The results are in. After months of creativity, problem-solving and technical excellence, the winners of Ubisoft Toronto NEXT 2026 have been crowned!
This year, 229 students and recent graduates from across Ontario rose to the challenge, competing for a paid internship and the opportunity to launch their careers in AAA game development.
Now in its 13th year, the Ubisoft Toronto NEXT competition provides aspiring developers with the opportunity to showcase their skills, connect with industry professionals, and gain a real-world glimpse into life in a professional game studio.
Participants tackle industry-inspired briefs that reflect the real creative and technical challenges developers face every day. Their work is then reviewed by Ubisoft Toronto developers — artists, programmers and designers — who volunteer their time to mentor students and evaluate submissions.
“The games industry is going through a real period of change right now, but what doesn’t change is the need for talented, creative people with fresh ideas. Programs like NEXT matter now more than ever because they create real pathways into AAA studios. Walk our halls and you’ll often bump into NEXT alumni — a reminder that when you invest in emerging developers, they go on to shape the future of this studio and our industry,” says Darryl Long, Managing Director of Ubisoft Toronto.
Since its inception, the competition has grown exponentially, with over 73 winners and more than 200 participants annually from more than 30 universities and colleges.
To date, we’ve hired over 110 participants (including finalists), and many have even come full circle, returning as mentors and judges to help shape the next generation of game developers.
“Judging this year’s NEXT challenge was both a privilege and a challenge. We were blown away by the creativity and skill on display. The program has become an important talent pipeline for us, but its true impact is in the community it builds. Watching the progression of students who start their careers through NEXT progress to full-time developers and even mentors, knowing the program helped open that door is incredibly rewarding,” says Lena Yen, Talent Specialist, Campus and Early Career Programs at Ubisoft Toronto.
Congratulations to our 2026 Ubisoft Toronto NEXT winners!
3D Art
Participants were asked to create a 3D video game environment diorama of a secret entrance, focusing on visual storytelling, composition and high-quality assets within a defined scope.
Winner: Loyeon Lee, York University
“A captivating scene with strong atmosphere, robust variety and elegant set dressing. The lighting draws you in, while subtle storytelling details add depth making it a clear first-place standout!”
— Daniel Bede-Fazekas, Model Artist
Second place: Phiwatn Wittayawatn, George Brown College
Third place: Yian Lin, Sheridan College
Animation
The theme of this year’s challenge was “slip.” Participants were tasked with creating an animation featuring at least two characters, including one biped character. The challenge was designed to showcase an understanding of body mechanics and acting through body language.
Winner: Ngoc Pham, Centennial College
“A highly polished and complete piece, with strong, readable poses and expressive acting. The characters felt distinct and full of personality, with subtle secondary details adding a lively, engaging touch.”
— Rinci Yao, Team Lead Animator
Second place: Ash McDonald, Sheridan College
Third place: Pin Hsuan Lin, Seneca Polytechnic
Level Design
From creating a design brief to a playable blockout, participants had to apply their design sensibilities across this two-part challenge, reflecting the real production journey a mission takes — from its earliest “on paper” pitch to its very first appearance “on screen.”
Winner: Tucker Fortier, Sheridan College
“A deeply immersive and well-crafted level, with strong layout and spatial design. The cinematic moments added an extra layer of polish, and the subtle AC nod at the end was the cherry on top.”
— Naveen Prasad, Technical Designer
Second place: Tristan Hafkenscheid, Sheridan College
Third place: Matthew Shotunde, Brock University
Programming
Participants were challenged to create a game made entirely in C++ over the course of a weekend! This year’s theme focused on simulating a large number of entities, inspired by games like The Sims, Civilization, and StarCraft. Using the API provided, participants built a single- or multi-player game that demonstrated both technical skill and compelling gameplay, while adding their own creative twist.
Winner: Evan Daveikis, Sheridan College
“Evan delivered an impressive 3D rasterized game that stood out for its strong VFX, 3D rendering, and physics systems. Combined with well-structured code and a high level of technical ambition, it was a clear showcase of his talent.”
— Neil Hill, Lead Programmer
Second place: Raihaan Sandhu, University of Toronto
Third place: Alvin Philips, Sheridan College
Technical Animation
Creativity and technical skill converge in this challenge. Participants had to create a playable demo of a character performing basic locomotion as well as one of three movement challenges. Judges were looking for clarity, ease, and flexibility in animation systems, as well as overall technical execution and visual polish.
Winner: Jin Zhang, Mohawk College
“A technically impressive submission featuring responsive combat, dynamic character reactions, and seamless use of Unreal’s motion matching system. The clean, well-documented animation graph reflected a thoughtful and future-ready approach.”
— Prakash Mandujano, Technical Animator
Second place: Yunfei Xue, Sheridan College
Third place: Wole Mponjika, Seneca Polytechnic
VFX
This year, participants were challenged to create a VFX scene based on an existing Ubisoft game title. Judges were looking out for the quality of assets, visual storytelling and overall composition to support their interpretation of the scene.
Winner: Han Wen Chang, Sheridan College
“A striking piece centered on fire propagation, with physically convincing behavior and strong narrative intent. The flames guide the emotional beat, supported by carefully calibrated lighting and values that create a cohesive, cinematic moment.”
— Luisa Boeppler Abuchaibe, Team Lead Artist
Second place: Yi Hong, Sheridan College
Third place: Lei Wu, Sheridan College
VFX
This year, participants were challenged to create a VFX scene based on an existing Ubisoft game title. Judges were looking out for the quality of assets, visual storytelling and overall composition to support their interpretation of the scene.
Winner: Han Wen Chang, Sheridan College
“A striking piece centered on fire propagation, with physically convincing behavior and strong narrative intent. The flames guide the emotional beat, supported by carefully calibrated lighting and values that create a cohesive, cinematic moment.”
— Luisa Boeppler Abuchaibe
Second place: Yi Hong, Sheridan College
Third place: Lei Wu, Sheridan College
To learn more about Ubisoft Toronto NEXT and be notified when applications open for next year’s challenge, click here.
