Mar 27th, 2025, Toronto, ON — Level Up Showcase, a cornerstone of Ontario’s gaming community, returns on April 12, 2025, from 2:00 PM to 7:00 PM at the Westin Harbour Castle. Attracting thousands of attendees annually, the event highlights the province’s top student game designers and developers, offering them a platform to showcase their work, compete for top honors, and connect with industry professionals, recruiters, and the public.
Organized by Algonquin College, Brock University, OCAD University, and the University of Toronto in partnership with XP Gaming Inc., Level Up Showcase has become a key talent pipeline for Ontario’s gaming industry. Students gain direct exposure to leading studios, publishers, and tech companies, receiving valuable industry feedback and career opportunities.
Reinforcing its role in shaping the future of the game industry, the event is backed by major industry partners, including Ubisoft, AMD, Sledgehammer, Zynga and regional supporters Ontario Creates, and the City of Toronto. Last year’s event had up to 3,000 attendees and 150 student games.
"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. 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.”
Attendees will have the chance to play groundbreaking student-created games, meet the developers behind them, vote for their favourites, and celebrate the winners during the closing award ceremony.
Event Details:
Date: April 12, 2025, 2:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Venue: Westin Harbour Castle, Toronto, ON
Tickets: Register for Free @ levelupshowcase.com
For more information on the show, or sponsorship opportunities, please visit us at levelupshowcase.com.
Press kit and media assets can be found here.
For Media Inquiries please contact:
Ryan Sno-Wood
XP Gaming Inc.
Email: info@xpgaming.biz
About Level Up Showcase:
Founded and organized by digital media faculty from post-secondary institutions across Ontario, Level Up Showcase has grown into Ontario’s premier student game development event, bridging the gap between emerging talent and the game development industry.
Participating Schools:
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Algonquin College
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Brock University
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Cambrian College
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Canadore College
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Fanshawe College
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Georgian College
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George Brown College
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Humber College
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Max the Mutt College
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McMaster University
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Mohawk College
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Niagara College
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OCAD University
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Ontario Tech University
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Seneca College
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Sheridan College
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Toronto Film School
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Toronto Metropolitan University
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University of Toronto
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York University
About XP Gaming Inc:
XP Gaming connects the global video game industry through world-class B2B events that drive business, collaboration, and industry growth. Flagship conferences like XP Game Summit, Montreal International Game Summit (MIGS), and XP Indie Biz Connect events in Vancouver and Atlantic Canada serve as key platforms for networking, knowledge exchange, and deal-making—connecting developers, publishers, investors, and service providers to shape the future of gaming.
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