Record number of students to compete at games industry showcase in Salford

More than 200 students from universities and colleges across the North of England will showcase their work at the largest ever Game Republic Student Showcase at the University of Salford's MediaCity campus.

The annual competition brings together students and leading games industry professionals to celebrate emerging talent in games development and digital creativity.

The Game Republic Student Showcase returns for its 18th year on 17 June, with a record 66 projects set to be judged across a range of disciplines including game art, animation, technology, narrative design, audio and teamwork.

Students from 16 institutions will take part, including representatives from the University of Salford, Manchester Metropolitan University, the University of Huddersfield, Sheffield Hallam University and the University of Leeds.

Projects on display will include game demonstrations, character designs, art portfolios, technical presentations and animations.

Jamie Sefton, managing director of Game Republic, said, "We have been overwhelmed this year by the wide range of projects coming through, making it a record breaking Student Showcase.

"I expect to see a really high standard of work produced by the hundreds of students attending. It'll be a really special day for the students, course leaders and games company judges."

Research carried out in 2023 found that 90 percent of previous winners had gone on to secure jobs within the games industry, while 81 percent remained in the North of England.

The showcase will be judged by professionals from major games studios including Team17, Double Eleven, Revolution Software and Sumo Digital.

Students from the University of Salford will also gain practical experience by recording the event and conducting interviews throughout the day.

One of the event's visual highlights will be the official mascot, designed by final year student Amber Agar, whose artwork has been used across promotional materials and limited edition merchandise.

The evening programme will include an awards ceremony, a presentation from the UK Games Fund and a panel discussion offering advice on careers in the games industry, followed by networking opportunities with developers, educators and former winners.

Ric Michael, subject lead for creative technology at the University of Salford, said, "It is a real pleasure to be hosting the GR Student Showcase here at our MediaCity campus.

"For many years, our students have been actively taking part in the showcase as its made its way around the country and as such, we are delighted to be hosting its record breaking 18th showcase.

"Not only is it a real highlight of the annual games education calendar but it is also renowned for offering students the opportunity to engage directly with figureheads from across the industry and have their talents recognised."