Games Academy

What Games Academy does

Games Academy GmbH is a Berlin-based, state-recognized vocational training institution founded in 2000, positioning itself as Europe's first specialized games school. It delivers full-time programs in Game Design (three-year curriculum), Digital Art (two years), Game Programming (two years), and Game Production, alongside evening courses in Graphic Design and UX/UI Design. Over more than two decades the institution has produced 1,500+ alumni and 700+ student-developed games, with graduates placed at major European and North American studios including Ubisoft, Blizzard, Crytek, CD Projekt Red, Amazon Games, and Naughty Dog. The school maintains a 15+ year industry network that underpins both curriculum currency and placement outcomes.\n\nPrograms are delivered through a hybrid model combining on-campus instruction in Berlin with live-streamed remote participation. Teaching integrates industry-standard tooling via partnerships with technology vendors, and quality assurance is anchored by ISO 9001:2015 and AZAV certifications. The AZAV accreditation enables German learners to fund tuition through Bildungsgutschein and BAföG, which structurally expands the addressable student base. A partnership with mdh University of Applied Sciences announced in 2019 extends the qualification ladder from vocational diplomas to accredited bachelor's and master's degree pathways.\n\nRevenue is generated primarily through tuition fees set at €349 per month for EU residents, structured as multi-year commitments of two to three years that produce a subscription-style revenue base. The legal entity is a privately-held German limited liability company (GmbH) with no publicly disclosed funding rounds. Leadership is centered on Martin Adam as Managing Director and School Principal. The business model is fundamentally B2C — the company sells education seats to individual students — with implicit B2B value captured through studio hiring pipelines that reinforce employer engagement.

Name

Games Academy

Legal name

Games Academy GmbH

Website

https://games-academy.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Games Academy is a Berlin-based vocational school founded in 2000 that delivers state-recognized game design, digital art, programming, and game production programs to aspiring game industry professionals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vocational Education and Training

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (6115)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Game Development (Unity, Unreal, 2D/3D) (EDAMACAE)

Keywords

• Game development education
• Vocational training programs
• Game design school
• Digital art training
• Game programming courses

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition Fees: Monthly tuition fees from students enrolled in vocational training programs. Programs include Game Design (2 semesters), Digital Art (4 semesters), Game Programming (4 semesters), and evening courses in Graphic Design and UX/UI Design. Payment options include monthly, semester-based, or installment plans.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Games Academy is a state-recognized vocational training institution in Berlin, Germany, offering multi-semester programs in Game Design (3 years), Digital Art (2 years), Game Programming (2 years), and Game Production. The school combines theoretical instruction with practical project-based learning, where students develop complete video games in teams during dedicated 6-10 week project periods each semester.

Product overview

Games Academy offers a portfolio of vocational training programs in game development, operating as a state-recognized supplementary school in Berlin, Germany. The core offerings consist of four main programs: Game Design (3-year), Digital Art (2-year), Game Programmer (2-year), and Game Production, all leading to state-recognized qualifications. These are supplemented by AZAV-certified evening courses in Graphic Design and UX/UI Design. The institution also provides combined specialty programs pairing Game Design with other disciplines. All programs feature hybrid instruction combining in-person and online learning, and include mandatory student project work where teams develop games from concept to completion. Financial counseling and multiple funding options are available to support student enrollment.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Game Design Ausbildung A 3-year vocational training program (6 semesters) teaching game design theory, game business, marketing, project planning, and design fundamentals. Leads to a state-recognized qualification from Land Berlin. Targeted at aspiring game designers seeking professional entry into the games industry.
• Digital Art Ausbildung A 4-semester (2-year) program teaching 3D modeling, texturing, 3D animation, proportions, color, light, and computer visualization specifically for game asset creation. Targeted at aspiring digital artists in the games industry.
• Game Programmer Ausbildung A 4-semester (2-year) program covering C++, C#, game engines, algorithms, data structures, graphics programming, shader programming, engine programming, and gameplay programming. Targeted at aspiring game programmers.
• Game Production Ausbildung Vocational training program in game production. Targeted at aspiring game producers.
• Grafikdesign Abendkurs AZAV-certified evening course in graphic design covering typography, vector graphics, digital image editing, layout, print publishing, and visual communication. Targeted at continuing education seekers and working professionals.
• UX/UI Design Abendkurs AZAV-certified evening course in UX/UI design covering user experience, interface design, Figma prototyping, user research, wireframing, design systems, and HTML/CSS basics. Targeted at continuing education seekers and professionals seeking UX/UI design skills.
• Kombi-Ausbildung GD+DA Combined program pairing Game Design with Digital Art specialization for students seeking cross-disciplinary training.
• Kombi-Ausbildung GD+GP Combined program pairing Game Design with Game Programming specialization for students seeking cross-disciplinary training.
• Kombi-Ausbildung GD+PRO Combined program pairing Game Design with Game Production specialization for students seeking cross-disciplinary training.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1,500 graduates have found employment in the games industry worldwide
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers18 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration10 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• mdh University of Applied Sciences (md.h)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn autumn 2019, Games Academy and mdh University of Applied Sciences announced their merger at Gamescom, the world's largest gaming expo. Together they offer the full range from vocational training to bachelor's and master's degrees for the gaming industry. md.h serves as the academic partner handling organizational administration, contract management, and professional educational consulting, while Games Academy provides the practice-oriented training delivered by industry professionals.
• Unreal Engine (Epic Games)coreTechnology or IntegrationHardware and software support partner providing Unreal Engine licenses and technology for student use in game development projects.
• Adobe Creative CloudcoreTechnology or IntegrationSoftware support partner providing Adobe Creative Suite licenses for students during courses, particularly for Digital Art and Graphic Design programs.
• UnitycoreTechnology or IntegrationGame engine partner providing Unity licenses for student development projects.
• game – Verband der deutschen Games-BranchecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman games industry association network partner. The association provides industry connections, supports the school's educational mission, and has publicly endorsed Games Academy as a pioneering institution.
• Medienboard Berlin-BrandenburgminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional media funding body supporting games education and the Berlin games industry ecosystem.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• DigiPen Institute of Technology: Specialized institute offering BS degrees in Computer Science in Real-Time Interactive Simulation and Digital Art and Animation. Closely comparable as a dedicated, project-based game development school with deep industry ties (e.g., Nintendo partnership).
• Vancouver Film School: Private entertainment arts school offering one-year programs in Game Design, Animation, and Film. Directly comparable as a project-based, accelerated-format school feeding graduates into the games and entertainment industries.
• Media Design School (MDS): New Zealand-based private school offering diplomas and bachelor's in Game Art, Game Programming, and Graphic Design. Comparable as a specialist, industry-aligned creative technology school.
• SAE Institute: Global network of creative media schools with campuses across Europe offering game development, animation, and film diplomas/degrees. Comparable as a multi-campus, vocational-style creative media educator with similar target audience.
• Futuregames (Sweden): Nordic vocational school offering 1-2 year programs in game design, programming, and art. Closely comparable as a European, vocational game development school with strong ties to regional AAA studios.
• Think Tank Training Centre: Canadian specialized school in Vancouver offering diplomas in Game Art, Game Design, and 3D Animation. Comparable as an intensive, portfolio-focused private school targeting the games industry.
• Full Sail University: US-based private career university offering accelerated degree programs in Game Design, Computer Animation, and Digital Cinematography. Directly comparable as a specialized, career-oriented game development school with strong industry placement focus.

Broad incumbents

• BIMM University: European creative higher-education institution covering music, film, performing arts, and creative technologies. Comparable as a broader creative-education institution that overlaps with Games Academy's digital art / UX-UI adjacent offerings.

Emerging players

• PlaygroundSquad: Swedish game development school focused on programming and design. Comparable as a European vocational game school with similar pedagogical approach but smaller scale and narrower program mix.

Regional players

• Hochschule für Technik und Wirtschaft Berlin (HTW Berlin): Berlin-based public university of applied sciences offering computer science and media programs with game development specializations. Comparable as a Berlin-area education provider competing for the same regional student pool, though with a degree-granting, public-institution model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/GamesAcademyOnline
• Facebookfacebook.com/GAMES.ACADEMY
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/games-academy-gmbh
• Instagraminstagram.com/gamesacademyofficial
• Xx.com/GAMES_ACADEMY

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Games Academy