A team of CCCU Games Design graduates have achieved national success after founding their own indie game studio earlier this year. Davey Hazelwood, Nathaniel Eastick, Ryan Ademi and Evan Carter, four members of the BA (Hons) Games Design class of 2025, joined by Danielle Hazelwood PGDip Psychological Therapies 2023 created Centaurus Software and  have gone on to win Tranzfuser 2025, a prestigious UK-wide game development competition. They will now receive support from the UK Games Prototype Fund to develop their first title, Erebus-9. We caught up with the team to hear about their journey and to learn how the early days of their new company are taking shape.

Tell us about the game, Erebus-9

Erebus-9 is an immersive first-person psychological horror game. Players unravel the mystery of what happened aboard the decaying space station Erebus-9 in a retro-industrial, sci-fi reimagining of Dante’s Inferno. The deeper you descend, the more disturbing the horrors become, as you solve puzzles, face enemies, and uncover the station’s haunting secrets.

What first drew you to study Games Design?

We were drawn to Games Design for its blend of creativity, technology, and problem-solving. A shared love of games and making things sparked our interest, while curiosity about how games are developed and the desire to build interactive experiences pushed us toward the field. For some, it was a natural progression from programming or multimedia, while for others it represented an exciting career change into a creative industry.

How did your time at CCCU influence your approach to game development?

Our time at CCCU helped us build strong foundations in design principles, collaboration, and creative problem-solving. Support from lecturers and peers, alongside group projects and game jams, helped refine our skills and confidence. The course also highlighted the range of specialisms within game development, allowing us to focus on areas we were most passionate about, such as 3D art, animation, and technical development.

What the experience has been like designing your own game?

Erebus-9 began as a university project and evolved into a fully realised psychological sci-fi horror game inspired by mythology, philosophy, and literary influences such as Dante’s Inferno. Watching the project grow from a student idea into a professional product has been both surreal and rewarding. Programmes like Tranzfuser helped us understand not just the creative side of development, but also the business and production aspects of bringing a game to market.

“Our time at CCCU helped us build strong foundations in design principles, collaboration, and creative problem-solving. Support from lecturers and peers, alongside group projects and game jams, helped refine our skills and confidence.”

What advice would you give to students hoping to follow a similar path?

We encourage students to identify their strengths, make the most of available resources, and step outside your comfort zones. Taking pride in your work, setting achievable goals, and enjoying the creative process are key. Above all, persistence, balance, and belief in your passion can make a huge difference in turning a love for games into a career.

As Erebus-9 moves into development with support from the UK Games Fund, the team behind Centaurus Software continues to build on the creativity and collaboration that began at CCCU. Their success is a testament to the talent, dedication, and ambition of our Games Design graduates, and we can’t wait to see what the future holds for this inspiring group of alumni!