The International Game Developers Association (IGDA), a nonprofit professional association for video game developers, calls on gaming studio leaders to prioritize sustainability to avoid video game industry layoffs in a recent open letter published on April 11, 2024.
In an open letter posted on its website, IGDA urges gaming studios to “implement sustainable measures within their organizations” in light of the massive layoff trends that have recently plagued the video gaming industry.
“With more than 8,700 game developers affected by layoffs this year, the gravity of this situation and its impact on the industry cannot be overstated,” IGDA’s statement reads.
IGDA’s open letter comes right after a huge chunk of the video game industry workforce had been decimated in recent years with a series of layoffs since 2023.
Huge layoff trends happen in a lot of industries every now and then, the video game industry included. In 2024 alone, there are at least 249 tech companies with no less than 59, 000 recorded layoffs according to a layoffs tracker.
Meanwhile, in the video game industry, the start of 2024 sees the layoff trend continue with the likes of Sony Interactive Entertainment axing eight percent of its employee numbers and Riot Games seeing as much as ten percent of their workforce gone.
As such, the International Game Developers Association expresses significant concern, particularly regarding the stability of careers and the overall industry landscape.
“Talented individuals, particularly those from historically marginalized communities, may seek opportunities beyond the games industry due to the instability, leading to skill gaps and underrepresentation of various demographics,” IGDA stated.
In light of the current mass layoff trend, IGDA suggests a list of what video game studios can do to develop sustainable practices within their own organizations. Here is the list of their suggestions:
To add to that, IGDA also states they are willing to work with studio leaders and other decision-makers from video game companies in creating resources they can use to cultivate sustainable growth, mitigate employee layoffs, and create a better forecast of their company’s future as well as the game industry’s.
“Together, we can navigate the current challenges facing developers and the industry at large with resilience and empathy while building a sustainable future for games and all those who create them,” IGDA suggests in their open letter.
Founded in 1994, the International Game Developers Association (IGDA) is a nonprofit professional association for video game developers, established by video game industry veteran Ernest Adams. It comprises a global network of communities and individuals from all fields of game development
Whether it’s a seasoned industry veteran or a fresh grad starting your career in game development, IGDA offers tools and platforms for game developers to come together, exchange ideas, and collaborate on projects. For more information regarding what they do, you can visit the official IGDA website.
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