNICEF Innocenti and collaborating institutions, including New York University.

The report, the second in the Responsible Innovation in Technology for Children (RITEC) project, establishes that digital gaming companies and game designers can and should support the well-being of children through the games they produce and demonstrates that digital play has a particularly positive impact on children’s autonomy, competence, creativity, and identity when it responds to their deep interests, needs and desires. The project was co-founded by UNICEF and the LEGO Group and is funded by the LEGO Foundation.

NYU Steinhardt Professor Jan L. Plass led one of three studies appearing in the report. To understand the effect of digital play on children’s well-being, Plass and his colleagues implemented a 10-week intervention involving digital games including Lego Builder’s Journey and Rocket League with 255 children ages 8 through 12 years old. Among their findings, US children with a greater need for belonging relayed more positive feelings toward their social and parental relationships and an improved sense of autonomy. In Chile, children reported greater autonomy and improved parental relationships. In South Africa, the digital play generally supported well-being for all children.

“Many parents are concerned about screen time for their children, and this is the first study investigating the effect of digital play on well-being for this age group in the US, Chile, and South Africa,” said Plass, founding director of the Consortium for Research and Evaluation of Advanced Technology in Education (CREATE) Lab at NYU.

In addition to the experimental research led by Plass, observational research was conducted in the homes of 50 families over a 14-month period with children ages 6 through 12 in Australia, Cyprus, South Africa, and the UK. Lab-based research measured heart rate, eye tracking, facial expressions, and galvanic skin response (changes in sweat gland activity) of 69 children, ages 7 though 12, playing digital games in Australia.

The three studies found that games can support children’s senses of autonomy, competence, creativity, and identity, as well as help them regulate emotions and build relationships. But in order to support one or more of these aspects of well-being, games should consider certain features. For example, to support children’s sense of autonomy, a game could put them in control, allow them to make decisions about gameplay and encourage them to develop their own strategies to progress. Or to support creativity, a game could allow children to freely explore and solve problems or create their own characters or narratives.

“For decades, people have often assumed that playing video games is somehow bad for children, undermining their well-being. But our new study paints a far more complex picture—one in which these games can actually contribute to children’s well-being and positively support them as they grow up,” said Bo Viktor Nylund, director of UNICEF Innocenti.

Anna Rafferty, vice president of Digital Consumer Engagement, the LEGO Group, said: “This exciting research from UNICEF and leading academics shows that safe and inclusive digital play can have a profoundly positive impact on children’s lives. We’re proud to be partnering with like-minded organisations to understand how digital experiences can be designed in a way that puts children’s well-being first. These findings will empower responsible businesses to create a digital future where children are safe, nurtured and equipped to thrive.”

“The finding that digital play can enhance child well-being and meet children’s psychological needs, such as the need for connections to others, is especially important at a time when we are concerned about children’s mental health,” added Plass.

Said Nylund: “This research helps us understand not only how video games can impact the well-being of children, but also helps the producers and designers of these games understand what elements they can include to support children. We hope they will consider these findings as they design the games our children will be playing in the future.”

Also included in the RITEC project is the Joan Ganz Cooney Center; the Young & Resilient Research Centre at Western Sydney University; the Graduate Center, City University of New York; the University of Sheffield; and the Australian Centre of Excellence for the Digital Child.

The findings will be followed later this year by the launch of a guide to assist businesses to incorporate these findings into the games they design.

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Xbox Wireless Controller – Fire Vapor Special Edition

Unique red and orange color swirl | Rubberized, red diamond-pattern grips | Button mapping | Bluetooth® technology

Elevate your game

Experience the Xbox Wireless Controller – Fire Vapor Special Edition featuring a unique red and orange color swirl and rubberized, red diamond-pattern grips on the back case. Quickly pair with, play on, and switch between devices including console, PC, and mobile. *

Dedicated share button

Seamlessly capture and share content such as screenshots, recordings, and more with the Share button.

Stay on target

Stay on target with a hybrid D-pad and textured grip on the triggers, bumpers, and side caps. Hold on to the action with the first-ever rubberized, red diamond-pattern grips on the back case.

Switch devices

Easily pair and switch between devices including Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Windows PC, Android, and iOS. *

Compatibility

Includes Xbox Wireless and Bluetooth® technology for wireless gaming on console, Windows 10/11 PC, mobile phones and tablets. Plug in any compatible headset with the 3.5mm stereo headset jack. *

Discover your next favorite game

Play hundreds of high-quality games with friends, plus enjoy online console multiplayer and an EA Play membership, all for one low monthly price.

Additional Accessories

Xbox Design Lab

Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 – Core (White)

Xbox Rechargeable Battery + USB-C

*See xbox.com/controller-compatibility . Use with controller compatible games. Mobile and Bluetooth: select devices and versions; some functionality not supported. Battery life varies significantly with headsets, additional accessories, usage, and other factors. Testing conducted by Microsoft using standard AA batteries in preproduction units. Button mapping available via Xbox Accessories app for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Windows 10/11; app for Windows 10/11 requires compatible USB-C cable (sold separately).

**Prices and availability may vary by retailer.

***Battery life varies significantly with headsets, additional accessories, usage, and other factors. Testing conducted by Microsoft using preproduction units.

Screen Rant

D&d officially reveals its 2024 player's handbook & pre-order info.

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D&D - Vecna: Eve of Ruin Review "A Dungeons & Dragons Greatest Hits Album"

D&d’s new core rulebooks will fix a major spellcasting problem, how old drizzt is in his dungeons & dragons books (& how long he can live).

• The long-awaited revised edition of the Dungeons & Dragons Player's Handboo k will be released on Sep. 17, 2024, with a more streamlined rulebook.
• The new Player's Handbook features iconic characters like Strongheart the Knight as it pays homage to the game's legacy.
• The release coincides with the franchise's 50th Anniversary, with stunning illustrations included in the updated handbooks.

Dungeons & Dragons finally gives players a peek at its upcoming revised edition that includes updated versions of The Player's Handbook , Dungeon Master's Guide, and the Monster Manual . Fans of the tabletop role-playing game have been waiting for these tomes for years now after publisher Wizards of the Coasts confirmed in 2021 that it was tweaking the current ruleset of Fifth Edition to provide a more streamlined version of the game . The release of the rules also coincides with the franchise's 50th Anniversary , an event that will be immortalized by the new core rulebooks.

Per Game Informer , who also shared some stunning illustrations that will be included in the revised rulebooks, the updated Player's Handbook will be released on September 17, 2024, while Dungeon Master's Guide follows on November 12, and the Monster Manual will trail slightly after, dropping on February 18, 2025. Pre-orders for all three books start on June 18 and each one is priced at $49.99 . The cover of the new Player's Handbook features some of the most iconic characters from Dungeons & Dragons ' massive legacy, sporting the likes of Strongheart the Knight, Yolande the Elven Queen, Molliver, Mercion, and even Elkhorn.

Dungeons & Dragons 5e goes out with a bang before its 2024 relaunch thanks to Vecna: Eve of Ruin, a multiverse-spanning high-level campaign.

Dungeons & Dragons Has Come A Long Way

Gotta respect the tabletop king.

Illustrated by Tyler Jacobson, the covers of each of the new books, especially the Player's Handbook , are meant to pay homage to previous editions of the game while also serving as a fun example of the kinds of adventures players can expect in the game. The reverse cover features a group of unknown adventures riding upon a large bronze dragon, standing in stark contrast to the perilous battle the more iconic heroes find themselves on the front. In this way, Jacobson says that their illustrations help to embody and represent every experience that can be had at the table.

The updated core rulebooks will also sport some unique artwork to celebrate Dungeons & Dragons ' landmark birthday as early printings will include a " D&D 50th" seal on the back to mark the momentous year . They'll also all sport a red spine, a design choice that will also apply to all future rulebooks, further harkening back to previous editions. Many of the older monsters have also been redesigned to be more reflective of the game's current state, providing Wizards of the Coast with an opportunity to rework some of its more iconic but nonetheless dated creatures .

Dungeons & Dragons continues to grow as one of the most popular tabletop experiences currently available on the market and news that the updated ruleset will soon be available to pre-order will no doubt be music to fans' ears. The game has been teasing some significant updates but in terms of mechanical reworks, players will just have to wait and see what lies in store. Wizards of the Coast will likely share even more information on the books in the coming months to further build up hype for their release, so expect even more updates in the near future.

Source: Game Informer

Dungeons and Dragons

• Dungeons & Dragons