The International Game Developers Association (IGDA) has called on the games industry to do more to protect developer jobs and prevent further layoffs.
Citing “more than 8,700” job losses this year alone, the IGDA said the “gravity of this situation and its impact on the industry cannot be underestimated”, and called on studio leaders to “implement sustainable measures within their organizations to avoid unnecessary layoffs. “.
“Developers have legitimate concerns about the stability of their careers and the industry as a whole,” the organization said in a statement. “Talented people, particularly those from historically marginalized communities, may seek opportunities beyond the games industry due to instability, leading to skills gaps and underrepresentation of diverse demographic groups.
“To foster a resilient and thriving industry, studios must better plan for sustainable growth and stop driving talent away from their own companies and the industry as a whole.”
IGDA has compiled several support resources for developers affected by the layoffs and offers free membership and priority mentoring for those affected.
“Together, we can meet the current challenges facing developers and the broader industry with resilience and empathy, while building a sustainable future for games and all those who create them.”
IGDA's statement comes after more than 15,000 job cuts and studio closures in the past 18 months, most recently Possibility Space, where founder Jeff Strain blamed the studio closure on confidential employee leaks.
Perhaps not surprisingly, in recent months we have seen more of the sector turn towards unionisation. Just Cause developer Avalanche is the latest company to confirm plans to enter into a collective bargaining agreement with Swedish unions in a bid to standardize “frameworks” around labor rights, including wages, benefits, influence of employees and professional support.
GamesIndustry.biz's Chris Dring recently took a closer look at Eurogamer's layoffs and offered some insight into what exactly is happening.
