The media has been flooded with news of job layoffs in the video game industry over the past few months, from multiple studios. It’s attention grabbing, shocking and is affecting the industry in a seismic way. We won’t be the same industry once this round of layoffs are done. The unofficial story to the recent DICE awards was ‘survive until 25’. While these stories grab attention and rightly highlight the difficulties within the industry, they often miss the human reality that's emerging amidst the upheaval.
Behind the scenes, amidst the uncertainty, there's a different narrative unfolding—one of resilience, support, and camaraderie. As someone navigating the job market in the gaming industry, I've been struck by the generosity and solidarity of my peers.
It's amazing to witness people, some of them high-ranking figures within their companies, offering their time and expertise freely to those in need. From lending a sympathetic ear to offering invaluable advice and guidance, these gestures of support are invaluable during uncertain times. I’ve had multiple people help me on my journey to the next stage of my career. I’m truly grateful for their help, advice, job advertisements, roadmap plans and general support. I’ve been laid off 8 times in my career and this is the first time I’ve wanted to keep doing the exact same thing regardless of the struggles that have been put upon me. The people who have reached out and helped me are a huge part of that.
The video games community has been on top form as individuals go out of their way to share job opportunities and promote each other's work on social media sites such as Twitter, Discord or LinkedIn. Whether it's sharing suitable job listings or showcasing portfolios, these acts of kindness are incredibly valuable to people looking for work. It’s clear to me that social media is a better place when people are championing others and lifting them up as an act of service.
Sometimes, this industry feels like we all share something special that those in other industries can’t quite understand. It’s almost like we are all bonded over this collective grief and upheaval. The video games industry has what market analysts would call a correction every few years, so my advice if you ‘survive until 25’ is to understand that for better or worse, this is going to happen again in the future.
As we navigate through these uncertain times, let's remember the strength we find in lifting each other up and in building a more resilient and supportive industry together. I’d be very grateful if anyone reading this would like to share their stories where people have been generous and supportive in this difficult time.
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