Here’s How Malaysian Universities Are Cultivating Game Talent
In Malaysia, education and industry work hand in hand to build the future of gaming. Step inside the classrooms where the next game developers grow through practice and creativity.
Current State of Talent Development
The Talent Economics survey's data indicates a predominantly young adult workforce in Southeast Asia. Nearly 80% of respondents are under 35, with 64% aged 25-34 and an additional 15% aged 18-24.
This youthful demographic drives the region’s creative growth, but education determines how that potential turns into skilled talent. Among survey participants, 63% held undergraduate degrees, 16% had diplomas, 12% completed postgraduate studies, and 5% had only a high school education.
As of 2025, Malaysia has over 130,000 international students enrolled in its universities, with a total university student population exceeding 1 million, including both public and private institutions. Applications for Malaysian higher education from East Asia have shown significant growth in the first three quarters of 2024. The number of applications from East Asian students nearly tripled between Q2 and Q3 2024, with China being a key driver of this increasing demand.
More and more Malaysian institutions offer specialized diplomas, bachelor's, and even master's degrees in areas such as game design, game development, digital art and animation, game programming, and interactive media. Most universities are located in Kuala Lumpur, but other regions like East Malaysia and Sarawak are also actively developing.
Amir Azlan Sapuan, Head of Games/Interactive Media, Digital Content Development at MDEC
One of the reasons behind our success is the number of institutions offering courses related to game development. It could be art, programming, or a full game development course, like what MMU or APU are offering.
Inside the Gamedev Classroom
Most game design and development degrees in Malaysia take about 3 years to complete, often preceded by 1 to 2 years of pre-university or foundation studies, with entry requirements typically including credits in Mathematics and other relevant subjects.
The structure of the curriculum usually (for an undergraduate degree) consists of several semesters. As an example, during the first semester, APU’s students study core subjects: game art, game design, game technology, and fundamentals of game development, including game history and workflows. From the second semester onward, students specialize in either game art or game tech. In every semester, both specializations come together to collaboratively develop games, allowing students to gain practical, team-based experience.
Students often focus entirely on their chosen field. However, electives are available for those who wish to develop interdisciplinary skills. This allows students to tailor their education to market needs and stay flexible in their career paths.
Ts. Dr. Tan Chin Ike, Doctor of Philosophy, Head of School and Associate Professor at Asia Pacific University
If you’re in the game technology track (game programming), you will not be handling any game art modules except for the early semester module – you’ll focus entirely on game technology. If you’re in game art, you’ll focus fully on art and won’t touch C++. However, we offer electives to support crossover skills. For example, an artist can take Introduction to Programming to become a technical artist, and a programmer can learn design to become a technical designer. So students can choose their specialty and adjust their courses to build hybrid skills if they want.
Moreover, Malaysian students often focus on real-world projects, which is crucial for scaling their expertise in the field, building portfolios, and preparing them for industry demands. The game development ecosystem is characterized by a collaborative environment among professionals, students, and academic institutions. This close connection comes from initiatives launched in the past and helps cultivate talent through industry visits, guest lectures, and curriculum feedback panels.
Syazmeen Othman, Senior Recruiter at PlayStation Studios Malaysia
We do collaborate with universities in Malaysia. For example, PSSMY has been working closely with The One Academy and UiTM to understand more about the syllabus and make sure that they know the industry quality level. One or two of our employees come over to the college and give a talk, then they show a bit of our work and share some requirements that we need for a new talent.
The government also provides support during the educational stages. This includes participating in university student fairs and project showcases to offer career guidance, as well as funneling internships and job applications to studios.
As a result, 8 Malaysian universities are ranked in the top 500 QS World University Rankings 2025, reflecting the strong progress of the country’s education system.
At the same time, there’s still a societal stigma surrounding gaming, particularly among older generations, who often do not view esports or gaming as a legitimate career path. Schools and universities are actively working to change this perception by showing that gaming is not just about entertainment, but about innovation, the digital economy, and talents that make a real contribution to the country’s growth.
Muhammad Afif Ashyraf Bin Abu Bakar, Head of Business Development at Todak Academy
One of the biggest challenges in modern game development education is changing the conventional mindset of parents, teachers, and educators. In Malaysia, technical and vocational education (TVET) is still strongly associated with traditional industries like manufacturing, electronics, and automotive. Because of this, many people don’t yet see digital and creative fields – like game development – as valid or serious career paths. We focus on digital creative education, and our role is to help shift this perception.
Future Perspectives
Our interviewees believe that boosting employee engagement will rely on understanding what talent truly wants in the next few years. Early involvement, starting with students and supported by coaching and clear guidance, will be key to nurturing growth and improving retention.
Syazmeen Othman, Senior Recruiter at PlayStation Studios Malaysia
When it comes to employee engagement, the first step is to identify the issue and understand what they want, what they expect, and what they are really looking forward to in the next two or three years. Once we’re able to identify that, I believe our retention rate will be higher.
The next step involves talent at the early stage, specifically when they are students. So, if we 100% give effort at the beginning, coaching talent, guiding them, and giving all the details that they need to meet expectations, it will be really useful for their growth.
Moreover, to keep education programs relevant, it’s important to anticipate the skills that game development specialists will need in the near future. According to SEA game industry forecasts, the most in-demand skills over the next five years are expected to shift heavily toward soft skills, especially communication and collaboration, which leads with a projected demand of 30%. Among hard skills, programming and development are the top technical skills at 15%. Overall, the chart highlights a strong shift toward collaborative capabilities, while maintaining demand for foundational technical expertise.
Based on the opinions of industry experts, Malaysia’s game education sector is on a promising trajectory. While global leaders like USC, Full Sail, and DigiPen have decades of head start, Malaysia entered the field slightly later and is steadily catching up. Although Malaysia may not yet rival the very top institutions, the overall quality is competitive, and many local graduates are already professionals.
With continued investment, experienced faculty, and a few more years of development, Malaysia has the potential to reach global standards. What’s needed most now is time and a shift in mindset.
Ts. Dr. Tan Chin Ike, Doctor of Philosophy, Head of School and Associate Professor at Asia Pacific University
The main reason we haven't reached the level of USC or Full Sail is that the Malaysian games industry only began in the late '90s, while the U.S. has been active since the 1970s, with companies like Atari. So they have decades more experience and more experts. We’re probably not up there with the very best, but if you look at the average level, I’d say we’re there.
Just like I wouldn’t compare a business school to Harvard, or a tech program to MIT or Caltech, I also wouldn’t compare us directly to the top game schools. But in general terms, I think we’re holding our ground, and some of our students can stand side-by-side with international peers. Given another three years, with new students coming in and our team of industry-experienced lecturers, I believe we’ll reach that top level. What’s really needed is just more time for growth and to shift some mindsets.
If you want to learn more about Malaysia’s game industry, download our FREE report Malaysia’s Journey to Global Game Success.
