University of Utah video game program fuels $2 billion industry
Rice–Eccles Stadium, an outdoor college football venue at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, stands against a stunning mountain backdrop.
University of Utah
This article is part of CNBC’s Cities of Success series, which explores cities that have transformed into business hubs with an entrepreneurial spirit and attracted capital, companies and employees.
The video game industry in Utah has become a powerhouse, growing more than 230% in the last decade and bringing in more than $2.3 billion in revenue last year.
And it’s not stopping: The market is expected to reach an impressive $4.5 billion in economic contribution within five years, according to market research firm IBISWorld.
One of the key drivers behind the growth is the University of Utah’s cutting-edge video game program.
Inside a classroom in Salt Lake City, students here are immersed in studying video games — not just playing them, but also creating them, fueling an industry that has deep roots at the campus.
Those were the kind of people I wanted on my team.
Donald Mustard
Former Epic Games chief creative officer, ‘Fortnite’ co-creator
The university boasts a legacy that includes industry luminaries Doug Bowser, president of Nintendo of America, and Nolan Bushnell, founder of Atari and creator of the iconic game “Pong.”
Alumni of the school have gone on to create games generating more than $2 billion in lifetime revenue, according to the university.
“There were just a whole host of people who came here to go to school and then graduated and were pivotal in the games industry,” Michael Young, chair of the University of Utah’s division of games, said in an interview for CNBC’s “Cities of Success: Salt Lake City,” which premieres Dec. 10 at 10 p.m. ET.
Leveling up
| Name | Achievement |
|---|---|
| Doug Bowser | President of Nintendo of America |
| Nolan Bushnell | Founder of Atari, Creator of “Pong” |
| John Blackburn | Vice President and Studio Head at WB’s Avalanche Studios, Lead on “Hogwarts Legacy” |
| Ed Catmull | Co-founder of Pixar, Former President of Walt Disney Animation Studios |
| Richard Evans | Pioneer in AI for Video Games, Known for “The Sims” |
Before it became a formalized program, the University of Utah’s gaming initiative began modestly within the computer science department, according to Young.
It wasn’t until 2008, when a group of students proposed a dedicated gaming area of study, that it gained traction.
By 2010, the entertainment arts and engineering program, known around campus as EAE, was established with a structured curriculum with a dedicated focus on gaming and interactive entertainment.
In 2017, the EAE program launched a bachelor’s degree in gaming, marking a significant step in its development. By 2021, it had become the university’s 10th-largest major, attracting around 1,200 undergraduates each year.
“The demand has just skyrocketed,” Young said.
In the Princeton Review’s 2024 rankings for top game design schools, the…
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