We teach people who want to build actual game worlds. Our program starts in September 2025 and runs for twelve months. You'll work with professionals who've shipped games you've probably played.
Ask About EnrollmentOur instructors didn't just study game development. They built it. Each one has years working on shipped titles and knows what studios actually need from junior environment artists.
Environment Lead
Matej spent eight years at Bohemia Interactive working on military simulation environments. He's obsessed with terrain systems and teaches the technical foundation modules. Expects you to actually understand why things work, not just copy tutorials.
Asset Production
Before teaching, Elena was senior environment artist at Warhorse Studios during Kingdom Come development. She runs our modular asset workshops and portfolio reviews. Known for pushing students harder than they expect but getting results they're proud to show.
Lighting & Atmosphere
Viktor freelanced with multiple European studios for six years before joining us. He teaches lighting and atmosphere, which most beginners underestimate. His approach focuses on making environments feel like places people actually want to explore.
We organized this by topic instead of dumping everything into one long list. Click any question to see the full answer.
We're starting September 15, 2025 and running through August 2026. That's twelve full months. Classes happen Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6pm to 9pm, plus Saturday morning workshops every other week. You'll need to commit to this schedule.
Not really, but you should be comfortable with computers and have tried some basic digital art. If you've never opened Photoshop or tried any kind of 3D software, spend a month experimenting first. We start from fundamentals but move quickly.
Primarily Blender for modeling, Substance Painter for texturing, and Unreal Engine 5 for environment assembly. We also cover Photoshop for concept work and basic sculpting in ZBrush. Industry uses these tools, so you'll use these tools.
Full program tuition is €4,200. You can pay upfront for a €300 discount (€3,900 total) or split into monthly payments of €380 over twelve months. Both options lock in your spot, but we only have 18 seats per cohort.
All instruction, access to our resource library, software licenses during the program, portfolio review sessions, and workspace access on class days. You'll need your own computer that can handle 3D software. We have equipment requirements listed in the enrollment packet.
Yes. We do open studio sessions on the first Saturday of each month where you can see the workspace, talk to current students, and ask questions. Email us at help@grotonex.com to reserve a spot since space is limited.
Something that can actually run Unreal Engine 5 without catching fire. Minimum: dedicated GPU with 6GB VRAM, 16GB system RAM, and an SSD with at least 200GB free. Our full spec sheet includes recommended models if you're buying new equipment.
We help you build a portfolio that studios actually look at and teach you how to apply effectively. Several of our graduates found junior positions within six months of finishing, but we can't promise employment. The game industry is competitive and hiring depends on many factors outside our control.
Most courses throw theory at you and hope it sticks. We break everything into practical projects that build on each other. Here's how the learning process works.
First two months cover the fundamentals you can't skip. Basic modeling, UV unwrapping, simple materials. Nothing fancy yet.
Month three through five focus on making things look good. This is where most beginners struggle, so we spend extra time here.
Months six through eight teach you to build complete scenes in Unreal Engine. This is where everything clicks together.
Month nine focuses entirely on making your scenes feel alive. Lighting changes everything about how environments read.
Final three months are portfolio focused. You'll create two complete environment pieces that show what you can actually do.
Throughout the program, we cover practical stuff about how studios actually work and what they expect from junior artists.