Every year The Game Awards spotlights 50 inspiring individuals who represent the bright, bold, and inclusive future of video games. Think Forbes’ 30 Under 30, but for gaming!
In 2022, Malaysia received our first Future Class induction when game designer, lecturer, and journalist Sophie Azlan made history as the first person from our country to make the cut. This year, another three Malaysians join her in the 2023 cohort. Let’s meet them!
Samantha Low, Freelance Games Journalist, Marketing Consultant & Streamer
Samantha Low (or known as @rinoaskyes on the internet!) is a freelance games journalist, marketing consultant, and streamer who is passionate about representation for underserved communities.
Her work has been featured on various publications including Kotaku, Tokyo Weekender, Games Hub, Lonely Planet, Japan Times, and more. She is also one of the co-hosts for 20m Podcast which covers games, TV, film, and pop culture from a Southeast Asian lens. Currently based in Japan, she hopes her work will continue to build bridges between Japan, Southeast Asia, and the world.
You can find her on Twitter, Instagram, and Twitch.
Jonathan Tang, Community Leader & Game Developer
Jonathan Tang is the Malaysia Chapter Lead for the International Game Developers Association (IGDA), known for organising Game Dev Hangouts once every quarter with the aim of growing the Malaysian industry and making game development an accessible passion-career for all. The UOWM alumnus and valedictorian currently works as a game developer at Metronomik.
You can find him on Twitter and LinkedIn.
Saqina Latif, Founder of Persona Theory Games
An advertiser turned game developer, Saqina Latif is the co-founder and managing director of Persona Theory Games, an indie narrative games studio that has released two commercial games, Fires at Midnight (2020) and Kabaret (2022). A strong advocate for Southeast Asian culture in storytelling, you’ll regularly find nods to the region in their games and short films.
You can find her on Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
The Malaysian game development industry has seen massive growth over the past few years, and The Game Awards 2023 Future Class inductions are only the latest milestone. We hope you’ll take this chance to check out the local gaming scene and support them!
