The video game industry is a fickle and restless entity, doomed to eternal change. The organizers of the Game Developers Conference (GDC) keep their finger on the pulse of the industry.
Image Source: Steam (RATEA XDARK)
In the 15th annual survey State of the Game Industry featured more than 2,600 industry professionals around the world who answered a series of questions about layoffs, AI and other aspects of the workplace.
For example, over the past two years, 34% of respondents overall and 39% in the US have been laid off (28% / 33% a year earlier). Of those laid off, more than half (54%/59%) are still unemployed.
More than 80% of respondents are concerned about their future in the industry (image source: Electronic Arts)
40% of respondents use AI-based tools (4% more than in 2025). The most active are developers of shareware (58%) and mobile games (70%). In 27% of cases, the use of AI is imposed, in 3% it is required.
Areas of use of AI include brainstorming (73%), data analysis (62%), code generation (56%), editing (42%), prototyping (37%), concept art creation (22%), promotional materials (11%) and release content (8%).
Image source: Build a Rocket Boy
Other notable metrics from the GDC report:
81% of developers are preparing games for PC, 45% for PS5, 37% for Xbox Series X and S; another 10% / 8% are already working on projects for future PlayStation/Xbox, respectively; the most popular game engines among respondents were Unreal Engine (35%) and Unity (28%); overtime has not gone away – 86% of those surveyed had to work more than 40 hours a week at least once over the past year; 16% of developers were persuaded or forced to work overtime; mental health of 65% of respondents was affected by work; 32% of respondents agreed that crunch and layoffs have a negative impact on mental well-being; 80% of developers in the United States support the idea of creating a trade union, 55% are ready to join one, and 15% are already members.
“For many in this industry, work is not just a living, but a calling. They are making their long-time dream come true. However, there are those for whom this dream is gradually dying,” concluded survey director Beth Elderkin.
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