Bring Your Game to Life at Duke

In Duke’s master’s in Game Design, Development & Innovation you’ll spend two years in studio designing, prototyping, and launching original games.

Start your journey toward a career in game development and innovation.

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Not Just a Classroom—Your Design Studio

Duke’s Game Design, Development and Innovation Master’s program is more than coursework—it’s a two-year studio experience where you’ll design, build, and launch games that mirror real industry practice. With a curriculum structured around team collaboration, project milestones, and industry-standard tools, you’ll graduate with not just a degree but a portfolio of work that proves you can lead in the gaming world.

  • Two-year studio experience simulating a professional game studio
  • Large capstone project developed with peers and partners
  • Guidance from Duke faculty and industry mentors
  • Hands-on experience managing budgets, timelines, and teams
  • Community-driven program with strong bonds among peers

Two-Year Studio Experience

Collaborate with peers to design, build, and ship original games in a professional studio-style environment.

Game Design

Create a Portfolio + Skillset

Graduate with a polished portfolio plus skills in leadership, communication, and project management.

three students sitting around a computer in a classroom

Access to Industry Tools and Mentors to Go Further

With mentors from the gaming industry, you’ll explore emerging fields like edtech, health tech, simulation, social innovation, and more.

90%

Job Placement

Nearly 90% of Duke Master of Engineering graduates find employment or further education within 6 months of graduation

25+

Video Game Companies

In the Durham area, including Epic Games, Red Storm, and more top game studios.

200,000+

Duke Alumni

A lifelong global network at your back

Ernesto Escobar of Duke University

We are extremely excited to start working with Epic Games…we are reaching out to many local companies and developers. Our plan is to have industry experts on campus as often as we can so students can learn from their experience and stay up-to-date on what the industry is doing.

 Ernesto Escobar Executive Director, MEng in Game Development

Learn from Developers and Founders

Your mentors in Duke’s game development master’s program include faculty spanning engineering design, human-computer interaction, AI, and product innovation. The program is led by industry leader and executive director Ernesto Eduardo Escobar, Founder and CEO of Fanaticus XR, a game and software development studio.

Ernesto Escobar headshot
Sunrise Aerial of Duke Chapel, June 2024
Sunrise Aerial of Duke Chapel, June 2024

Graduate Ready for Game Industry Careers

Duke’s game design and development graduates are prepared for roles across the gaming industry and beyond—from indie studios and AAA developers to UX design and simulation work. You’ll leave Duke with a polished portfolio, real experience in team collaboration, and the soft skills to thrive in creative, technical, and leadership roles.

Build Games & Your Future. Do It at Duke.