Abby Makes GamesLet’s talk
Abby’s own painting of herself in her kitchen, smiling down at Appa, a grey-and-white tabby sitting on the counter, while Roo, her tortoiseshell, walks past her feet
Painted on Procreate.

Hi, I’mAbby.I’m a gameproducer.

Since 2018, I’ve been working in the games industry, coming in from IT with no formal degree in computer science or game design, and now leading the development of core gameplay systems and creative on an R&D team at Riot Games.

I started out building scalable systems and supporting the people around me, which somehow led to helping ship over 10 AAA titles at PlayStation Studios, including The Last of Us Part II, God of War Ragnarök, Spider-Man, and Helldivers 2. From there, I moved into production at Riot, where I had the privilege of leading a 40+ person cross-disciplinary team on Legends of Runeterra before shifting into my current role.

Along the way, I’ve also learned what it means to work as a woman in a male-dominated space: the underestimation, the invisibility, and the pressure to constantly overdeliver. I’ve felt it all. And that’s a big part of why I mentor women and marginalized creatives: because I want the next generation to face fewer barriers, have more agency, and feel like they belong here.

These experiences have shaped the kind of leader I’ve become. I focus on building values-driven, outcome-focused teams that don’t just ship great games, but also take care of each other while doing it.

Career highlights.

A track record spanning 10+ shipped AAA titles across console, PC and mobile, multi-initiative roadmap ownership, and leadership of cross-functional pods.

  1. partner orgs, trust restored

    Repaired multi-year friction with Publishing, Localization, Partner Engineering & Comms

    Built new communication and resourcing systems that eliminated late check-ins, reduced loc errors, and cut emergency translation spend. Restored trust across 4+ partner orgs, improving predictability and collaboration throughout the entire release pipeline.

  2. early-career devs mentored

    Global mentorship, DE&I leadership, and industry influence

    Founded and led a mentorship pod for women and gender-diverse Rioters on an unannounced product, the blueprint of which is being used across other identity groups at Riot. Mentored 10+ early-career developers, including multiple at-risk performers who moved into Successful ratings. International speaker at 5+ global conferences (SDCC, WonderCon, SINFO, Misk, Game Access), championing accessible, sustainable, values-driven game development.

  3. raised for dogs in need

    Raised $14,000 for Animal Care Zone

    For my 30th birthday, I led a social media campaign that raised the most money Animal Care Zone, a nonprofit saving at-risk dogs on euthanasia lists in Los Angeles, had ever received from a single event.

Community.

Instant photo of Abby sitting on a kitchen floor, hugging a small rescue dog
Abby in an Animal Care Zone T-shirt at a rooftop event at sunset
A black dog in an ADOPT vest at an Animal Care Zone adoption event, with Abby smiling behind
Abby volunteering at a COVID-19 vaccine site in an orange vest with a UC San Diego Health Observer badge and a mask with ABBY written on it
Abby sitting in a park, holding a fluffy black-and-white dog
Abby squinting into a selfie beside a black dog on a pink leash

The world gets better when we invest in people.

Mentorship & games advocacy

  • Take This

    Accelerate Program mentor · 2025–26

    Mentoring early-career professionals at the intersection of games and mental health.

  • BAFTA North America

    Member · 2025– now

    Professional mentorship and cultural programming for the global games community.

  • Girls Make Games

    Speaker & judge · 2025

    Guest speaker and Demo Day judge for a global summer program supporting young women in game dev.

  • Women in Games International

    Ambassador · 2022– now

    Supporting global equity initiatives for women and marginalized voices in interactive media.

  • IGDA

    Mentor · 2021– now

    One-on-one mentorship for aspiring and mid-career game developers.

Education & youth work

  • 9 Dots

    Curriculum consultant · 2024–25

    Curriculum development for a nonprofit providing equitable STEM education to underserved youth.

  • Traveling Stories

    Reading mentor · 2021–23

    Reading weekly with young students during the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • Sunset Cliffs Aikido

    Instructor · 2014–16

    Teaching kids martial arts, with a focus on confidence, discipline, and non-violent conflict resolution.

  • Aikido in Fredericksburg

    Assistant instructor · 2011–14

    Youth martial arts classes focused on health and personal growth.

Disaster relief & animal welfare

  • Animal Care Zone

    Board of Directors · 2024– now

    Emergency support and fostering for dogs on 48-hour euthanasia lists in Los Angeles County.

  • American Red Cross

    Disaster relief volunteer · 2025

    Support and logistical aid during the Los Angeles wildfires.

  • UC San Diego Health

    COVID-19 vaccine runner & observer · 2021

    Supporting vaccination site operations during the peak of the pandemic.

  • LA Animal Services

    Community volunteer · 2024– now

    Fostering, community outreach, and pet adoption events for local shelters.

Wanna chat?

And if you’ve been part of that journey, whether as a teammate, a player, or someone cheering from the sidelines: thank you. None of this would’ve been possible without the people I’ve been lucky enough to work and grow alongside.

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