24 March 2026
Last March 18, De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde signed a partnership with Xsolla, a global video game commerce platform that helps developers publish, distribute, and earn revenue from their games around the world. The agreement connects the College’s Game Design and Development program with industry tools that allow developers to release and monetize games in international markets.
The collaboration opens a new pathway for students and alumni who want to move their projects beyond the classroom and into real distribution channels. “This partnership gives our students the opportunity to bring their work into a real market,” said Benilde Chancellor Benhur Ong during the signing ceremony.
“They already create strong games inside the classroom. Now they can share those games with players outside the school.” Ong said the program wants students to see that the work they create can reach a real audience. “Our students deserve the chance to see their games played by people around the world,” he said.
Through the partnership, Benilde will launch a dedicated distribution platform powered by Xsolla. The system will include a Benilde-branded launcher and a web portal that will feature selected games developed by students and alumni.
Benilde Vice Chancellor for Academics Angelo Lacson said partnerships with global companies help expand the opportunities available to students in the program. “Our goal is to prepare students for the industries they want to enter,” Lacson said. “Working with partners like Xsolla allows us to give students access to tools and platforms used by developers around the world.” The new partnership gives Benilde developers another step forward. Students who create strong games can now bring those projects to a platform that reaches players beyond the campus.
Program leaders will manage the platform and curate the titles that appear on it. Normal Lee, Benilde Game Design and Development program chair, explained that the launcher will focus on projects that are ready for a wider audience. “The system allows us to publish games created by our students and alumni through a Benilde branded launcher and website,” Lee said. “We will curate the titles carefully so the platform represents the strongest work coming out of the program.”
Lee said the goal is to present the best projects that the community produces. “We want the platform to show the best games our students and graduates can create,” he said. “These are the projects that are ready to reach players and generate revenue.” The program will continue to maintain its public portfolio site where students share a wide range of academic work. The Xsolla platform will focus on games that are ready for public release and monetization.
Eric Lee, Head of Partnerships for APAC at Xsolla, said the collaboration allows the company to support emerging developers from the Philippines. “We work with developers around the world to help them publish and monetize their games,” said Eric Lee. “Working with Benilde allows us to connect young developers to the global games ecosystem early in their careers.”
He added that Filipino developers already have a strong presence in the industry. “We see a lot of talent coming from the Philippines,” he said. “Programs like Benilde’s help prepare students to work in the global games industry.”
Representatives from the government and the local game development community also attended the signing.
James Lo of the Game Developers Association of the Philippines said collaborations between schools and industry partners help support the growth of the sector. “Programs like the one at Benilde play an important role in developing future game developers,” Lo said. “When students gain exposure to real platforms and industry partners, they gain a clearer path into the professional game industry.”
The partnership builds on a long relationship between Benilde and the Game Developers Association of the Philippines. The two groups have worked together since 2009, when the Game Design and Development program was first established. In 2024, the collaboration expanded to formally include internship opportunities for students.
Bianca Pearl Sykimte from the Department of Trade and Industry Export Marketing Bureau also attended the ceremony and expressed support for initiatives that help Filipino developers reach international audiences. “The Philippines has strong creative talent in game development,” Sykimte said. “Partnerships that connect education with global platforms help Filipino developers bring their work to players around the world.”
The Benilde Game Design and Development program has built a strong track record since it was established in 2009 as the first degree program in game development in the Philippines. Over the years, it has produced graduates who now work in studios across the country and abroad. The community recently celebrated the program’s fifteenth anniversary during the Philippine GameDev Expo, where students, alumni, and industry partners gathered to recognize its growth and contributions to the local industry.
Benildean developers have also earned recognition for their work. Student teams received several honors at the 2024 Philippine Creative Awards for Animation and Games.
The partnership opens an exciting new chapter for Benilde’s game development community. With Xsolla powering a dedicated launcher and platform, students and alumni can showcase their strongest projects to players everywhere. It’s a bold step that shows how far Filipino talent can go and a reminder that the games built here are ready to make their mark on the global stage.
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.
