Hearing of video game industry layoffs is, unfortunately, becoming all too familiar lately. In GDC’s State of the Game Industry report for November 2026, they released their findings on a survey done with over 2,600 industry professionals in 69 countries. The full report covers multiple topics alongside layoffs, like generative AI, engines, business trends, and more.
Game Industry Professionals Report on Layoffs Experience Over the Last Few Years
Of the 2,600 respondents, results showed that 34% of them had been laid off in the past two years. In just the United States, this number jumps to 39%. Some even experienced multiple layoffs within the last year with 20% reporting more than one. A few of the recent layoffs we’ve seen lately include XBOX, EA, and Skydance among others.
Game industry professionals have expressed their frustration with the current job market, one respondent stating, “I’ve been laid off four times in a row. The game industry left me.” Even those still employed have lost confidence in the industry, a game design contributor shares, “I do not know how much longer I will be able to work in games.”
Out of all the participants who said they had been laid off, 54% are still on the hunt for a new job. This isn’t for lack of effort as 27% of all respondents reached over 100 applications sent. As 25% say their layoff has happened within the last 3 months, it doesn’t seem to be improving.
What do you think the future of the gaming job market will look like? Let us know in the comments below and in the official Insider Gaming Discord.
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