Game Futures: Texas Southern University Launches Industry Workshop Series with Epic Games, Stellantis, and Xbox
Three Workshops. Two Days. One Future to Build.
The Center for Africana Futures (CAF) at Texas Southern University will host the Game Futures Industry Workshop Series on October 22–23, 2026, bringing together industry professionals from Epic Games, Stellantis, and Xbox/Microsoft, in collaboration with Toyz Electronics.
The two-day series introduces students to game development, Unreal Engine, real-time 3D technology, interactive media, and the expanding role of gaming technologies across industries. Through three distinct workshops, students will explore how these technologies are developed, applied in professional environments, and connected to emerging career opportunities.
Register for the Game Futures Industry Workshop Series
The workshops also mark the beginning of the Game Futures Professional Certification Initiative, an interdisciplinary workforce development program led by the Center for Africana Futures and scheduled to launch at TSU in Spring 2027.
Industry Workshops | October 22–23
Thursday, October 22 | Epic Games + Stellantis
8:00 AM — Workshop I: Unreal Engine, Real-Time 3D Technology, and Applications Across Industries
Industry professionals from Epic Games and Stellantis will introduce students to Unreal Engine and the expanding applications of real-time 3D technology. The workshop explores how tools developed for gaming support interactive environments, digital storytelling, visualization, simulation, and creative production across industries.
11:00 AM — Workshop II: Real-World Industry Workflows and Automotive Visualization
The second workshop moves from technological possibilities to professional applications. Epic Games and Stellantis will demonstrate how real-time 3D technology is used in industry workflows, including automotive design, visualization, and production. Using Stellantis' Bumblebee truck project as an example, students will examine how these technologies move from development environments into professional practice.
Friday, October 23 | Xbox/Microsoft
Time to Be Confirmed — Xbox 101: Game Development, Onboarding, and Skills Challenge Launch
The Xbox 101 workshop introduces students to the Xbox development environment, supported game engines, development tools, and the process of preparing games to run on Xbox platforms.
Students will also learn about the Game Futures Skills Challenge, which will provide opportunities to develop and demonstrate technical and creative skills as the initiative moves toward its Spring 2027 launch.
Building the Game Futures Initiative at TSU
The October workshops are the first step in a larger academic and industry partnership designed to connect existing TSU undergraduate and graduate courses with professional certification, industry mentorship, creative production, and workforce development.
Beginning in Spring 2027, the Center for Africana Futures plans to coordinate four academic pathways through existing programs in BA Entertainment and Recording Industry Management, BA Communication Studies; MA Communication; and MA Professional Communication and Digital Media.
Rather than creating entirely new degree programs, Game Futures will build on courses already offered at TSU, connecting academic learning with industry competencies and opportunities for professional certification.
The initiative will provide students with opportunities to explore game development, interactive storytelling, digital research, real-time media production, user experience, entrepreneurship, and the business of emerging technologies.
Game Futures is not limited to students interested in playing or developing video games. It is designed for students across disciplines who want to understand how to research, design, produce, and participate in the industries transforming how we work, communicate, and create.
Register for the Workshops
The workshops are free and open to TSU undergraduate and graduate students across all majors.
Location: Center for Africana Futures, Martin Luther King Humanities Center, Room 217, Texas Southern University.
Students are strongly encouraged to attend all three workshops. Each session covers different material, and participating in the full series will provide a broader understanding of the technologies, professional applications, and workforce opportunities available through Game Futures.
The Center for Africana Futures invites students and faculty to join us as we begin building new connections between academic scholarship, creative production, professional certification, and the future of work.
Real Technologies. Real Industries. Real Opportunities. Built for Your Future.
