By Jamal Michel, Duke Engineering Now Newsletter
Duke’s Game Design, Development & Innovation master’s program has long been known for blending creativity with innovative technology.
This year, the program took an exciting step forward by hosting a hands-on training session led by industry giants from Epic Games.
Focused on the Unreal Editor for Fortnite (UEFN), the session allowed graduate and undergraduate students to dive deep into the development tools behind some of the most visually stunning and technically advanced video games like Fortnite.
“We are extremely excited to start working with Epic Games. As neighbors in the Triangle area, we hope this is the first of many joint events in the future,” said Ernesto Escobar, executive director of Duke’s Game Design, Development & Innovation master’s degree program. “We are reaching out to many local companies and developers. Our plan is to have industry experts on campus as often as we can so students can learn from their experience and stay up to date on what the industry is doing.”
Unreal Engine, a real-time 3D creation tool developed by Epic Games, has become a cornerstone of modern game design, offering developers the ability to create highly immersive environments, lifelike characters and expansive worlds.
Epic Games’ experts James Hill, Steve Isaacs and Luis Cataldi were all part of the training session, which revolved around one of the world’s most popular games and its new editor that allows developers to create games in minutes.
The training focused on introducing students to this new tool with a hands-on approach where students created a racing game. The platform allows users to use unique islands using gameplay and models present in Fortnite.
The event was designed not only to teach technical skills but also to explore how culturally significant media like Fortnite is increasingly being used in educational settings.
By combining game development with real-world applications, Epic Games is opening new possibilities for educators and students alike. With UEFN, students can create their own worlds, design interactive lessons and even gamify traditional subjects, making learning more engaging.
Duke’s Game Design, Development & Innovation master’s program continues to be at the forefront of preparing the next generation by partnering with Epic Games.
Students are not only learning the technical skills needed for the rapidly evolving world of game development but are also exposed to the ways in which these technologies can be used to inspire and educate.
Students from North Carolina Central University were also invited to the event with around 10 students in attendance. One goal is to reach out to the local academic and industry games ecosystem.
A large game jam event is being planned between NC State University, UNC-Chapel Hill and Duke for the spring.
As the gaming industry continues to expand in North Carolina and the rest of the world, opportunities for hands-on learning like this will remain vital for students eager to push the boundaries of what’s possible—whether in the classroom or a game studio.
