Meet the UK's 2026 video game BAFTA Breakthroughs

The 2026 games cohort includes Eloise Singer (writer/director, The Pirate Queen: No Safe Waters), Husban Siddiqi (game director/developer, Rogue Eclipse), Kate Killick (creative director, Pieced Together), Niru Fekri-Arnold (creator/designer, Cursed Words), and Tom McKay (performer, Mysteria Ecclesiae: Kingdom Come Deliverance DLC).

Eloise Singer: From VR to Immersive Storytelling

Eloise Singer is a writer and director, known for the Emmy-nominated VR experience The Pirate Queen: No Safe Waters, narrated by Lucy Liu. As the CEO and creative director of Singer Studios, her work spans the intersection of film and games. The franchise, centered on Chinese pirate leader Cheng Shih, is set to expand next year with an international tour, a graphic novel co-written by Singer and Liu (illustrated by Soo Lee), and a new game project, which Singer describes as one of her most enjoyable collaborations to date.

For Singer, this selection is a significant milestone after eight attempts to join the Breakthrough initiative. She credits BAFTA with recognizing the creative ambition behind her immersive storytelling approach. She looks forward to utilizing the mentorship and the expanded network provided by BAFTA and Netflix to foster new collaborations across different media formats.

Husban Siddiqi: The Intersection of Art and Technology

Husban Siddiqi is a game director and developer who recently released his debut project, Rogue Eclipse, a spaceflight shooter roguelike. The title was among the first supported by Innersloth's Outersloth indie games fund in 2024. Siddiqi views games as a unique intersection of art and technology that offers unparalleled creative fulfillment.

Having benefited from BAFTA's initiatives in the past—which helped him connect with the talented creatives behind Rogue Eclipse—Siddiqi hopes to use this program to give back. He aims to support others who are just beginning their creative journeys within the industry.

Kate Killick: Building a Studio Through Perseverance

Kate Killick serves as the CEO and creative director of Glowfrog Games, a studio specializing in art and design for educational and children's games. Her debut title, Pieced Together, was the result of three years of development and a long-term personal goal to release an indie game.

Killick highlights the importance of visibility for independent studios, especially during challenging times for the wider industry. With the support of the Breakthrough program and Netflix, she aims to elevate the profile of Glowfrog Games as the studio develops its second title—a game focused on collecting and arranging sea glass into mosaics, with a demo expected by mid-next year.

Niru Fekri-Arnold: Creating Games with a 'Human Soul'

Niru Fekri-Arnold is a creator, designer, and co-founder of the indie studio Buried Things. Following the launch of their debut game, Cursed Words, the studio is currently in pre-production for its second title, Little Rippers. Fekri-Arnold’s path to games was influenced by immersive projects with The National Theatre and NASA, as well as Double Fine's Amnesia Fortnight.

In an era of rising AI-generated content, Fekri-Arnold is focused on creating games with a distinct

In an era of rising AI-generated content, Fekri-Arnold is focused on creating games with a distinct "human soul," aiming to develop experiences that AI cannot easily replicate. He praises BAFTA for acting as a champion for creative talent, providing essential stepping stones for artists to achieve greatness.

Tom McKay: Expanding into the Gaming Arena

Tom McKay is an English actor, trained at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, with a background in television and theatre. He is recognized by gamers for his portrayal of Henry of Skalitz in Warhorse Studios' medieval RPG Kingdom Come: Deliverance and its sequel.

McKay describes his work on the Kingdom Come: Deliverance franchise as one of his most inspiring professional experiences. He attributes his selection to the momentum of the KCD series and his work on the Channel 4 series Dirty Business. He views the gaming industry as a vast, limitless art form and hopes the Breakthrough program will open further opportunities within this relatively new arena for his career.