A team of undergraduate students from PeraCom, the Department of Computer Engineering, University of Peradeniya, emerged as Champions in the University Category at GameFest 2026, an eight-hour game development competition organized by SLIIT Kandy, held on 24 July 2026 at the SLIIT Kandy campus in Pallekele.

GameFest 2026 brought together talented university and school teams to compete in a fast-paced game development challenge, where participants were required to conceptualize, design, and develop a complete game within just eight hours. The University Category featured five competing teams, while several school teams also participated, showcasing creativity, technical skills, and innovation in game development.

Representing the University of Peradeniya, the PeraCom team secured First Place in the University Category with a top-down time-management survival game developed around the competition theme, "Extinction." The game challenges players to gather resources during the day to build and maintain a bonfire, enabling them to survive relentless monster attacks throughout the night. The project demonstrated the team's creativity, game design skills, and ability to deliver a polished and engaging gameplay experience under intense time constraints.

The winning team comprised Thakshila Bandara, Lahiru Dinushan, Shamishka Dharshana, and Induwara Amaaranga, undergraduate students from the E21 batch of the Department of Computer Engineering, University of Peradeniya.

This outstanding achievement highlights the team's creativity, technical expertise, and collaborative spirit in game development. Competing against talented teams within a limited development timeframe, the students demonstrated exceptional problem-solving skills and innovation to deliver a compelling game experience.

Congratulations to the team on this remarkable accomplishment and for bringing pride and recognition to the Department of Computer Engineering and the University of Peradeniya.

Written By: Hirushi Adikari (Editor/Association of Computer Engineering Students)