Welcome to the new Benilde website where you’re FREE TO BE! Click here to view the old version.
Welcome to the new Benilde website where you’re FREE TO BE! Click here to view the old version.
01 August 2025
Benilde’s Game Design and Development Program marked its 15th anniversary with a special celebration at PGDX 2025, the Philippine Game Developers Expo. Held from July 25 to 27 at the SMX Convention Center Manila, the event gathered game studios, educators, students, and professionals from across the country and beyond for three days of showcases, talks, and collaboration.
Benilde was the first college in the Philippines to offer a full degree in Game Design and Development. The program began in 2009 with support from the Game Developers Association of the Philippines (GDAP). The program started as a major in Game Design and Development under the Bachelor of Science in Information Technology. As interest and expertise in the field grew, it was elevated into its own degree: the Bachelor of Science in Interactive Entertainment and Multimedia Computing (BSIEMC). In 2023, it reached a new milestone when CHED officially recognized it as the Bachelor of Science in Game Design and Development (BS-GDD). It has produced graduates since 2012 and continues to lead in game development education.
At PGDX 2025, Benilde featured a booth exhibit, student showcases, and alumni-led projects. Twelve award-winning student games were presented, along with independent titles in the PGDX Independent Game Stars area. Faculty and alumni also joined panel discussions, mentoring sessions, and networking activities.
PGDX 2025 was not the first time Benilde’s Game Design and Development Program worked with the Game Developers Association of the Philippines (GDAP). The two have had a longstanding relationship since the program was first launched in 2009 with GDAP’s support. In 2024, the College signed a Memorandum of Understanding with GDAP to expand internships, microcredentialing, and joint projects. Benilde is GDAP’s first academic partner and continues to work with the organization to support the growth of the game development industry in the country.
“The program has always been about helping students build their own future in games,” said Norman Lee, Program Chair of BS-GDD. “We focus on collaboration, industry practice, and national contribution.”
With a long history of working closely with GDAP and other industry partners, the Game Design and Development Program continues to produce students who earn recognition for their work. At the 2024 Philippine Creative Awards, Benilde students received major honors including Game of the Year, Best Game Design, and the Innovation Award. These achievements show how the program’s industry-aligned training helps students create high-quality, original games that meet professional standards.
The Game Design and Development Program offers two tracks: Game Programming and Game Art. Students work with professional-grade tools such as Unity, Unreal Engine, Adobe Creative Suite, and VR headsets from Meta and HTC. The curriculum also includes training in Blender, Maya, ZBrush, and Substance tools. These resources are used across design, programming, and production courses to help students build complete game experiences.
“We teach students to build complete games, not just parts of them,” Lee added. “They learn to design, program, write, and produce, just like in real studios.”
The program prepares students for roles such as junior technical artist, programmer, UI/UX designer, level designer, and narrative designer. It is aligned with the Philippine Skills Framework for Game Development and supported by partnerships with CG Arts Japan, Secret 6, and the International Game Developers Association (IGDA) through the student organization GUILD.
“We’re proud of our alumni who now work in studios, lead teams, or run their own startups,” said Lee. “Their success shows what our students can achieve when they’re equipped and ready.”
Benilde’s presence at PGDX 2025 shows its leadership in game development education. As the Philippines’ first academic program in this field, it remains committed to shaping the next generation of Filipino game creators.
For more information on Benilde’s undergraduate programs, contact us at (63) 2 8230 5100 local 1801 or admissions@benilde.edu.ph. You may also visit our website at www.benilde.edu.ph.
BENILDE MANILA
For admissions-related inquiries:
BENILDE ANTIPOLO
For admissions-related inquiries:
For scholarships-related inquiries:
De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde
© 2025 All Rights Reserved.
