March 27, 2025, Toronto, ON — Level Up Showcase, the annual public exhibition of Ontario’s post-secondary student game development talent, returns on April 12, 2025, from 2:00 PM to 7:00 PM at the Westin Harbour Castle. The event offers students from colleges and universities across the province a platform to present their video game projects, connect with industry professionals, and compete for awards in categories like Best Game, Best Art, and People’s Choice.
Mostly importantly, it is a celebration of Canadian-made student games from across the post-secondary sector, showcasing the innovation that takes place within our colleges and universities across Ontario.
Dr. Steve Engels, Professor, University of Toronto
Organized collaboratively by Algonquin College, Brock University, OCAD University, and the University of Toronto, along with industry experts at XP Gaming Inc., the Level Up Showcase plays a critical role in developing Ontario’s rich talent pool for the global gaming industry.
Showcasing Ontario’s Gaming Talent
The Level Up Showcase has consistently attracted thousands of attendees, including industry recruiters from globally recognized studios such as Ubisoft, AMD, Sledgehammer Games, and Zynga. This year, students from over 20 post-secondary institutions across Ontario—including Sheridan College, Toronto Metropolitan University, Humber College, and many others—will present more than 150 innovative games, hoping to secure valuable feedback and career opportunities.
“Level Up Showcase is not only a career launchpad for students,” says Dr. Steve Engels, Professor, University of Toronto. “It is a chance for the industry to connect with the next generation of game developers, play their games, share their insights, and scout for talent.
Participating Schools:
- Algonquin College
- Brock University
- Cambrian College
- Canadore College
- Fanshawe College
- Georgian College
- George Brown College
- Humber College
- Max the Mutt College
- McMaster University
- Mohawk College
- Niagara College
- OCAD University
- Ontario Tech University
- Seneca College
- Sheridan College
- Toronto Film School
- Toronto Metropolitan University
- University of Toronto
- York University
Connecting Students and Industry Leaders
Participants and visitors can experience student-created games firsthand, engage directly with developers, vote for audience favorites, and celebrate the innovation of our next generation of game creators during the award ceremony.
This free public event is now established to become an essential meeting ground for fostering student creativity, industry mentorship, and professional growth within Ontario’s vibrant gaming sector.
Event Information:
- Date: April 12, 2025
- Time: 2:00 PM to 7:00 PM
- Location: Westin Harbour Castle, Toronto, ON
- Registration: Free at levelupshowcase.com
Key Event Partners:
- Ubisoft: https://www.ubisoft.com
- AMD: https://www.amd.com
- Zynga: https://www.zynga.com
- Sledgehammer Games: https://www.sledgehammergames.com
- Ontario Creates: https://www.ontariocreates.ca
- City of Toronto: https://www.toronto.ca
- Ubisoft Toronto: https://toronto.ubisoft.com
- Zynga Toronto: https://www.zynga.com/international-location/toronto-canada
About Level Up Showcase: Level Up Showcase, initiated by Ontario’s post-secondary digital media faculty, is Ontario’s premier student game exhibition event, designed to bridge the gap between academic learning and professional game industry standards.
