GOAL! Drexel’s Saphead Studios Brings "PhillyBall" To Local Sports Bars

As Philadelphia prepares to host matches for the global soccer tournament in 2026, international eyes are fixed on the pitch. But while the world’s best compete on the pitch, a group of Drexel University student-entrepreneurs is seizing the moment to showcase the city’s creative and technical grit.

Saphead Studios LLC, an indie studio born within the Entrepreneurial Game Studio (EGS) at Drexel’s Westphal College of Media Arts & Design, is a prime example of a “Drexel-made” startup moving from classroom theory to professional execution. Founded in 2023 by Akintoye Ilo, the studio includes Prasin Shrestha, Owen Miller, Jacob Stratton, Zachary Centracchio, Zachary Spindel, and Cooper Gordon. Following the successful Steam release of their horror game, Crow Hollow, the team is now channeling the city’s electric atmosphere into their latest venture: PhillyBall.

A high-energy, multiplayer soccer party game, PhillyBall is a digital love letter to Philadelphia. Players represent their chosen nations while utilizing power-ups inspired by iconic local cuisine, with matches set against the backdrops of beloved city landmarks.

Philly (and the US) is turning 250 right when the World Cup is happening. So we wanted to make a game that celebrated the sport and Philly together to show that games can be fun and be a cultural piece. — Prasin Shrestha

The team isn’t just stopping at software. To lower the barrier of entry for casual fans, Saphead Studios is bringing the game to the streets by refurbishing vintage arcade cabinets to be installed across local sports bars and fan zones during the tournament. By placing the game directly in the path of sports enthusiasts, they are bypassing the friction of app stores and creating a physical touchpoint for their brand.

This evolution from software to hardware introduces a new tier of engineering complexity. Managing intricate wiring and recalibrating gameplay for tactile controls has required a multidisciplinary effort. Supported by Westphal Program Director Rob Lloyd, the team collaborated with Max Gruber, product design ’26, who is leading the physical refurbishment of the vintage arcade cabinets, and Dylan Ugel, music industry ‘26, who composed the game’s custom background music.

Much of this development has been anchored by the Entrepreneurial Game Studio (EGS)—a Westphal incubation studio that has helped students produce and publish games for more than a decade.

EGS has been our biggest help. They have provided us with lab space to work, mentorship, and multiple opportunities to showcase our games. Our advisor, Tony Rowe, has been mentoring Saphead for the past three years, and PhillyBall is our third game under his guidance. — Prasin Shrestha

This project highlights how Drexel serves as a university-wide incubator for talent. While programs like Dragon Launch Philly—a partnership between the Close School, UPBI and Coca-Cola—are working to empower local community entrepreneurs during the World Cup, students like the Saphead team are simultaneously proving that Drexel’s internal resources are just as vital to the city’s innovation engine. Events like the “Proving Ground” pop-up provide these founders with the critical feedback needed to refine their products before they hit the market.

If this game picks up and gains traction, we would start looking for publishers/investors to fund us in fully realizing the potential of silly and social games. PhillyBall doesn’t have to be just a soccer or World Cup theme. This is a sports-crazed city. We believe that there is potential to capture the city’s heart with football, baseball, and basketball, too. — Prasin Shrestha

While these cabinets will serve as highlights of the 2026 festivities, they are built for longevity. Following the tournament, the units will be transformed into the “Drexel Tron”–a permanent installation within Westphal College. This will serve as a lasting reminder to future students that at Drexel, game development doesn’t just happen on a screen; it happens in the real world.