Game Designer · Manchester, UK

Selected
work &
projects

UE5 · Unity · Blender · C++ · Indie dev alongside AAA at Cloud Imperium Games

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Dan Mercer — Game DesignerManchester, UK · 2025
Game Designer · Manchester, UK

About
me

I'm Dan — a Game Designer currently working as an AI Designer at Cloud Imperium Games on Squadron 42. I focus on systems design, technical design, and gameplay design, with a parallel career in indie development through my own studio.

Available for freelance & contract — 2025
01

Background

I'm a games designer with a focus on systems design, technical design, and gameplay/combat design. I've been working professionally in the industry since graduating, with a career that spans AAA production and independent development running simultaneously.

At Cloud Imperium Games I work on AI behaviour within the Star Citizen and Squadron 42 universe — designing AI that brings life and immersiveness to the vast emptiness of space. It's some of the most ambitious AI design work in the industry, and I work closely across engineering, art, and narrative to get it right.

Outside of CIG, I run Firestone Games Ltd — a UK limited company through which I've shipped Pompous on Android, built the Firestone Auto Exporter for Blender, and am actively developing Dregs, a co-op FPS targeting Steam.

Some of my favourite games: the Soulsborne series, Borderlands 2, Divinity: Original Sin, Warframe, and Assassin's Creed. I love video games — and I love creating them even more.

DPhoto — coming soon
02

Knowledge & tools

Engines
Unreal Engine 5 Unity CryEngine (Customised)
Code & scripting
C++ Blueprints C# Flutter / Dart Python
Art & production
Blender Maya Substance Designer Substance Painter Adobe Suite
Pipeline & misc
Perforce Git Microsoft Office Audacity
03

Experience

2023 — Present
AI Designer
Cloud Imperium Games · Manchester
AI behaviour design on Squadron 42. Working on AI systems within the Star Citizen universe — designing combat, pre-combat, and ambient AI to bring life to space. Cross-discipline collaboration with engineering, art, and narrative.
2022 — Present
Director & Indie Developer
Firestone Games Ltd · Remote
Founded and run a UK limited company producing original games and tools. Shipped Pompous (Android), the Firestone Auto Exporter (Blender addon). Actively developing Dregs — a co-op FPS in UE5 targeting Steam.
2021 — 2023
Freelance Game Designer
Contract · Remote
Design documentation, systems consulting, and prototype development for independent studios.
04

Education

2021 — 2022
Games Development MA
University of Bolton
2018 — 2021
Games Design BSc
University of Bolton
2015 — 2017
Graphic Design BTEC Extended Diploma
College
Dan Mercer — Game DesignerManchester, UK · 2025

Get in
touch

Available for freelance design work, contract roles, and consulting. Get in touch and I'll get back to you.

Coming Soon

In
progress

This project page is currently being put together. Check back soon.