Games Academy trio named Into Games 50 winners
06 August 2026
Three graduates from Falmouth’s Games Academy have been named winners in this year's IG50, an annual award programme run by Into Games that recognises 50 of the UK's most talented, yet-to-be-hired people in the games industry from working-class and low-income backgrounds. Ellie Smith, Gabriele Mikutyte and Alice Perks were selected from close to 400 applicants, each honoured in a different category and continuing to keep Falmouth's game-making community firmly on the industry's radar.
We caught up with them to find out what their winning work involved, their favourite Falmouth memories and what the recognition means for their careers ahead.
Ellie Smith – BA(Hons) Game Development: Design
What work did you submit, and what are you most proud of?
I'm super proud of my work on Who's Steering This Thing? which was my third-year group project on the Game Dev course. The first thing I did on the project was create a board game version of our game concept, which helped clarify the vision and establish some of the details we weren't sure about. Although the project changed and improved over development, the paper prototype really set us up for success in pre-production because it gave us a clear goal to base our decisions on. Production was also successful because I took a really intentional approach to iterating on features. One feature I spent a lot of time on was the throwing ability for players. Initially, when we added the feature, players didn't really know about it or feel the need to use it. After I went through and repeatedly made tweaks and tested it, throwing became one of the most enjoyable aspects of the game.
What was the best part of your course?
The best part of the course was definitely Design Guild. Every Wednesday morning we had a Design Guild session, which wasn't tied to any of our modules, but where we could discuss and analyse specific pieces of design from various games as well as current news in the games industry. There would be sessions such as Hall of Design, where we could make a speech to try and persuade people why your nominated game should be hailed as a well-designed game. It was a great opportunity to improve soft skills like analysis and public speaking, plus it was just fun to socialise with designers from all years in the Games Academy.
How did you feel when you found out you'd been included in IG50?
I'm super keen to start my career in games, so to have my work recognised by the IG50 judges as 'industry-ready' is a real honour, especially amongst the high-quality work from the other winners. I originally heard about IG50 from alumni at the Games Academy who were previous winners of the comp. They told me how it had helped them get their first bit of experience in industry, so I'm hoping that will be the same for me.
Who would you recommend the Game Development course to?
For me, I chose the Game Development course at Falmouth because of how it simulates the studio environment in industry. I'd recommend the course to anyone looking to understand how to combine their skills with other talented people to make something amazing!
Links
Gabriele Mikutyte – MA Game Art
What work did you submit, and what are you most proud of?
I submitted my ArtStation portfolio, which has mostly 3D environment art and a few props. I made sure that everything in my portfolio had breakdowns and explanations of my workflows. I am mostly proud of my latest piece, The Bank Hall. It is based on an actual bank hall from my hometown, where my great-grandfather used to work as a bank clerk.
What are your favourite memories at Falmouth?
Falmouth was such an inspiring place. My best memories were meeting up with friends to go to the Sea Shanty Festival and going on walks to Pendennis Point and all the nearby beaches. My favourite part of the course was going to the Games Academy to work on my tasks after lectures. I felt like it was a perfect place where me and my course mates could discuss our ideas and work alongside each other. I felt very inspired being there and seeing all the other students working on their own projects. Everyone was always so nice, not only at the Games Academy but in general. This included all the students and university staff I have met.
How did you feel when you found out you'd been included in IG50?
I was ecstatic when I got the email and found out that I am part of the IG50 2026 cohort. I believe there were close to 400 applications, so I feel very lucky to have been chosen to be part of IG50 this year.
Who would you recommend the Game Development course to?
I felt very lucky to have studied at Falmouth. I think it's a great place for anyone who wants to learn game development, grow in a collaborative environment and build long-lasting friendships with other game developers.
External links
https://www.artstation.com/gabmik
Alice Perks, who studied BA(Hons) Game Art, was also selected as a winner in the Character Art category.
External links
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