Best Buy Foundation And Xbox Bring Game Camp To Minneapolis Teens This Summer 2026

Xbox is teaming up with the Best Buy Foundation to launch “Best Buy Foundation Presents Xbox Game Camp Minneapolis 2026,” a 12‑week immersive program designed to help 50 young creators turn their game ideas into playable prototypes this summer. Running from June 15 through September 3, 2026, the camp will be hosted at Best Buy Teen Tech Centers across the Twin Cities and surrounding areas and is focused specifically on participants ages 18 and 19 who are connected to those centers. Check out the video below for a look back at Xbox Game Camp 2025.

The announcement was detailed in a new Xbox Wire blog post by Xbox Game Camp business program manager Kaylee Leitzel, which outlines how the program will blend hands‑on learning with mentorship from experts across Microsoft, Xbox, and local Teen Tech Center staff. The blog breaks down how the initiative is part of Xbox’s broader 25th anniversary push to empower more diverse, aspiring creators to break into game development.

A 12‑Week Journey From Idea To Prototype

Over the course of 12 weeks, attendees will experience the full game development lifecycle, moving from initial concept through to a playable prototype they can showcase as part of a growing portfolio. Crucially, participants will retain full ownership of any intellectual property they create during the camp, giving them something tangible to carry into future education or early career opportunities in the games industry.

The curriculum is designed to introduce teens to the many disciplines that come together in game development, including technology, art, storytelling, music, sound design, and project management. Alongside structured learning, campers will benefit from community‑building with peers and direct mentorship from Xbox and Microsoft professionals who can offer real‑world insight into how modern game studios operate.

Expanding Access Through Best Buy Teen Tech Centers

Xbox Game Camp Minneapolis builds on Best Buy Teen Tech Centers’ mission to expand access to technology, mentorship, and creative opportunities for youth in underserved communities. These centers already provide hands‑on experiences with tools for coding, digital media, and design; the new Game Camp partnership layers game‑specific training and networking on top of that existing infrastructure.corporate.

Both Xbox Game Camp and the Best Buy Foundation emphasize that investing in opportunity—by providing tools, knowledge, and support—is key to unlocking the potential of aspiring creators. By situating the program within a local network of Teen Tech Centers across Minneapolis and St. Paul, the partnership aims to create measurable pathways into higher education programs and entry‑level roles in game development and related tech fields.

Part Of Xbox’s Growing Global Game Camp Footprint

Minneapolis is the latest stop for Xbox Game Camp, which has previously run similar 12‑week experiences in regions like Africa and U.S. cities such as Detroit, always with a focus on emerging and underrepresented creators. These programs share a common structure: multi‑week, mentor‑led cohorts that guide participants from early game ideas to prototypes, while helping them build industry‑ready skills.

As Xbox celebrates its 25th anniversary, initiatives like Game Camp Minneapolis highlight how the brand is positioning itself not just as a platform for playing games, but as a gateway into game creation itself. For Microsoft, the program is another way to grow the broader game development ecosystem while investing directly in local communities.

How Eligible Teens Can Get Involved

To qualify for Best Buy Foundation Presents Xbox Game Camp Minneapolis 2026, applicants must be 18 or 19 years old and connected to Best Buy Teen Tech Centers in Minneapolis, St. Paul, or nearby areas. Interested teens can learn more about the program and begin the registration process at Xbox.com/gamecamp.

For young people in the Twin Cities who are curious about careers in games—whether as programmers, artists, writers, or producers—this summer’s Xbox Game Camp could be a meaningful first step into the industry.