The free annual event recently welcomed students both on campus and online for a day of talks, workshops, panel discussions, networking and career advice from across the video games industry.

Now in its 12th year, the conference gives aspiring games professionals the opportunity to learn directly from industry experts, meet studio representatives and gain practical advice to help them take their next career steps.

University of Staffordshire is home to the UK’s largest dedicated games education institution and welcomed students from across the country at the event.

Dave Edwards, Course Director for Games Art and Concepts at University of Staffordshire, is one of the event’s lead organisers.

He said: “The Ukie Student Conference is always a highlight of the year and we were proud to host this sell-out event once again at University of Staffordshire.

“Events like this are such an important part of preparing students for their future careers. It was fantastic to see students engaging with industry professionals, building connections, and gaining knowledge as they prepare to become the next generation of games professionals.”

The programme featured speakers from studios including Wushu Studios, EA Sports, Two Point Studios, Flix Interactive and Lucid. Sessions covered game design, programming, indie development, creativity and playtesting, alongside a games employability panel with representatives from Cast Iron Games, Rare, Flix Interactive and Lucid.

University of Staffordshire Games Design student Sam Mellors said: “The Ukie Student Conference was a great experience. Getting to speak with people from both indie and AAA studios gave me a much better understanding of what companies look for in our portfolios. It's definitely an event I'd recommend to other students.”

Students also took part in workshops exploring decision-making in game development, narrative design and production workflows, with opportunities to connect with industry professionals in the Exhibitor Area and during networking sessions.

Craig Duncan, former Head of Xbox and University of Staffordshire Honorary Doctor delivered the keynote address.

He said: “There’s understandably a lot of uncertainty in games right now, but there's also a lot of hope for the UK games industry, hope for the future is important and I felt it in that room! Sharp questions, conversations that kept going long after, and so many lovely messages from students since. I met many bright, enthusiastic game makers and took a lot of energy from the day!”

Ukie is the UK’s games and interactive entertainment trade association, representing businesses across the games ecosystem, from indie developers and AAA studios to publishers and supporting businesses.

Nick Poole, CEO of Ukie, added: “The real stars were the students. I don't think I have ever met a brighter, more ambitious, more clear-eyed yet determined group of people in my life. Every conversation I had throughout the day reminded me that video games people are some of the brightest, most empathetic, most solutions-focused and committed people you will find in any industry.”

The event livestream and can be watched again on the University of Staffordshire Games Twitch channel.

Find out more about studying at University of Staffordshire at an Open day – book your place.