From Console to Classroom: How a Queensland Teacher Is Bringing Local Game Development Industry to Life for Students

When Bianca Pretorius, an educator from Kelvin Grove State College, got to attend the official launch of Bluey's Happy Snaps — the upcoming video game from Gameloft Brisbane — she didn't just walk away with a memorable experience. She walked away with a powerful story to tell her students about the real and growing world of technology careers right in their own backyard.

Bianca attended the pre-release event as a school representative alongside the Australian Computer Society (ACS), including ACS President Beau Tydd and ICT Gateway to Industry Schools Program (ICT GISP) manager Jonathan Nalder. The group were given the rare opportunity to play a pre-release version of Bluey's Happy Snaps — an exploration and photography-based family game being developed by Gameloft Brisbane in collaboration with Ludo Studio and BBC Studios.

The game, set for release in Spring 2026, invites players to explore iconic Brisbane locations — including South Bank and Mt Coot-tha — rendered in Bluey's distinctive art style. It is being developed entirely in Queensland, making it a flagship example of locally grown, globally reaching creative technology.

For Bianca, the most impactful element of the evening wasn't the gameplay itself — it was what the game represents for Queensland's technology sector and the students she teaches every day. In her words, “I loved exploring our city through Bluey and Bingo’s eyes in Bluey’s Happy Snaps. It was so inspiring to hear more about the Australian games industry, and I gained so many insights to motivate my students in their game design unit”.

Since establishing its Brisbane studio in 2014, Gameloft has grown from a team of just 15 developers to more than 130 employees. That growth is the kind of tangible, local success story that educators can use to inspire the next generation of technology professionals. Games developed at the studio are now played by audiences in more than 100 countries, reflecting the global reach of Queensland's digital sector.

The event also featured insights from Queensland Minister Ros Bates MP and Screen Queensland CEO Jacqui Feeney, who highlighted the state government's active investment in the industry. Screen Queensland supported Bluey's Happy Snaps through its Digital Games Incentive, while Gameloft Brisbane's Head of Studio noted that initiatives such as the Digital Games Tax Offset and support from screen agencies have positioned Australia well to attract investment and deliver globally successful projects.

Back at Kelvin Grove State College, Bianca has been sharing with students that game development is not simply a creative pursuit — it is a significant local industry actively expanding in Queensland. From programming and software engineering to art, design, audio production and project management, the sector offers diverse entry points for students across a range of interests and skill sets.

This launch is a strong example of how industry-school partnerships — such as those championed by Gameloft, ACS and the ICT GISP program — can bring career pathways to life. For teachers and IT professionals looking to inspire students with real-world context, few examples are as compelling as a Brisbane-built game, starring a Brisbane-made character, inspiring Brisbane-located students, being played by families across the globe.

ICT GISP encourages partnerships between industry, government, schools and their communities just like this to help address the significant shortfall of young, emerging ICT talent in Queensland. It is proudly supported and funded by the Queensland Government and facilitated by the Australian Computer Society. Learn more at https://qldictgisp.acs.org.au.