Values Value and InGame Job Launch 10th Annual Survey Tracking Global Games Industry Employment

Why It Matters

The data provides the most comprehensive benchmark for compensation and workforce dynamics, guiding studios, talent, and policymakers amid AI disruption and ongoing layoffs.

Key Takeaways

• Tenth annual survey captures global game development labour trends.
• Salaries, bonuses, hiring, layoffs, AI adoption analyzed.
• Survey open until June 1; results previewed at Gamescom Dev.
• Partners include Mellow, Scorewarrior, Tribe, gamescom dev, DevGAMM.
• Findings will inform industry decisions during AI and workforce shifts.

Pulse Analysis

The Big Games Industry Employment Survey has become a cornerstone of workforce intelligence since its inception a decade ago. By partnering with InGame Job, Values Value leverages a network of developers, publishers, and service providers to collect granular data from thousands of respondents across continents. This tenth edition marks the most extensive longitudinal dataset available, allowing analysts to compare year‑over‑year shifts in hiring practices, compensation structures, and regional talent flows. Such continuity is rare in a sector where rapid technological change often outpaces formal research.

This year’s questionnaire zeroes in on compensation, bonuses, and the volatile dynamics of hiring versus layoffs, reflecting the industry’s response to macro‑economic pressures and the surge of AI tools in development pipelines. By quantifying AI adoption rates alongside employee satisfaction scores, the survey offers a rare cross‑section of productivity gains and morale risks. The inclusion of career‑mobility metrics also sheds light on talent migration between studios, regions, and emerging indie ecosystems, helping firms calibrate recruitment strategies in an increasingly competitive talent market.

Stakeholders will receive an early preview at Gamescom Dev in August, followed by a comprehensive November report that promises actionable insights for studio leadership, investors, and policy makers. Benchmark salaries and layoff trends can inform budgeting cycles, while AI adoption data assists product managers in forecasting skill‑set requirements. Moreover, the survey’s independent methodology reinforces its credibility, positioning it as a reference point for contract negotiations and talent retention programs. As the games sector navigates post‑pandemic recovery and AI‑driven transformation, this data set will likely shape strategic decisions for years to come.