Skip to main content

Employment reports and market data

680 documents·116 writers·3,509 charts and tables

Documents

Cover of Impacto de la aplicación de sistemas de incentivos fiscales en la industria de videojuegos: España
Report159 pages

Impacto de la aplicación de sistemas de incentivos fiscales en la industria de videojuegos: España

The analysis evaluates how a targeted fiscal-incentive regime would reshape Spain’s video-game industry, arguing that a 20% corporate-tax credit for developers could expand sector turnover from €1.435 billion in 2022 to roughly €5.5 billion by 2028—a compound annual growth rate of about 27%—and raise full-time employment from…

  • Implementing a 20% corporate tax credit for developers is projected to grow Spain’s video game sector turnover from €1.435 billion in 2022 to €5.5 billion by 2028, representing a 27% compound annual growth rate.
  • The proposed fiscal incentives are expected to increase full-time employment in the industry from under 10,000 jobs to more than 23,000 by 2030.
  • The tax regime is forecast to be net-positive for the Treasury, generating €1.9 billion in direct contributions plus an additional €1.0 billion through reinvestment and consumer spending.
AEVIJun 2023
Cover of The Harsh Truth About Game Development
18 min
Thomas Brush18 min

The Harsh Truth About Game Development

The professional landscape of game development is defined by three significant challenges that impact both AAA and independent creators.

  • The vast majority of independent games fail to achieve financial viability, with a significant percentage of titles generating less than $10,000 in total revenue.
  • Sustainable success in the independent sector requires treating projects as commercial products rather than hobbyist experiments, often necessitating multiple development cycles to achieve stability.
  • Game development in AAA environments is highly specialized, often relegating developers to granular, repetitive tasks like tool creation or specific asset modeling rather than holistic creative work.
Thomas BrushMay 2023
Cover of NHK Enterprise's 'Kami-Ge Creator Evolution' Succeeds Japan Game Awards 'Amateur' and 'U18' Divisions
Report3 pages

NHK Enterprise's 'Kami-Ge Creator Evolution' Succeeds Japan Game Awards 'Amateur' and 'U18' Divisions

NHK Enterprise is launching the “Kami-Ge Creator Evolution” contest as a dedicated platform for nurturing the next generation of Japanese game developers, and from 2024 it will incorporate the Japan Game Awards’ Amateur and U18 divisions.

  • NHK Enterprise has integrated the Japan Game Awards’ Amateur and U18 divisions into its 'Kami-Ge Creator Evolution' contest, effective from 2024.
  • The 2024 competition timeline spans from February 1 to a final event in December, featuring a multi-stage evaluation process including video submissions in July and game submissions in October.
  • The contest is open to all applicants regardless of age, nationality, or organizational status, with specific categories for general amateur creators and those aged 18 or younger.
CESA – Computer Entertainment Supplier's AssociationMay 2023
Cover of Founding Funds, Paths to Partner, and Glass Ceilings
62 min
Naavik62 min

Founding Funds, Paths to Partner, and Glass Ceilings

The venture capital landscape within the gaming industry remains characterized by significant gender disparity, underscored by the fact that female founders secured only 1.9% of total venture funding in 2022.

  • Female founders secured only 1.9% of total venture funding in the gaming industry in 2022, highlighting a persistent and significant gender disparity.
  • Evidence indicates that increased gender diversity within investment teams correlates with higher fund returns and more profitable exits, positioning inclusivity as a driver of financial performance.
  • To mitigate internal bias, venture firms are increasingly adopting structured operational frameworks, including data-driven investment memos and standardized performance reviews.
NaavikMay 2023
Cover of "Soft" Skills Are Hard! Acing the Non-Technical Interview Questions
28 min
Game Developers Conference28 min

"Soft" Skills Are Hard! Acing the Non-Technical Interview Questions

Effective interview preparation requires balancing technical proficiency with strong interpersonal communication skills.

  • Treat behavioral questions as strategic opportunities to demonstrate professional maturity and self-awareness rather than as obstacles to be navigated.
  • Structure responses to questions about past failures or conflicts using a three-part framework: describe the situation, explain the outcome, and detail the specific lessons learned.
  • Create a master document of key achievements and stories from your resume, focusing on keywords to trigger authentic narratives instead of memorizing rigid scripts.
Game Developers ConferenceMay 2023
Cover of Developer Satisfaction Survey 2023: Diversity Report
Report2 pages

Developer Satisfaction Survey 2023: Diversity Report

The 2023 Developer Satisfaction Survey provides a comprehensive demographic and professional profile of the global game development workforce.

  • The game industry experienced significant instability in 2023, resulting in 10,500 layoffs despite 88% of developers relying on the sector for their total income.
  • Workplace diversity remains stagnant, with only 28% of developers perceiving an increase in industry diversity over the last two years.
  • Infrastructure for equity and inclusion is lacking, as 28% of employers have no formal programs, and only 38% of workplaces maintain a formal complaint procedure.
International Game Developers’ AssociationApr 2023
Cover of Panel: Tutorial Mode: What Every Developer Needs To Know Before Joining the Games Industry.
31 min
PocketGamer.biz31 min

Panel: Tutorial Mode: What Every Developer Needs To Know Before Joining the Games Industry.

The modern game development industry is defined by a unique intersection of creative vision and technical rigor, operating within a high-pressure, hit-driven market.

  • Success in the modern game industry requires a balance of creative vision, technical rigor, and professional resilience to navigate a high-pressure, hit-driven market.
  • Developers must prioritize cross-disciplinary empathy and the ability to integrate feedback without ego to foster the collaborative environment necessary for innovation.
  • Commercial viability now demands expertise in marketing, team dynamics, and genre-specific mechanics, as a compelling concept alone is insufficient for success.
PocketGamer.bizFeb 2023
Cover of Living on 1HP: Early Research into Health and Performance in Esports
60 min
Game Developers Conference60 min

Living on 1HP: Early Research into Health and Performance in Esports

The esports industry currently faces a critical deficit in peer-reviewed, replicable health data, forcing practitioners to rely on anecdotal evidence or analogies borrowed from traditional sports and office ergonomics.

  • The esports industry currently lacks a foundation of peer-reviewed, replicable health data, forcing practitioners to rely on anecdotal evidence rather than specialized, evidence-based frameworks.
  • Musculoskeletal issues affecting the back and neck are significantly more prevalent among professional players than carpal tunnel syndrome, which is frequently misdiagnosed in this population.
  • Effective health interventions for esports must be holistic, integrating ergonomics, consistent physical movement, and mental health support rather than focusing solely on reactive injury treatment.
Game Developers ConferenceFeb 2023
Cover of Keynote: Workplace Connection & Community.
18 min
PocketGamer.biz18 min

Keynote: Workplace Connection & Community.

This presentation outlines strategies for fostering workplace connection and community within the gaming industry, specifically drawing on the experiences of Product Madness.

  • Product Madness maintains organizational culture during rapid growth and remote work by focusing on five pillars: storytelling, common language, symbolism, rituals, and cultural ambassadors.
  • The company established five core guiding principles to create a common language that bridges the gap between global studios and remote employees.
  • To foster a unified identity, the organization implemented visual symbols including a redesigned company logo and branded learning materials.
PocketGamer.bizFeb 2023
Cover of Employment and Career Development of Game Developers 2022
Report47 pages

Employment and Career Development of Game Developers 2022

The Japanese game industry is characterized by a workforce primarily composed of male university graduates in their mid-thirties, predominantly concentrated within large enterprises in the Kanto region.

  • The Japanese game industry workforce is primarily composed of male university graduates in their mid-thirties, with engineers serving as the core labor force earning an average annual income of 6.06 million yen.
  • Nearly 75% of game developers now operate in remote work settings, a shift that has improved perceived work-life balance but created new challenges for interpersonal collaboration and workplace support.
  • Significant salary disparities persist between large corporations and smaller firms, with executive, management, and technical artist roles commanding the highest compensation.
CESA – Computer Entertainment Supplier's AssociationFeb 2023
Cover of Things I Learned on My First Game
10 min
Extra Credits10 min

Things I Learned on My First Game

The primary purpose of this guidance is to provide junior game developers with a realistic framework for navigating the professional design landscape.

  • Prioritize disciplined iteration over constant innovation to avoid overwhelming players and disrupting established conventions.
  • Conduct thorough testing of UI layouts and system mechanics early in the development cycle to minimize costly rework by artists and programmers.
  • Accept that administrative tasks like managing documentation, spreadsheets, and wiki entries are essential for maintaining project momentum.
Extra CreditsJan 2023
Cover of Talent and the Art of Making Games: Sweden
Report36 pages

Talent and the Art of Making Games: Sweden

The Swedish games industry stands as a global powerhouse, yet its continued expansion is currently threatened by a persistent and widening talent gap.

  • The Swedish games industry faces a critical talent gap, with domestic educational institutions producing fewer than 50% of the graduates required to meet annual hiring demands.
  • International recruitment is essential to industry operations, as foreign nationals currently comprise between one-third and half of the total workforce.
  • Bureaucratic friction, specifically lengthy work permit processing and restrictive residency policies, acts as a primary barrier to scaling the workforce and maintaining global competitiveness.
The Swedish Games IndustryJan 2023

Writers

Related topics