Third Annual HBCU Game Jam: Empowering the Next Generation of Black Game Developers

Photo By: Julie Yarbrough

This past weekend, from March 28 to March 30, 2025, the Robert W. Woodruff Library buzzed with innovation and creativity as it hosted the third annual HBCU Game Jam. The highly anticipated 24-hour hackathon brought together Historically Black College and University (HBCU) students to develop their own video games and compete for industry-sponsored prizes. This year’s event marked a significant milestone— for the first time in its history, the HBCU Game Jam was planned entirely by students.

A Student-Driven Event

As students arrived, the excitement was palpable. The HBCU Game Jam has always been a beginner-friendly competition, welcoming participants with little to no game development experience. Hosted in collaboration with major industry players such as Zynga, Microsoft, Unity, CodeHouse, and Boeing, the event aimed to bridge the gap in the gaming industry, where Black professionals make up only 5% of the workforce, according to a survey by the International Game Developers Association.

To level the playing field, organizers provided free game development workshops and seminars ahead of the competition. These sessions served as a crash course in video game creation, ensuring that even first-time developers had the tools and confidence to compete.

Record-Breaking Participation

Building on the momentum of previous years, this year’s Game Jam saw participation from over 120 students representing six HBCUs. Remarkably, nearly 50% of these students had never created a video game before. Yet, through teamwork, mentorship, and perseverance, they conceptualized, designed, and built fully playable games within the 24-hour timeframe.

Industry-Sponsored Prizes and Opportunities

Beyond the thrill of competition, students had the opportunity to network with industry professionals and recruiters from leading gaming companies. The top teams received prestigious awards and exclusive mentorship opportunities with industry giants, paving the way for future careers in game development.

As the final games were presented, the room was filled with admiration for the creativity and ingenuity displayed by the students. The HBCU Game Jam continues to be a beacon of opportunity, breaking down barriers and fostering the next generation of Black game developers. With its first student-led planning committee proving to be a resounding success, the future of this groundbreaking event looks brighter than ever.