In this year’s list of IG50 winners, we had five people that were so ready to dive into the industry, that they have moved into further education or already found themselves a role! Whilst this means that they are no longer eligible for the IG50 list, we wanted to give them a shoutout and share that these folks are ‘ones to watch’ for their extraordinary talent and skills. So please give a virtual round of applause for our five bonus IG50’s!

Humza Mustafa - Game Designer

I got interested in IG50 because I had heard it was an amazing opportunity to give me a headstart into getting my first industry job. Many people like tutors and friends told me that I should and I'm convinced it was the right decision.

My next steps in the industry are starting my Game Designer role at Bitmap Bureau, a UK based studio creating incredible retro inspired indie games.

I would love to connect with other developers, especially ones outside of my specialism (game designer). I would love to pick your brains and understand how you go about your artistic or mechanical process of making games.

Humza Mustafa | LinkedIn

Humza Mustafa | Portfolio

Jack Briggs - Rendering Developer

I applied to the IG50 because it's aimed at helping people trying to establish themselves in games and offers access to experiences and connections that can be difficult to find early in your career. I'm starting a job as a Rendering Developer at Sunfox Studios.

Jack Briggs | LinkedIn

Kade Griffin - Environment Artist

I was interested in IG50 as it would be a great opportunity to demonstrate my skills in front of recruiters and games industry professionals.

Soon I will be starting my career as an Environment Artist 1 at Cloud Imperium Games. Feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn!

Kade Griffin | LinkedIn

Armand Yilinkou - Graphics Programmer

My first interaction with Into Games was through a joint livestream by Into Games and Rare back in 2023. It was very refreshing to find out that there were organisations willing to host these types of events and help people break into the ever fleeting games industry. Soon after I became very interested in IG50, having seen your posts promoting previous winners which I connected with on LinkedIn. The moment I found out that applications were open this year I made sure to apply immediately!

Between my IG50 application date and today, I was lucky enough to receive an offer for a full-time role on the rendering team at Tencent. I'm super excited to begin my professional career in graphics programming with such an industry-leading company!

I'd love to connect with anyone who loves games, and doubly so for people who are interested in graphics and low-level programming!

Armand Yilinkou | LinkedIn

Naz Gümüşlüoğlu - MA Concept Art and Experience Design

The IG50 caught my attention because it celebrates and uplifts emerging talent. As an aspiring concept artist, I know the barriers to entering the industry have been getting higher every year, which is why I think the work Into Games does to support young creatives is so important. Although I wasn't able to accept the IG50 because I'll be studying full-time this year, I'm incredibly grateful to have been recognised. It has been a huge confidence boost and has motivated me even more to keep pursuing this path.

This autumn I'll be starting an MA in Concept Art and Experience Design at Escape Studios, where I'm looking forward to developing my skills in character design, visual development, and immersive worldbuilding while continuing to build my portfolio.

I'd love to connect with professionals and fellow artists across the games and animation industries. I'm always excited to learn from people with more experience and hear about their journeys into the industry. Feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn, and I hope you'll join me as I continue building my career!

Naz Gümüşlüoğlu | LinkedIn

Naz Gümüşlüoğlu | Portfolio