Mayor Adams Takes Steps to Transform NYC Into Global Hub for Digital Games Industry

Announces CUNY’s First-Ever Game Design Bachelor’s Degree With $2 Million Investment

Introduces NYC’s First-Ever Game Development Industry Council

New York City Mayor Eric Adams today took steps to transform the city into a global hub for the digital games industry by announcing that the City University of New York (CUNY) is creating and funding a Bachelor’s Degree program in Digital Game Design at City College of New York (CCNY). The creation of the gaming design degree is expected to drive inclusive growth by providing college students a public and affordable option for careers in the rapidly growing digital games industry and related fields. The Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment (MOME) has partnered with City College to offer the first-ever degree. Making New York City a leading hub for digital game development was a vital piece of Mayor Adams’s “Rebuild, Renew, Reinvent: A Blueprint for New York City’s Economic Recovery,” announced in March.

Mayor Adams — joined by Deputy Mayor for Economic and Workforce Development Maria Torres-Springer, MOME, and members of New York City’s digital games community — also today introduced the first-ever Game Development Industry Council, created to advise the city’s policies and programs in the games development sector.

Mayor Adams was joined at CUNY’s City College campus by NYXL’s NY Excelsior Team, winners of two season conference titles in the Overwatch League. The team named Mayor Adams an honorary member in celebration of NYXL’s recent announcement of their Young Creator’s Program. The Young Creator’s Program provides 10 $50,000 fellowships to the next generation of integrated content developers. Applications for the NYXL Project can be found online.

Today’s two announcements come as the digital games industry was projected to reach upwards of $180 billion in global sales in 2021. The first-ever New York City Digital Games Industry Economic Impact Report, released in 2021, underscored the digital game industry’s significance and contribution, specifically to New York City’s economy — supporting 7,600 jobs, $762 million in wages, and $2 billion in economic output.

In total, MOME will be making a $2 million investment in CUNY’s Career Pathways program, which includes funding towards the digital game design Bachelor’s Degree, designed to reach over 1,000 students over the next three years and aimed at increasing diversity and equity in the digital gaming field. This holistic program creates a pathway from high school to the digital gaming industry through a collaboration with Urban Arts — using their rigorous curricula and evidence-based pedagogical approach — as well as the Harlem Gallery of Science.

Additionally, the program’s industry partnerships will cultivate young talent among CCNY students and develop the skills and experiences sought by the industry — through internships, mentorships, college events, and eSports sponsorships. CUNY’s Career Pathways program will also guide transitions for students in the Hostos Community College Associates Degree Digital Games Program to a four-year Bachelor’s Degree program in digital game design and creative arts at CCNY by 2024.

Interested students may begin the process towards a degree in digital games by applying to the Hostos Digital Game Design Program online.

Members of the Game Development Industry Council will advise the city’s production policies and programs in the digital games sector and is made up of various leaders of New York City’s digital games sector:

• Omar Shakir, game director, Avalanche Studios

• Juno Morrow, assistant professor game design, CUNY Hostos Community College

• Rudy Blanco, director of gaming and entrepreneurship, Dreamyard; and founder, Bronx Gaming Network

• Kyra Wills-Umdenstock, CEO, EGD Collective

• Brian Carr, designer; co-organizer, Game Developers of Color Expo

• Cat Small, co-organizer, Game Developers of Color Expo

• Susanna Pollack, president, Games for Change

• Mitu Khandaker, assistant professor, New York University (NYU); and co-founder, Glow Up Games

• Stan Altman, president, Harlem Gallery of Science Founder & CCNY Professor

• Gabo Arora, founder and CEO, Lightshed

• Tammy Levine, head of gaming ecosystem engagement at Xbox, Microsoft

• Josh Reynolds, director, modern workplace, U.S. education east, Microsoft

• Harold Goldberg, president, New York Video Game Critics Circle

• Naomi Clark, department chair, NYU Game Center

• Mitchell Smith, chief content officer, NYXL

• David Grijns, studio head, People Can Fly/Liquid Swords

• Gary Conti, director, education and industry outreach, Rockstar Games

• Alan Lewis, vice president, corporate communications and public affairs, Take-Two Interactive

• Sam Kennedy, CEO, Tigertron

• Asi Burak, chairman, Games for Change; chief business officer, Tilting Point

• Philip Courtney, CEO, Urban Arts

• Sarah Denby, senior account executive, Zynga

City College of New York Great Hall