The annual HKU Exposure is the moment when emerging creative talent from HKU University of the Arts Utrecht presents itself to the world. This year, Utrecht's iconic Neude Library provided the setting for the latest cohort of game designers. This edition stood out both for the high quality of the projects and for considerable resilience behind the scenes.
A false start in the heat
The event was almost defeated by the summer weather. On Friday and Saturday, temperatures outside the library rose so high that opening the exhibition was simply not safe.
A huge disappointment. But the teaching team rolled up their sleeves and worked incredibly hard behind the scenes to save the event. Thanks to their tireless efforts, the doors could finally open on Sunday. An enormous achievement that thankfully allowed the students to show their hard work to the public after all.
From solo development to useful tools
Among the many impressive presentations, several projects immediately caught the eye:
Milled Tooth: An incredibly accomplished solo development project. It is always inspiring to see a single developer create an entire world, mechanics and a distinctive atmosphere. This is certainly a project, and a creator, to watch.
Clapstool: Game design involves more than code and art; it also demands serious project management. Clapstool addresses that need. It is a tool developed specifically for game projects that helps teams keep track of everything. A very welcome innovation from which the whole industry could benefit.
The AI elephant in the room
One of the most discussed projects was a serious game that actively uses AI. At an arts university such as HKU, AI is currently an extremely complex and sensitive subject, which is entirely understandable. Debate about copyright, the value of human creativity and fears of automation is particularly intense in the creative sector.
The student concerned consequently faced considerable backlash from the community. Yet the student's willingness to explore that boundary deserves praise. True artists often do precisely what others avoid or criticise. Exploring AI as a medium and a tool, instead of ignoring it, opens the dialogue we so urgently need.
The technology landscape: Unity reigns, but others are waiting in the wings
Looking at the technology behind the games on show, Unity remains the undisputed king on HKU's exhibition floor. Most students still choose the flexibility of this engine. Yet we are gradually seeing shifts. Unreal Engine appears here and there for more graphically demanding projects, while the open-source alternative Godot is also beginning to gain a foothold. A healthy development showing that students think critically about the tools they use.
All in all, despite the heatwave, HKU Exposure 2026 was a very successful and inspiring day full of innovation, discussion and craftsmanship. Congratulations to the teaching team for saving the exhibition, and of course to all the newly graduated talents.