Uriel Cruz

About

Gameplay Architect

Technical Designer specialized in Unreal Engine 5 (C++, Blueprints, GAS), with a proven track record across AA and AAA development. I bridge design vision and technical execution — from rapid prototype to polished, shipping-ready feature — with particular depth in combat systems, multi-phase boss encounters, and advanced locomotion built on Motion Matching.

Core focus is feature ownership: taking a system from concept through TDD, prototyping, and production hardening, while keeping the architecture modular and reusable across teams.

Core Focus

Feature Ownership 3Cs & Player Mechanics Boss & Combat Design UE5 Architecture

Years in games

Studios

AAA

Track record

UE5

Specialized

Languages

SpanishNative / Bilingual

EnglishFull Professional

CatalanProfessional Working

FrenchLimited Working

Experience

Career Timeline

January 2026 — Present · 9 months

Visual Dynamics Studio Current

Independent Game Developer

Developing original games on my own: architecture, C++/Blueprint gameplay programming, and technical design end to end
Covering the full production cycle: prototyping, 3C systems, gameplay mechanics, and optimization
Open to collaborations, contract work, and offers

Projects: Fragmented Iron, Hypoxia · UE5, C++, Blueprints, Game Design

April 2025 — October 2026 · 1 yr 6 mo

GRIP Studios

Prague, Czechia

Technical Designer (UE5)

April 2026 — October 2026 · 6 months

Spearheaded technical design for primary 3C systems, player mechanics, and interactive features from concept to production
Authored comprehensive Technical Design Documents (TDDs) and built modular, scalable gameplay frameworks
Partnered with lead designers, animation, and engineering to align technical execution with game vision

Projects: Unannounced AAA Titles · UE5, C++, Blueprints, GAS, Perforce

Technical Designer (UE5)

April 2025 — March 2026 · 1 year

Designed and scripted complex multi-phase boss fights and AI logic in Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis using C++ and Blueprints
Developed high-fidelity prototypes for combat, movement, and weapon systems across AAA unannounced titles
Debugged and optimized gameplay systems for target performance, authoring reusable TDDs for studio-wide adoption

Projects: Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis, Unannounced AAA Title · UE5, C++, Blueprints, GAS, Perforce

Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis

December 2023 — December 2024 · 1 yr 1 mo

DALOAR Studios

Valladolid, Spain

Technical Designer (UE5)

Designed and integrated a production-ready Motion Matching system and universal, context-aware parkour (climb, mantle, vault)
Implemented enhanced abilities using the Gameplay Ability System (GAS) with full network replication
Provided technical design support and GAS expertise for The Occultist

Projects: Unannounced AAA Title, The Occultist · UE5, C++, GAS, Motion Matching

The Occultist

November 2022 — June 2023 · 8 months

Orengi Games

Spain — Remote

Technical Designer (Unreal Engine)

Developed Blueprint/C++ interaction systems, state-based AI, level scripting, and editor utilities to streamline designer workflows
Implemented core combat mechanics, progression systems, and UI integration for Tears of Elara

Project: Tears of Elara · UE5, Blueprints, C++

Tears of Elara

January 2022 — March 2023 · 1 yr 3 mo

HechicerIA

Unreal Engine Developer

Led the technical migration of Current Anima from Unity to UE5, establishing new production pipelines, coding standards, and Perforce workflows
Trained and mentored the development team on Blueprint/C++ best practices and plugin integration

Project: Current Anima · UE5, Unity, C++, Blueprints

Current Anima — Trailer

2019

Early Background

Before games — software & web development

EverisSoftware Developer — backend development, testing and incident resolution using Java, SQL and XML

Oct 2019 – Jun 2020

VerkiaWeb Developer — full-stack web application design, development and testing

Mar 2019 – Jun 2019

Selected Work

Plugins

KD: Traversal Sense plugin debug visualization

Beta · Live on Fab

UE 5.7 – 5.8 · Windows · Plugin

KD: Traversal Sense

A lightweight, pure environment detection engine that gives a character's movement system full spatial awareness. Sensing only: no movement logic, no animation code, no dependencies.

Single-call query returning ledges, obstacle dimensions, wall vectors and airborne state
Top-surface snap: ledge targets land on the real top surface, not on the wall face
Guaranteed horizontal normals, ready to feed Motion Warping
Plugs into Motion Matching, GAS, custom movement systems or Blueprints
Part of the Kinetic Dynamics (KD) locomotion ecosystem