The issues game developers are facing in 2025 | IGDA interview
1 min read
Summary
Reports suggest that more than 35,000 gaming professionals have been laid off over the past 2.5 years, and some industry commentators are concerned that the situation is going to get worse before it gets better.
Among the challenges for the industry is the increasing use of AI, with around 30% of developers sceptical about its use and around 40% concerned that the technology will impact their jobs.
The executive director of the International Game Developers Association (IGDA), Jakin Vela, expressed the view that major companies are looking to replace workers with AI rather than using the technology to augment and supplement human work.
Speaking at GDC, Vela said there was a general consensus that AI must be used ethically and that developers must be trained to use AI properly and ethically.
He also commented on the ongoing strike by actors against the gaming companies, and the ongoing efforts to unionise.
As part of his GDC message, Vela highlighted the deregulation of moderation on some social media platforms which has resulted in a “deregulation of the moderation on many platforms”.