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The video game industry is still in dire crisis, with almost half of the population willing to leave, as indicated in a new survey. According to Skillsearch's 2026 Salary and Satisfaction report, which builds on the results of the survey of more than 1,000 professionals in Europe, North America, the UK, APAC, and MENA, 44% of them consider leaving gaming because of the frequent layoffs and doubts caused by these factors.

In the UK, things are even more dismal as 76 percent of the respondents either plan or intend to make a career change beyond the sector by 2026. Since 2022, more than 30,000 game industry jobs have been laid off worldwide, and the layoffs have been reported in early 2026.

One reason most developers expressed they wanted out of the company was mental health strain, insecurity, and increased AI usage. Although 55 percent of displaced respondents are currently pursuing new positions in the gaming industry, the large proportion of those who will exit the industry indicates that the industry is likely to lose its talent pool, which would in turn redefine the industry within the next years.