Game Art graduate reaches finals in international team challenges
20 January 2026
BA(Hons) Game Art and MA Game Art graduate Eden Gates has reached the finals of two team-based game art challenges. Run online by Beyond Extent, these challenges bring artists together to work under industry style conditions, with a strong focus on collaboration, technical skill and clear communication to deliver a finished environment within a set timeframe.
We caught up with Eden to talk about the projects, what it was like to collaborate under pressure and how the experience helped shape their approach to working as an environment artist.
Can you talk us through the Beyond Extent projects?
For Echoes of the Past (cinematic render below), I was tasked with creating a modular kit and hero assets for our environment, as well as contributing to technical elements such as lighting composition and fog adjustments. That part was very much a group effort. The main thing I learned was the importance of consistency, making sure my work aligned with everyone else’s so we could create a cohesive environment.
In the more recent project, The Witch’s Den, I was responsible for several hero props and signage within the scene, as well as creating a water shader (assets below). I did feel some pressure after winning the previous challenge, but my team was just as supportive, communicative and driven as before. These projects always come back to teamwork. Being able to communicate clearly and support one another is the most important part of the process.
The sign was designed to play an important role in the scene, both for storytelling, as it represents the tea house, and for composition, as it helps guide the viewer’s eye towards the main focal point of the environment, which is the house (cinematic render below).
How did the skills you learned on BA(Hons) Game Art and MA Game Art help you with the projects?
In my previous experience at university working on team projects, I found it easy to adapt and collaborate effectively. For these challenges, the organisers also assess everyone’s skill level beforehand to create balanced teams, so no one feels out of place.
Falmouth’s Games Academy helped me develop strong communication skills and take ownership of my work. During my master’s course, I worked in a small team of five to create a game within a similar timeframe to this project. Beyond that, having a space to build connections has introduced me to many supportive people within the industry.
For Echoes of the Past, although we had our own mentor, Luis Mesguita, we also received support from industry professionals Robin Rumpunen and Nina Klos, as well as feedback from other game development communities such as Experience Points and DiNusty Empire. The confidence to reach out, connect and ask for advice is something I developed during my time at Falmouth, especially at the Games Expo, where we were encouraged to make industry connections in person.
How did you feel when you found out you’d won?
I felt happy, but for me it is not really about winning, it is about learning. I love making art and connecting with people, and being able to do both, with a bit of friendly competition, is always a positive. I have met so many incredibly talented people through these challenges.
External links
You might also like
“Every day I am grateful this is my job”: film alumnus on creating visuals for outdoor lifestyle brands
Fine Art (Online) alumna makes this year’s John Ruskin Prize shortlist after career pivot
Meet our Fine Art MA (Online) class of January 2026
How Falmouth alumnus Edd Carr is pushing the boundaries of sustainable photography
