Surrey Research Park is celebrating 35 years of games innovation, with the release of a new title from studio 22cans.
Over the decades, the Park has been home to several monumental figures and studios that have shaped the global tech and gaming landscape. Its groundbreaking gameplay enabled players to navigate worlds governed by interacting rules, where player decisions directly shaped outcomes. The pioneering design and technology behind Populous, later refined in Populous II, are widely recognised as influencing the simulation‑driven design approaches seen in similarly iconic later titles such as SimCity, The Sims and Civilization.
As part of the University of Surrey, the Park and the wider Surrey Innovation District enable collaboration between academic and industry partners, while spearheading initiatives to strengthen Guildford’s legacy as the UK’s Hollywood of Games and create unique opportunities for students. Earlier this year, 11 Games Design students from the University supported 22cans by live playtesting Masters of Albion in the University’s Games Innovation Zone, an on-campus venue dedicated to games development and industry collaboration.
Read more here