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The video game industry is going through a challenging period filled with contrasts. On one hand, it’s a great time for players, who have received outstanding titles in recent years. On the other hand, developers have been significantly affected by waves of layoffs that have impacted various companies, regardless of their size.
A recent survey reveals that many developers are disappointed with the current state of the industry. For this reason, they are seeking new jobs outside of video games, as the sector is in a crisis that continuously affects its creatives.
Developers are leaving the video game industry due to labor crisis
2023 was a tough year for developers, as nearly 10,000 people lost their jobs in the industry. Unfortunately, this trend intensified at the beginning of 2024. By January of this year, there were already over 5,000 creatives laid off, and the number has only continued to rise.
In recent months, Xbox laid off 2,250 employees, while PlayStation dismissed 900 workers from several of its studios. The same has happened to smaller companies, some of which have been forced to close their doors due to a lack of budget and opportunities.
According to a survey conducted by Aftermath with tech sector workers, developers are unhappy with the current state of the video game industry. Most of them lost their jobs in recent years and have decided to seek alternatives outside this field.
Some developers, who remained anonymous, shared that they pursued other careers or took up jobs unrelated to video games, such as chefs, bicycle repairers, etc.
Many of them distanced themselves from the industry not only because of the waves of layoffs and the instability present today, but also because they were victims of toxic behaviors and harassment at work. Additionally, they fear the effects that artificial intelligence could have on the industry in the coming years.
“The games industry is just such a mess”, she says. “There’s way too much enthusiasm around generative AI and generally scammy vibes coming from the C-suite at these companies. Creators and developers are just being abused left and right. The community is amazing but the management is awful. I’m also disillusioned with tech more generally right now, and am just not sure where to go from here,” said a former developer.
“I was very good at what I did. I was a great designer, I was a great design manager, I really deeply understand player behavior, player needs and the business of games. There is a joy in doing something you are really good at and I miss that feeling. But I feel an incredible freedom not having the whims of some tech exec be in control of my livelihood for the first time in a decade,” another creative expressed.