BAFTA Breakthrough Profile: Kyle Banks

Kyle Banks, a former software engineer, made the leap to game development and created his debut game, Farewell North, which earned him a BAFTA Breakthrough selection. The game follows a border collie as it travels through Scotland's northern isles, restoring color to the world. Originally from Canada, Banks relocated to Edinburgh, where he developed Farewell North over the course of four years. The game was born out of the COVID-19 pandemic, during which Banks and his wife were unable to travel and explore Scotland. Instead, they researched and took photos, which eventually became the foundation of the game. Banks' background in software engineering influenced his approach to game development, but he found that the two industries have distinct differences. Despite this, he believes that his experience in tech start-ups helped him develop a creative energy that serves him well in game development. As a solo game developer, Banks wears many hats, from music and sound design to accounting and marketing. He finds joy in the variety of tasks and the opportunity to learn new skills every day. Banks was surprised to be selected as a BAFTA Breakthrough and hopes to connect with industry professionals who can offer insights and feedback on his future projects. He is currently working on a new game that is vastly different from Farewell North and is excited to take more risks and explore new ideas. The BAFTA Breakthrough selection has given Banks a sense of validation and credibility, which he believes will help him stand out in the industry. He is grateful for the support of the game development community and looks forward to continuing to create innovative and engaging games. In his free time, Banks enjoys spending time with his 15-year-old chihuahua, who is an adventure-seeker and has even hiked up mountains. Although his dog is not a border collie like the one in Farewell North, Banks believes that she is a kindred spirit and an inspiration for his creative work.