ABOUT ME
I’ve spent my career at inflection points in interactive entertainment.
From early camera-based experimentation at PlayStation London Studio to narrative-driven VR at Maze Theory, I’ve worked where technology and storytelling collide. I’m driven by one question:
How does technology disappear and leave only presence?
I don’t build tech demos.
I build worlds that feel inhabited.
As Chief Creative Officer, I lead multidisciplinary teams across design, narrative, engineering and performance, aligning creative ambition with commercial reality.
"Technology is only interesting when it disappears"

Speaking & Media
I speak at global conferences on the future of immersive storytelling, from AAA console development to VR, XR, and AI-driven worlds.
My focus: how technology reshapes narrative, and how franchises evolve across platforms.
Global Conferences & Tech Forums
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E3 Playstaion Conference
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Wonderbook: Book of Spells (PlayStation)
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Eyepet - The Virtual Pet (PlayStation)
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Gamescom 2013- Storytelling in games (PlayStation)
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GDC – Generative AI in Game Worlds (with Amazon)
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EGX – Barclays Stage
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EGX – Peaky Blinders: The King’s Ransom
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MCM Comicon- London- Doctor Who
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WASD London – Peaky Blinders: The King’s Ransom
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PAX EAST- Boston
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La Biennale di Venezia- Venice Immersive
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Next World Forum – Riyadh
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London Tech Week
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GoTech World – Bucharest
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Pocket Gamer Connects (London & Digital)
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The STORYVERSE: Gaming Within the Metaverse
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Innovation & Technology Track
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Soft Launch / Publishing discussions
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Beyond Games: Transmedia Summit – Barbican
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Guildford.Games Festival
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NFT.NYC / NFT London – Gaming Track
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Vienna Design Week – SUBOTRON
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VR World Congress
Academic
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Alliance Manchester Business School
MBA Workshop – Design Thinking, Creativity & Co-Creation -
Royal Hollway - Story Future
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York University - Immersive Media
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Goldsmiths, University of London
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BAFTA - Augmented Reality
Broadcast & Podcasts
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One More Life Podcast (RadioTimes.com). Discussion on Doctor Who, immersive storytelling, and IP adaptation. https://www.radiotimes.com/technology/gaming/david-tennant-doctor-who-one-more-life-podcast
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Ruff Talk VR (PAX East Interview)
Video interview discussing Peaky Blinders VR development.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3f_bKc0vNI -
BeyondGames.biz Interview
SELECTED AWARDS & FESTIVAL RECOGNITION
Thief VR: Legacy of Shadow
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DICE Awards – Nominee
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AUSTXR Festival – Best Virtual Reality Gaming
Infinite Inside
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TIGA Awards – Best VR/AR/XR/MR Game
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TIGA Awards – Best Puzzle Game
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TIGA Awards – Best Creativity
Peaky Blinders: The King's Ransom
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Official Selection – Venice Immersive
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VR Awards – Finalist, Best AR/VR Game
Doctor Who: The Edge of Time
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Official Selection – Venice Immersive
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Raindance Immersive – Finalist, Best Game
Doctor Who: The Lonely Assassins
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Pocket Gamer Awards – Finalist, People's Choice
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Official Selection – London Games Festival
Wonderbook: Book of Spells
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Develop Awards – Winner, Most Original Game
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Develop Awards – Winner, Audio Accomplishment
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BAFTA Awards – Nominee, Game Innovation
EyePet
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BAFTA Awards – Nominee, Best New IP / Visual Arts
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BAFTA Awards – Nominee, Family & Social
The Chainsmokers - Paris VR
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Raindance Award – Best Branded Experience
Maze Theory
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VR Awards – Finalist, Rising VR Company of the Year (2019)




Selected Press Coverage
Edge Magazine — Issue #401 (2024)
Feature Coverage: Infinite Inside
Available in print (Issue #401).
PC Gamer (2025)
Thief VR producer says VR is a natural fit for an immersive sim.
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/vr/thief-vr-producer-says-vr-is-a-natural-fit-for-an-immersive-sim
GameSpot (2022)
Peaky Blinders VR Game Will Be Authentic To Show, Developer Promises.
https://www.gamespot.com/articles/peaky-blinders-vr-game-will-be-authentic-to-show-developer-promises/1100-6500911
Industry & Business Media
GamesBeat (2024)
Maze Theory’s Infinite Inside mixed-reality debut
Interview on cross-platform MR strategy and immersive design direction.
https://gamesbeat.com/maze-theorys-mysterious-infinite-inside-mixed-reality-game-debuts-on-july-12
MCV/Develop (2022)
Q&A — Russell Harding on Peaky Blinders: The King’s Ransom.
https://mcvuk.com/business-news/qa-russell-harding-chief-creative-officer-at-maze-theory-on-peaky-blinders-the-kings-ransom
Meta Blog (2025)
Thief VR: Legacy of Shadow — Developer Interview
https://www.meta.com/blog/thief-vr-legacy-of-shadow-interview
Specialist XR & VR Media
The Sixth Axis (2024)
How Infinite Inside blends augmented and virtual reality.
https://www.thesixthaxis.com/2024/07/05/how-infinite-inside-blends-augmented-and-virtual-reality-on-quest-vision-pro-and-beyond
UploadVR (2022–2023)
Peaky Blinders: The King’s Ransom — Developer Interviews & Previews
https://www.uploadvr.com/peaky-blinders-vr-interview
XR Must Magazine (2024)
Interview – Russ Harding (The Infinite Inside)
https://xrmust.com/xrmagazine/russ-harding-the-infinite-inside
TechStomper (2023)
Peaky Blinders VR Interview
https://techstomper.com/peaky-blinders-the-kings-ransom-interview-maze-theory-cco-russ-harding-speaks

