Amir Satvat’s Post

Tomorrow is Summer Games fest, but I want everyone watching that to remember how much hell the games industry has been through over the past 2 years. SO much that we have our own Wikipedia entry on it now. https://lnkd.in/gdHufBJt in short: over 20k jobs. I was one of those. I know many reading this are too. Many of the games you're going to see were made by studios affected by these layoffs. When it's excused as "necessary for growth", what we know that really means is that the stock didn't go up fast enough, so they inflated it by doing layoffs. If you look through that Wiki list, most of those places were/are profitable. They could afford to keep their people. But it wasn't *enough* for the stock price to have unlimited growth, so they were axed because shareholders think less people = more profits. They aren't capable of long term thinking. The people who make these games are some of the most self-sacrificial people you'll ever meet. For some reason, we're just so dedicated to making the best experiences we can, that we will put ourselves through ridiculous conditions like crunch, relocating our families, taking jobs with no benefits, taking low pay, working in toxic conditions, tolerating aggressively negative player feedback, and so on. People think working in games is fun and "so cool" and it is, but it's also a hell of a lot of work that rarely is acknowledged by the people playing them. So please, as you watch the barrage of advertisements tomorrow, take a moment to think about the developers who went through hell to get those made, and are still going through hell as I type this. And we're not even saving lives or risking our own like public workers or armed forces, we're just trying to give people fun experiences. It should be better than this. I hope for everyone's sake that it is, again.

The #videogame industry faced significant layoffs, with over 10,000 job losses in 2023 and an additional 6,000 in January 2024. Beyond concerns for developers, these layoffs could have repercussions for #gamers. Principal Analyst Liam Deane delves into the implications with Digital Trends Media Group - read here for insights: https://lnkd.in/g_dYFYvT #media #entertainment #gaming #gamedevelopment

I'm so sorry to report another games job cut, this time at Mighty Kingdom, as reported by the company itself and resulting in a "28% reduction in workforce" https://lnkd.in/eBBFa-Tj Here's where this puts us. I continue exposing these statistics regularly as a reminder of the human cost of these decisions: 100+ games layoffs in 2024 One games layoff situation on average every 1.3 days in 2024 (apologies for getting this inverted in the picture) Over 10,000 games layoffs in 2024 YTD Within ~450 cuts of hitting 2023's games layoff number...in May If you were in fact affected by these cuts, I have no words to express my feelings. However, our community has three resource "homes" built to help you: HOME 1 - 🔗 AMIRSATVAT.COM: Our hub offering 15 resources to help you find work, including a fully updated design. - 🔗 Games Org Support Posts: Find a template at AMIRSATVAT.COM (Category 4, Resource 10). If you can provide information from your team (with their consent), I’ll help edit and disseminate the final product, reaching 100,000+ people. These posts are highly effective in increasing visibility and we have done 96 of them. HOME 2 - 🔗 Please visit discord.gg/amirsatvat to join our Discord, a live extension of our community resources. With nearly 2,800 members, we are in an open-join phase. HOME 3 - 🔗 LinkedIn: Our community here includes nearly 87,000 members, with 1-3 daily posts offering support and career assistance in the games industry. To our broader community, your involvement makes a difference. Here’s how you can help: - Spread the word: Reshares and comments on this post amplify the visibility of these resources. - Offer support: Utilize the 13 ways listed on AMIRSATVAT.COM under "How You Can Help" to assist, or simply lend an ear or advice on our Discord server. - Join our movement: Volunteer with us at AMIRSATVAT.COM to support our colleagues in the games industry. Our network has facilitated over 1,800 jobs and 33,000 coaching conversations to date and has been visited by over 3,000,000 gamers lifetime. We're committed to providing daily encouragement and support during these challenging times. We will never stop fighting for you!

💭 What are your thoughts? The gaming industry has been experiencing layoffs in 2023 for several reasons, including: 💲 Overspending: 💲 According to IGN, overspending by developer studios is a factor in the layoffs. Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney has said that the company has been spending more money than it earns. 📈 Inflation: 📈 Increased inflation has made money more expensive, which means that companies need to reduce their expenditures. 😷 Pandemic-related factors: 😷 Some developers believe that the layoffs are due to the pandemic. As revenue returns to normal levels, many studios are facing harsh realities. 📆 Delayed release dates: 📆 The delay of many games in development means potential revenue sources are pushed back to 2024 or beyond. 👨💼 Labor issues: 👨💼 The industry has long been dealing with labor issues. ⬆ Rising costs: ⬆ Many AAA companies are either overcrowded or overspending. This could be due to rising costs, poor money management, or high salaries for CEOs. #gamingindustry #layoffs2023 #gamingnews #Layoffs #gamingjobs #workforcecorrection #2024 #gaminglayoffs2024 https://lnkd.in/grQVxSzr.

September 24, 2024 Games Layoff Forecast Update From September 15th to 24th, actual layoffs for the period starting July 7th increased from 1,699 to 1,785. The forecast dipped slightly from 2,590 to 2,469. The total layoffs (actuals + forecast) for the period July 7th to December 31st decreased from 4,289 to 4,254. I'm hoping we can avoid any further cuts. Even more so, I hope we can steer clear of any cuts that hit three digits. There are 98 days left in 2024. Let’s reach that December 2024 turning point. There has already been incomprehensible pain. Even if these "turnaround" figures are achieved, we will have had 34,533 cuts from 2022 to 2024 and 15,533 cuts this year. It's up to you games leaders.

If layoffs are boss battles, then these community leaders are crafting weapons to aid the impacted game developers. This is the next post in a series of the latest resources by frontline warriors of the gaming community. These are individuals who are providing a variety of resources for different fields of game development. And I truly believe that they are the real heroes helping the community when studios are straight up abandoning their game developers. Each one is working hard to provide value to game devs in their own ways. To get to the point, here is a list of the latest resources, especially for impacted professionals and anyone ready to break into the industry. Caitlin Cooke - One of the first ones to post game jobs as soon as they open up! The best part about her is that she frequently provides entry-level game jobs. You should follow her if you are an aspiring game dev looking to make your first breakthrough into this industry. https://lnkd.in/g_nJwher Alexander Rehm - Alexander regularly posts on different disciplines of the games industry. Here is his latest mega-post on Video Game IT jobs for now: https://lnkd.in/gd49JJSw Kelly Bender - Regular Narrative design tips for game writers from a hardcore industry veteran! https://lnkd.in/gdbpvDjx Jordan Mazer - Learn how to craft the perfect resume from his resources. Follow Jordan to learn the best techniques for making a crisp portfolio and for the best self-help tips on how to perform well during game studio interviews! https://lnkd.in/gjajUxDZ Ruty Rutenberg - Another gamedev enthusiast who is experienced in narrative and game design, with a list of people to follow if you are in the games industry. https://lnkd.in/gzBKRTNC Hailey Rojas - If you were recently impacted by the games industry’s layoffs, reach out to Hailey and get yourself added to her list of almost 500 folks facing the same problems as you. This list will reach recruiters and game studios who are currently hiring! https://lnkd.in/deYxzrpr Alex Gombos - A weekly series from Alex called #AskAlexAnything where she answers top queries in detail about how things function in the games industry! https://lnkd.in/gERB66Rh Willem Delventhal - Indie Game Academy founder, who runs this gamified online school for game developers! This is his latest expert resource on how to start if you are planning to build your own game. https://lnkd.in/gmdDAMfv Kat Craig - Her latest UI/UX and Visual Design game jobs resources! https://lnkd.in/gpj9ZGkY Kevin F. - A list of the latest openings in the games industry! https://lnkd.in/gzTG5ThM Ash C. - Her most recent post is a compilation of resources from the frontline warriors of this industry!  https://lnkd.in/gu_3KJRC Matt Barney - Dedicated job posts and regular hilarious yet meaningful insights into the games industry from a top recruiter! https://lnkd.in/gqQjwagY Matt Hearnden - Follow him to get unique tips on how to crush your gaming and tech interviews. #layoffsupport

Hey LinkedIn, In light of Gamescom and the industry coming together, I want to talk about hiring today. As we all know, layoffs are the norm right now and that's what gives gamescom such a bitter note this year. All over the world, highly talented people are losing their jobs because companies are mismanaging and sometimes living above their means for years. In many cases, studios or strategies fail due to a product that falls short of expectations... a very clear management mistake, no backup strategy, putting all their eggs in one basket, everything for profit and shareholders.Celebrating the industry that treats its employees and veterans like this is somehow a very strange feeling. Almost shameful. To those who are affected by the layoffs, I have only one real tip for you. If you are applying outside your home country, look at the culture in application processes, what is important in the countries? For example: Germany loves certificates and proof of ability, the USA loves elaborate stories about why you really want to work in company XY. It's a lot of effort, but it might help you to get the edge to get the job. I wish all of you out there, whether you're at Gamescom or affected by the layoffs, all the best!

Instability within the games industry continues to fuel support for unionization. Layoffs and working conditions, including increasing AI use, are just a few reasons some developers are pro-union. The full impact of 2023’s layoffs may not be obvious immediately, but the massive loss of jobs, and in some cases whole studios, as well as consolidation, will inevitably mark the games people play. This well-sourced piece from WIRED includes statistics and surveys from the Game Developers Conference. If you are a #gamedev, I strongly encourage you to give it a read. #videogames #gamesdevelopment #gamesjobs

"Our own estimated total for 2023's layoffs was 11,250 people (the Obsidian tracker posits at least 10,500), while in 2024 we had already reached nearly 6,000 layoffs (5,900 on the public list) by the end of January. More layoffs have been reported in the early days of February, including an unknown number at Visual Concepts Austin, which Take-Two acquired in 2021. As many observers have pointed out, the industry is already halfway to 2023's total layoffs just one month into 2024. 2023 was higher than 2022's estimated 8,500 total layoffs, and the wider tech downturn that these games layoffs spun off from was already underway by the end of that year. One question we keep coming back to at PCG is how aberrant these layoffs are in games history, with the possibility that a combination of social media attention and increased scrutiny of industry labor practices has brought an issue that's always been this bad more to the forefront. While we don't have a statistical answer to that question, I was struck by former HakJak sound designer and industry veteran Michelle Hebert's testimony on the matter. Despite this being the fourth time she's been laid off in 15 years, Hebert has found the recent situation far grimmer than in the past. 'Before there were plenty of places to land and studios would respond to swoop up talent,' she said. 'This time, they're not there because everyone is drowning it feels.' On the other end of the spectrum, this is the first time former Blizzard senior environment artist Molly Warner has been laid off in her 10 years in the industry, but she understandably says that 'one is enough.' With thousands of developers now looking for work, new roles are difficult to come by. But there are also resources dedicated to help game developers find new jobs. On LinkedIn, https://lnkd.in/dwK_ziWK, Amir Satvat organizes volunteer mentorship and CV reviews in addition to constantly updating lists of laid off developers and job opportunities. Cristina Amaya, https://lnkd.in/dnYvm3er, runs a Slack server for job-seeking devs. There's also a UK games industry Slack group, https://lnkd.in/d_P8Phgn, to turn to." Ted Litchfield and Wes Fenlon, The impact of 16,000 games industry layoffs, in one chart—Game developers share personal stories of how the 2023-2024 layoffs have affected them, 𝘗𝘊 𝘎𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘳, 7 February 2024, https://lnkd.in/ddezasSX

🎮 Big Sales, Big Layoffs in the Video Game Industry Despite achieving record sales and releasing massive games, the video game industry experienced significant layoffs last year, with some studios cutting up to nine percent of their workforce. 🔍 Key Points: - Record sales juxtaposed with significant layoffs. - Studios shedding substantial portions of their workforce.