Full Sail Stories

More than 85 Full Sail University graduates were credited on EA SPORTS Madden NFL 26, the latest installment in the long-running football game franchise. Grads worked across departments including game design, software engineering, animation, audio, and QA, contributing to a title known for its detailed gameplay and dedicated player base.

Grads from a range of degree programs including Game Development, Computer Animation, and Recording Arts helped bring this year’s release to life. Among them were Senior Technical Artist Eduardo Achach (Computer Animation, 2013), Senior Engineering Manager Alanna Berklund (Game Development, 2008), Software Engineer Michael Boodle (Game Development, 2014), and Hall of Fame inductee Frank Scheuring (Recording Arts, 1999), who served as a Senior Audio Artist on the project.

Other Full Sail grads credited on the AAA game release include recent grads like Om Bharwani (Game Design master’s, 2024), who served as a Senior QA Tester, and Cross Blanchard (Interactive Technology Bachelor of Science Completion Program – Game Design Concentration, 2020), who worked as a Game Designer. From early-career contributors to seasoned developers, Full Sail alumni played key roles in shaping gameplay systems, optimizing performance, and refining player experiences that define the Madden NFL game series.

Now in its 36th installment, the Madden NFL franchise remains a cornerstone of sports gaming. Full Sail’s relationship with Madden extends beyond just development credits – the university has also hosted live broadcasts of the EA SPORTS Madden NFL Championship Series inside the Full Sail University Orlando Health Fortress, where top players from around the world compete for massive prize pools.

Congratulations to all the Full Sail grads who contributed their talents to Madden NFL 26 and helped continue the legacy of one of gaming’s most enduring franchises.