Market (Overall)·Updated Mar 17, 2026 by Perforce
Talent acquisition and retention has overtaken funding as the industry's primary challenge, cited by 32% of developers as their leading hurdle.
Development velocity is a critical issue for AAA studios, with 49% of respondents identifying time-related bottlenecks and lengthy build times as their greatest operational obstacle.
Unreal Engine is the industry's leading game engine with 57% usage, while Perforce Helix Core has become the standard for version control, utilized by 73% of developers.
Interest in immersive technology has waned, as developer engagement in VR projects dropped from 28% in 2022 to 13% in 2023.
PC remains the dominant development platform at 90% usage, with 45% of studios now choosing to self-publish their titles.
Generative AI is identified as the most anticipated technological advancement, while the industry is simultaneously shifting focus toward reducing 'crunch' culture and prioritizing original gameplay over aggressive monetization.
Talent acquisition and retention has overtaken funding as the industry's primary challenge, cited by 32% of developers as their leading hurdle.
Development velocity is a critical issue for AAA studios, with 49% of respondents identifying time-related bottlenecks and lengthy build times as their greatest operational obstacle.
Unreal Engine is the industry's leading game engine with 57% usage, while Perforce Helix Core has become the standard for version control, utilized by 73% of developers.
Interest in immersive technology has waned, as developer engagement in VR projects dropped from 28% in 2022 to 13% in 2023.
PC remains the dominant development platform at 90% usage, with 45% of studios now choosing to self-publish their titles.
Generative AI is identified as the most anticipated technological advancement, while the industry is simultaneously shifting focus toward reducing 'crunch' culture and prioritizing original gameplay over aggressive monetization.