Skip to content
Trending
June 30, 2025Bank investors bet on looser regulation under Trump. They are starting to see it July 2, 2025Drone maker AeroVironment shares pop 21% on earnings beat July 3, 2025UK’s popular sausage roll seller plunges 15% as heatwave hurts sales July 3, 2025Trump’s deportations are hurting Constellation Brands’ beer sales July 2, 2025Modelo owner Constellation Brands misses on earnings as aluminum tariffs hit profitability June 30, 2025Bulgaria is set to join the euro zone. But its citizens aren’t convinced July 2, 2025Inflation fears receded in May as Trump eased some tariff threats, New York Fed survey shows June 30, 2025โ€‹Here’s how the luxury real estate market is splitting up June 30, 2025H&M shares jump as it flags summer shopping pick-up, says considering tariff price hikes
EverydayRead
  • HOME
  • Business
  • Earnings
  • Economy
  • Finance
  • Lifestyle
EverydayRead
EverydayRead
  • HOME
  • Business
  • Earnings
  • Economy
  • Finance
  • Lifestyle
EverydayRead
  Business  From ‘Fortnite’ to ‘Hogwarts Legacy’: One university fuels Utah’s $2 billion video game industry
Business

From ‘Fortnite’ to ‘Hogwarts Legacy’: One university fuels Utah’s $2 billion video game industry

AdminAdmin—December 10, 20240

Riceโ€“Eccles Stadium, an outdoor college football venue at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, stands against a stunning mountain backdrop.

University of Utah

This article is part of CNBC’s Cities of Success series, which explores cities that have transformed into business hubs with an entrepreneurial spirit and attracted capital, companies and employees.

The video game industry in Utah has become a powerhouse, growing more than 230% in the last decade and bringing in more than $2.3 billion in revenue last year.

And it’s not stopping: The market is expected to reach an impressive $4.5 billion in economic contribution within five years, according to market research firm IBISWorld.

One of the key drivers behind the growth is the University of Utah’s cutting-edge video game program.

Inside a classroom in Salt Lake City, students here are immersed in studying video games โ€” not just playing them, but also creating them, fueling an industry that has deep roots at the campus.

Those were the kind of people I wanted on my team.

Donald Mustard

Former Epic Games chief creative officer, ‘Fortnite’ co-creator

The university boasts a legacy that includes industry luminaries Doug Bowser, president of Nintendo of America, and Nolan Bushnell, founder of Atari and creator of the iconic game “Pong.”

Alumni of the school have gone on to create games generating more than $2 billion in lifetime revenue, according to the university.

“There were just a whole host of people who came here to go to school and then graduated and were pivotal in the games industry,” Michael Young, chair of the University of Utah’s division of games, said in an interview for CNBC’s “Cities of Success: Salt Lake City,” which premieres Dec. 10 at 10 p.m. ET.

Leveling up

Name Achievement
Doug Bowser President of Nintendo of America
Nolan Bushnell Founder of Atari, Creator of “Pong”
John Blackburn Vice President and Studio Head at WB’s Avalanche Studios, Lead on “Hogwarts Legacy”
Ed Catmull Co-founder of Pixar, Former President of Walt Disney Animation Studios
Richard Evans Pioneer in AI for Video Games, Known for “The Sims”

Before it became a formalized program, the University of Utah’s gaming initiative began modestly within the computer science department, according to Young.

More stories

Mavericks, Pelicans games are leaving their local sports networks ahead of NBA season

August 27, 2024

The Fed is finally cutting rates, but banks aren’t in the clear just yet

October 11, 2024

Here are the products and companies most at risk from Trump’s tariff plans

January 21, 2025

Boeing to cut 17,000 jobs as losses deepen during factory strike

October 12, 2024

It wasn’t until 2008, when a group of students proposed a dedicated gaming area of study, that it gained traction.

By 2010, the entertainment arts and engineering program, known around campus as EAE, was established with a structured curriculum with a dedicated focus on gaming and interactive entertainment.

In 2017, the EAE program launched a bachelor’s degree in gaming, marking a significant step in its development. By 2021, it had become the university’s 10th-largest major, attracting around 1,200 undergraduates each year.

“The demand has just skyrocketed,” Young said.

In the Princeton Review’s 2024 rankings for top game design schools, the University of Utah rose to No. 4 for both undergraduate and graduate programs, up from No. 7 and No. 6, respectively, in 2023.

Today, the program attracts a global student body, with 72% of its graduate students coming from outside Utah.

The university has committed $25 million to support further expansion of the program.

Top-grossing games

John Blackburn, vice president and studio head at Avalanche Software, a division of WB Games, Inc., and a University of Utah alumnus, credits the success of 2023’s bestselling game, “Hogwarts Legacy,” to a talented team in Salt Lake City that includes many graduates of the university.

The game surpassed $1 billion in revenue last year.

Photo Illustration by Pavlo Gonchar/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

“There are probably at least 30 people here directly from that program,” Blackburn said.

According to Blackburn, the University of Utah’s contributions to the gaming industry extend back to pioneering work in 3-D graphics, including the creation of the first 3-D graphics image and the development of early flight simulators by companies such as Evans & Sutherland.

“That has really bled into the local games scene,” said Blackburn. “And so people leave those companies and then make game companies.”

Blackburn cofounded Avalanche Software in 1995, initially gaining recognition for its development of “Mortal Kombat” for the Super Nintendo and Genesis and later developing a reputation with titles such as “Cars” and “Toy Story 3” during its collaboration with Disney.

In 2017, Epic Games, headquartered in Cary, North Carolina, launched “Fortnite” โ€” one of the world’s most popular games, with more than 500 million registered users.

Teams from around the world contributed to its creation, including some in Salt Lake City, where Donald Mustard, former chief creative officer at Epic and the game’s co-creator, was based.

“The University of Utah and [Brigham Young University], as well as some of the other schools in Utah, have done a really good job building relationships with the developers that are in the area,” Mustard said.

He also highlighted Utah’s unique approach to education: “While some of these students are in school, they have to make their own video game. That’s a very unique skill set that not a lot of people have.”

“Those were the kind of people I wanted on my team,” Mustard said.

UniCredit’s Orcel could still sweeten his bid and take on a double M&A offensive
Oracle shares slide on earnings and revenue miss, disappointing forecast
Related posts
  • Related posts
  • More from author
Business

Trump’s deportations are hurting Constellation Brands’ beer sales

July 3, 20250
Business

Modelo owner Constellation Brands misses on earnings as aluminum tariffs hit profitability

July 2, 20250
Business

โ€‹Here’s how the luxury real estate market is splitting up

June 30, 20250
Load more
Read also
Earnings

UK’s popular sausage roll seller plunges 15% as heatwave hurts sales

July 3, 20250
Business

Trump’s deportations are hurting Constellation Brands’ beer sales

July 3, 20250
Economy

Inflation fears receded in May as Trump eased some tariff threats, New York Fed survey shows

July 2, 20250
Earnings

Drone maker AeroVironment shares pop 21% on earnings beat

July 2, 20250
Business

Modelo owner Constellation Brands misses on earnings as aluminum tariffs hit profitability

July 2, 20250
Finance

Bank investors bet on looser regulation under Trump. They are starting to see it

June 30, 20250
Load more
ยฉ 2023, All Rights Reserved.
  • About Us
  • Advertise With Us
  • Contact Us
  • Disclaimer
  • Cookie Law
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions