Young Talent on Stage: Students Present the Results of Their Games 2025 School Internship

The Games 2025 school internship program serves as a strategic initiative to foster professional development and talent recruitment within the Hamburg gaming sector. By providing students from the 9th grade and above with hands-on experience in local studios and academic institutions, the program aims to bridge the gap between secondary education and the professional games industry. This collaborative effort, which has been active since 2021, involves key industry players including InnoGames, Fishlabs, and Playa Games, alongside academic partners like the Hamburg University of Applied Sciences (HAW Hamburg).

The 2025 iteration of the program concluded with 16 students presenting projects developed over a three-week period. Participants engaged in diverse workshops covering essential industry disciplines such as narrative design, cybersecurity, sound design, and concept art. A notable development in this year’s curriculum was the integration of artificial intelligence tools to assist in the creation of game prototypes. The program culminated in a five-hour game jam centered on the theme of "Other Worlds," where students utilized software like Scratch and Pocket Platformer to demonstrate their technical and collaborative skills.

The initiative is structured as a recognized vocational internship within the local school curriculum, emphasizing practical career orientation. Looking ahead, the organizers have established a structured application process for the 2026 sessions, scheduled for January and June. By facilitating direct interaction between students and established industry professionals, the program functions as a pipeline for future talent, ensuring the continued growth and competitiveness of Hamburg as a prominent hub for game development.