USC Games
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersLos Angeles, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
USC Games firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- USC Games
- Legal name
- University of Southern California
- Website
- https://games.usc.edu
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
USC Games industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Higher Education - Game Design and Interactive Media
- NAICS
- Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro industry
- Game Development (Unity, Unreal, 2D/3D)Education/Supplemental & Enrichment Programs (Arts, STEM, Language)/Coding & Computer Science ProgramsGame Subscription & Membership Services
Keywords
Where USC Games is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Los Angeles
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
USC Games business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Tuition Revenue: Graduate and undergraduate tuition from enrolled students across eight distinct degree programs in game design, computer science, art, and themed entertainment.
- Scholarships and Financial Aid: Gerald A. Lawson Fund provides financial support for under-represented students. Additional scholarships from donors, game and technology companies.
- Game Publishing Revenue: First academic publishing label for games. Releases student, faculty, and independent designer games to marketplace including Chambara (PlayStation 4), Walden (Steam, PlayStation, Xbox), The Night Journey (PlayStation, PC, Mac), The Cat and the Coup.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Undergraduate tuition through School of Cinematic Arts or Viterbi School of Engineering |
| Subscription | Annual | Graduate tuition through School of Cinematic Arts |
| Subscription | Annual | Graduate tuition through Viterbi School of Engineering |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Gerald A. Lawson Fund Scholarships |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels4 records
USC Games product offering
Product offeringCore offering
USC Games is an academic program at the University of Southern California that delivers eight degree programs (undergraduate and graduate) in game design, game development, game art, themed entertainment, and computer science for games, jointly administered by the School of Cinematic Arts and the Viterbi School of Engineering. It also operates USC Games Publishing (the first academic publishing label for games), the Summer Bridge incubator for student game projects, the annual USC Games Expo, and specialized research labs including the Game Innovation Lab and Creative Media & Behavioral Health Center.
Product overview
USC Games is a joint educational program between the School of Cinematic Arts and the Viterbi School of Engineering at USC. It offers a portfolio of eight distinct degree programs (undergraduate and graduate levels) spanning game design, game art, game development, themed entertainment, and computer science. The program is organized around collaborative, project-based learning where students from all degrees work together. Beyond degree programs, USC Games operates USC Games Publishing (the first academic publishing label for games), the Summer Bridge incubator program, the annual USC Games Expo, and various specialized labs including the Game Innovation Lab and Creative Media & Behavioral Health Center. The program has published critically acclaimed games including Chambara, Walden a game, The Night Journey, and The Cat and the Coup.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- USC Games Publishing: The first academic publishing label for games in the world, offering opportunities for students, faculty, and innovative independent designers to have their non-traditional games released to the marketplace.
- USC Games Studios
- Game Innovation Lab
- Creative Media & Behavioral Health Center
Products and services
- USC Games Publishing The first academic publishing label for games in the world, offering opportunities for students, faculty, and innovative independent designers to release non-traditional games to the marketplace. Known for publishing critically acclaimed titles including Chambara, Walden a game, The Night Journey, and The Cat and the Coup across PlayStation, Xbox, Steam, and Itch.io.
- Summer Bridge Program
Quantifiable outcome
- Student BAFTA award (Chambara, 2015)
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use USC Games
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
USC Games technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
USC Games partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.
- Bill ViolaflagshipRenowned media artist collaborated with USC Game Innovation Lab on The Night Journey, creating an explorable spiritual journey experience using both game and video technologies.
- PlayStation (Sony Interactive Entertainment)flagshipChambara was the premiere title for the USC Games publishing label on PlayStation 4 in summer 2016. Additional titles including Walden and The Night Journey released on PlayStation platforms.
- Xbox (Microsoft)coreWalden, a game released on Xbox alongside Steam and PlayStation platforms, making it the most widely accessible title on the USC Games label.
- SteamcoreWalden, a game available on Steam for PC/Mac, one of the platforms for distributing critically acclaimed faculty research projects.
- Itch.iominorWalden, a game also available on Itch.io for PC/Mac alongside Steam as alternative distribution platform.
- Sundance New FrontierscoreWalden exhibited at Sundance New Frontiers venue, showcasing faculty research as both artistic exhibit and commercial product.
- Smithsonian American Art MuseumcoreWalden exhibited at Smithsonian American Art Museum as part of exhibition showcasing games as cultural works.
- WiredminorWired coverage on launch of USC Games Publishing label highlighting the academic institution's entry into game publishing.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
USC Games competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- DigiPen Institute of Technology: DigiPen is a dedicated game development and computer science institute often ranked alongside USC Games in Princeton Review game design rankings. Both offer BFA/BS degrees in game design and have strong industry pipelines, making them the closest direct competitors in game design education.
- NYU Game Center: NYU's Game Center is a top-ranked game design program offering BFA and MFA degrees in game design, sharing USC Games' emphasis on project-based learning and indie publishing. Both programs are perennial top-3 in Princeton Review rankings and compete for the same student and faculty talent pool.
- Carnegie Mellon Entertainment Technology Center: Carnegie Mellon's ETC offers a Master of Entertainment Technology focused on interactive experiences, drawing from both arts and computer science disciplines similar to USC's joint Cinematic Arts/Viterbi model. Both programs are recognized as elite interdisciplinary game/interactive entertainment graduate programs.
- Full Sail University: Full Sail offers dedicated game design bachelor degrees with an emphasis on production pipelines and industry-ready skills. It competes with USC Games for students seeking project-based game design education, particularly in animation and game art.
- University of Utah — Entertainment Arts & Engineering: The University of Utah's EAE program offers BS, MS, and PhD degrees in game development, combining computer science and arts similar to USC Games. Both programs are frequently ranked among the top game design programs in North America and share a technical-engineering orientation.
- Guildhall at SMU: SMU Guildhall is a graduate-level game development program offering a Master of Interactive Technology in Digital Game Development. It competes directly with USC Games' graduate offerings and is a recurring peer in Princeton Review rankings.
- Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) — Games and Simulation Arts: RPI's Department of Communication and Media offers game design programs combining computer science and arts, similar to USC's interdisciplinary model. Both schools are STEM-rooted institutions with specialized game programs.
Others
- Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences: AIAS is the industry trade organization for interactive entertainment that sets industry standards, hosts the D.I.C.E. Awards, and shapes the ecosystem in which USC Games' graduates and publishing label operate. It is an ecosystem peer rather than a direct educational competitor.
Regional players
- Abertay University: Abertay University in Scotland offers one of Europe's oldest and most respected game design programs, including a BSc in Computer Games Technology. It is a peer in global game design rankings and competes for international game design students, though primarily serving the UK/European market.
- Vancouver Film School — Game Design: Vancouver Film School offers a one-year game design program in Vancouver, Canada, sharing USC Games' focus on project-based learning and portfolio development. It serves the same student persona but is regionally focused on the Canadian and international Pacific Northwest market.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
USC Games social profiles
Digital presenceUSC Games financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
USC Games leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
USC Games subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries6 records
USC Games funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
USC Games M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about USC Games
What does USC Games do?
USC Games is an academic program at the University of Southern California that delivers eight degree programs (undergraduate and graduate) in game design, game development, game art, themed entertainment, and computer science for games, jointly administered by the School of Cinematic Arts and the Viterbi School of Engineering. It also operates USC Games Publishing (the first academic publishing label for games), the Summer Bridge incubator for student game projects, the annual USC Games Expo, and specialized research labs including the Game Innovation Lab and Creative Media & Behavioral Health Center.
Is USC Games a public or private company?
USC Games is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was USC Games founded?
USC Games was founded in 2014. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is USC Games based?
USC Games is headquartered in Los Angeles, United States, in the North America region.
How does USC Games make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Tuition Revenue is the primary driver. The others are scholarships and Financial Aid and game Publishing Revenue.
Who are USC Games's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are DigiPen Institute of Technology, NYU Game Center, Carnegie Mellon Entertainment Technology Center, Full Sail University, University of Utah — Entertainment Arts & Engineering, Guildhall at SMU and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) — Games and Simulation Arts. Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences is listed as an others. Regional players are Abertay University and Vancouver Film School — Game Design.
Does USC Games have an API?
No public API is recorded for USC Games.
What industry is USC Games in?
USC Games's product category is Higher Education - Game Design and Interactive Media. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAMACAE, Game Development (Unity, Unreal, 2D/3D), with a secondary code of BPAMAKAD, Game Subscription & Membership Services. Its NAICS code is 611620 and its SIC code is 7900.