adminGames industry redundancies are affecting professionals across regions and roles, with many workers questioning whether to continue in the sector. A survey of 1,000 industry professionals found that 44% had considered leaving because of redundancies, while job security, pay and future opportunities were also prominent concerns.
Image credit: Olumuyiwa Sobowale via Unsplash
Games industry redundancies: the survey findings
The annual Salary & Satisfaction survey gathered responses from people in the UK, Europe, North America, APAC and MENA between November 12, 2025 and February 24, 2026. Overall, 22% of respondents said they had been made redundant in the previous 12 months, and a further 12% said they had experienced redundancy more than a year earlier.
Reduced investor funding, budget cuts and a shortage of projects were identified as the leading reasons for job cuts. Only 35% said they or their studio had been unaffected. Another 28% reported that their studio had made layoffs, although they had not personally lost their job.
Practical takeaway: These figures describe survey respondents, not every worker in the industry. Professionals assessing their own situation may find it useful to review current openings and keep a record of transferable skills, while employers can use the findings to understand workforce concerns.
How long are laid-off workers taking to find jobs?
Among respondents who had been laid off, 45% had found another job by the time of the survey. However, just 27% of those with new roles said they felt secure in their position.
Reported job-search timelines varied:
- 21% found work in less than a month.
- 33% took between one and three months.
- 20% took between four and six months.
- 19% took between seven and 12 months.
- 8% spent more than a year looking.
Art was named among the areas most affected by redundancies. The survey also highlighted senior positions, companies with more than 250 employees, and professionals with 10 or more years of experience. The UK was identified as the most impacted country. Because job-search periods differ considerably, people planning a move may want to consider both immediate vacancies and the possibility of a longer search.
UK job plans, relocation and pay concerns
In the UK, 76% of respondents said they would be or were considering looking for work outside the games industry in 2026. Across key regions, professionals cited job security, compensation and access to more challenging projects as reasons to explore new roles.
More than half of respondents would consider relocating for a role offering a higher salary and a relocation package. At the same time, job security and living costs remained concerns, and 38% said they had turned down offers because the relocation package was inadequate. For anyone weighing a move, comparing the full package—not salary alone—with relocation and local living costs can help clarify the trade-offs.
The UK accounted for 43% of survey responses. Reported average salaries there were £199,833 for C-suite roles, £110,442 for directors and £30,357 for junior positions. Director-level programming roles had an average salary of £130,963, while business operations directors averaged £112,495.
AI concerns and the industry workforce
Nearly half of respondents said they were concerned about greater use of AI in games. Some 64% believed it negatively affected creativity. The most frequently raised concerns involved job security, creative authenticity and ethical use, while respondents also pointed to potential gains in efficiency, cost savings and output from smaller teams.
More than half said they or their company had adopted AI tools, but just 29% reported that their company had ethical AI policies or guidelines. Clear internal guidance can help teams understand how tools may be used and address concerns about creative work and responsible use.
The surveyed workforce was 74% male. The largest age groups were 25 to 34, at 39%, and 35 to 44, at 37%. Permanent employees made up 66% of respondents, and almost half had more than 10 years of industry experience.
What the findings mean for games industry redundancies
The survey points to continuing uncertainty: redundancies have affected many respondents, finding another role can take time, and some workers remain uneasy even after securing employment. Concerns about AI, pay and relocation add to the pressures shaping career decisions. For professionals and employers alike, the findings underline the importance of considering job security and working conditions alongside salary and project opportunities when responding to games industry redundancies.
