Warner Bros. to launch UK games academy with Rocksteady Studios

Warner Bros. Discovery today announced the launch of the Warner Bros. Discovery Access x Rocksteady Studios Games Academy in the UK.

The initiative, which will open for applications on August 30, will be offered to individuals aged 18 or older in the UK, with an emphasis on applicants that may not have access to traditional pathways into the industry, such as university courses, or internships.

The course will be free and will offer financial assistance such as bursaries for travel or childcare. The deadline to apply is September 23, and candidates will be notified in mid-October.

The programme consists of twelve weeks of training for roles in art, audio, QA and game design, all of which will be taught using a curriculum developed in partnership with NextGen Skills Academy and Rocksteady Studios.

“We are thrilled to launch this innovative game programme in the UK, widening access to our best-in-class talent development programmes,” said Asif Sadiq, chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer, Warner Bros. Discovery.

“The British games industry is the biggest in Europe and we want to ensure that we’re supporting its sustainable growth while ensuring that it is an inclusive and equitable place for people to work. This programme is the first at Warner Bros.

“Discovery focused solely on our games business, a reflection of our commitment to creating and fostering relationships with underrepresented talent and opening up access to the industry.”

Jamie Walker, Studio Director and Co-Founder of Rocksteady Studios added: “Budding games makers today are the future of the games industry and we have been looking for a long time to find an impactful way to help bring fresh, underrepresented talent into the games industry.

“There were limited training opportunities when I was starting out, so I am very passionate about finding a way to level the playing field for people starting out in the industry. This programme provides training along with a network of support to give future talent in this industry a flying start to their careers.”

Rocksteady is known for its work on the critically acclaimed Arkham series which saw the studio adapt classic Batman stories into a Metroidvania-style action game. Following three games in the series, the company is currently working on Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, which is planned for release in 2023.