Over 25% of European game developers faced layoffs in 2024/25

More than one in four game developers in Europe experienced layoffs over the past year, with over 10% of those still searching for new roles.

That’s the key finding from the latest Big Games Industry Employment Survey, conducted by career platform InGame Job and recruitment firm Values Value. and reported by Gamesindustry.biz.

Creative roles such as game designers, artists, and QA specialists were hit hardest by layoffs, while professionals in analytics, HR, and top management reported the highest sense of job security. For many, the instability has been enough to push them out of the industry altogether — 13% of respondents said they left games entirely in 2025, with marketing staff showing the highest exit rate at 24%.

Voluntary job changes also dropped sharply, from 23.2% in 2024 to 17.5% this year, while involuntary unemployment rose. Around 15% of respondents are still looking for work, and programmers in particular reported long job hunts, with nearly one in five saying it took them a year or more to find a new role.

The survey also highlighted stark salary discrepancies between EU and non‑EU countries. Unity developers were singled out as particularly affected, with salaries reportedly dropping by almost half due to a lack of open positions. Entry‑level and mid‑level specialists also reported declining satisfaction, citing salary freezes, reduced bonuses, and slower career progression.

Diversity and inclusion efforts also appear to be slipping. In 2023, over half of respondents said their company had no dedicated D&I specialist. That figure has since increased by 67%, suggesting many employers still don’t prioritize structured inclusion initiatives.

One area of growth is AI adoption. The share of developers using AI and finding it helpful has doubled in the past two years, reaching 63% in the EU and 69% in non‑EU regions. Meanwhile, the number of people who refuse to use AI has dropped by more than a third since 2023.