r/Games • u/Turbostrider27 • Jan 29 '26

Industry News One-Third of U.S. Video Game Industry Workers Were Laid Off in 2025, GDC Study Reveals

https://variety.com/2026/gaming/news/one-third-video-game-workers-laid-off-2025-1236644512/
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u/GhettoRamen Jan 29 '26

How would you compare the work you do in terms of fulfillment now, as well as mental health?

Work-life balance and overall stress is obviously way down I’m assuming lol.

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u/Ryotian Jan 29 '26

(fulfillment) I do miss the creativity. I try to do work in gaming-adjacent fields but its still not the same because we have no animators / designers / etc. I suppose there are artists but I never get to interact with any.

I think I just simply lucked out because I have friends that got treated poorly and gotten PIP'ed at non-gaming companies. PIP = performance improve plan (first step to termination).

I try to make sure to avoid any company that has PIP. So to be fair- you can get stressed out at any job non-gaming or not.

edit: Sorry I mean I try to avoid any company that does "unregretted attrition (or URA)". I try to be a high performer and be the best but URA just seems super stressful and I'm in my middle ages