Year after year, DigiPen sends graduates into the world at our annual Commencement Ceremony, and year after year, our new alumni charge into the game and tech industries with purpose and determination. The recently graduated Class of 2026 is no different, and it’s in large part to the inspiring commencement address delivered by Matt Booty, Chief Content Officer at Xbox.
“This is a place that makes creators,” says Matt Booty as he spoke to the graduating class at the Lynnwood Convention Center on April 26. “I can remember when DigiPen was starting out, when it was coming up as a force within the game industry, and it is fantastic to see what it has become today.”
DigiPen’s latest lineup of creators span a multitude of disciplines, including computer science and artificial intelligence, game design and development, animation and digital art, and audio programming and design. As our Dragons start their careers and find their next adventure, Booty urges graduates to keep originality at the center. “Creativity is your business. You’re here because you believe that games can have an impact,” he says. “As you enter the game industry, make it more creative when you show up than it was before you got there. Bring your creativity to those of us that are in the industry.”
The full commencement speech presented by Matt Booty, Executive Vice President and Chief Content Officer of Xbox, who oversees iconic game franchises like Call of Duty, DOOM, Fallout, Forza, Gears of War, Halo, Minecraft, The Elder Scrolls, World of Warcraft, and more.
Using a developer who strictly works on clothing for the upcoming Xbox game Fable as an example, Booty stressed the importance of finding your passions and using your degree to polish your unique craft. “Today, games, like a lot of things, have become so specialized, and I think that’s represented in the degrees that are here today,” he says. “I encourage you to think about your career a lot like you would a game, that there are starting points and there are places you’ll get, but lean into the iteration. Be willing to try things. Don’t expect it to be a straight path.”
Creativity and individual contributions are important, but so is teamwork. Like DigiPen’s project-based curriculum where student teams create yearly game and animation projects, collaboration is a core tenant of successful teams in the game and tech industries. “When a game is done and you’re watching it on the screen, the fingerprint of every person who worked on that game shows up on the screen,” Booty says. “The opportunity is for you to find out how you can shine as an individual but also be part of a team.”
Congratulations to each of the 230 graduating students who walked on stage to receive their hard-earned degree, and many thanks to the presenters, faculty, family, and friends that cheered on the Class of 2026!
If you’re an employer looking to meet or hire our new graduates, see our Employers page for ways to share openings, engage through speaker opportunities, and connect through on-campus events.