Every great journey starts with great people, and ours began 25 years ago.
As part of our 25th anniversary celebrations, we’re interviewing some of the people who helped shape Gameloft into what it is today.
We caught up with Gameloft Ukraine’s studio technical director, Oleksandr Bozhko, who opened up about his early days in the industry, what gaming means to him, and the proudest moment of his journey.
Where were you at 25?
I was already working at Gameloft Ukraine in Kharkiv. We were going through a transition from development for feature phones (J2ME-based games) to smartphones. Around then, we released The Settlers on iOS and were also working on Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Shadow Vanguard.
What were you playing at 25?
I was deep into handheld gaming, so my PSP was basically glued to my hands. Lots of LittleBigPlanet, LocoRoco 2, Gran Turismo, God of War: Chains of Olympus, and others.
Why gaming?
I’ve always liked playing video games and algorithmic and low-level programming, but I never thought that I could work in the gaming industry. I graduated around the time Gameloft opened the studio in Kharkiv, and we all knew Gameloft and most of us played their games, like Asphalt Urban GT, Splinter Cell, Block Breaker, etc. I wasn’t sure I was a good fit for a job, but a friend of mine said, “Why don’t you just try?” And I tried. :)
Most important advice?
Don't postpone anything you want to do.
Proudest moment?
The first game I was credited in: Jimmy White Snooker Legend.
What do games mean to you?
As a player, they’re like a book—there’s a story, a world to explore, and challenges to conquer. As a developer, games spark that technical curiosity: How did they make this? How did they pull it off? That’s probably the itch that drives me to dig deeper.
Favorite game?
Fallout 2. With every choice, you face a consequence, and every consequence shapes the world around you. In the end, it’s up to you to decide—reload your save or play with the mistakes you made.
