Gamedev Salary Pulse 2025

Gamedev Salary Pulse 2025: your free behind-the-scenes look at the games industry

We’re excited to share the newest edition of our annual industry snapshot, the Gamedev Salary Pulse 2025 report.

This year’s report goes far beyond just salaries. It takes a closer look at how the ongoing challenges in the games industry, from layoffs and studio closures to shifting work models and morale, are shaping the professional lives of people behind the games. From employment conditions and compensation to benefits, job security, and emotional well-being, we’ve mapped the evolving state of gamedev work across roles and regions.

Inside the Report

Data Sources Behind the Report

The Gamedev Salary Pulse 2025 is based on 1,127 survey responses from professionals across the industry plus insights from our recruitment work, job board data, and input from studio partners. This blend gives us a well-rounded view of where gamedev is heading.

For easier benchmarking, we’ve broken down the data by region: North America, Western Europe, Northern Europe (Nordics), and Central & Eastern Europe.

Here’s a glimpse of what’s inside:

Salaries by role, region, and seniority

We’ve compiled median salary data across key departments, from Art, Engineering and Design to QA and Production, sorted by region and experience level, so you can easily see where you stand or how your team compares.

Work models: remote, hybrid, on-site

We’ve looked at how people are working today and how those preferences have shifted since 2023. With hybrid setups on the decline and fully remote work gaining ground, the report highlights what’s becoming the new normal.

Beyond the paycheck: what professionals really want

We dug into benefits to check what studios are offering,and what employees actually value. From PTO and flexible hours to the growing (but still rare) demand for four-day workweeks, the report reveals where expectations align, and where they don’t.

Morale and job security

In a year filled with uncertainty, we asked professionals how secure they feel in their roles and how hopeful they are about the job market. The answers vary sharply by discipline and seniority and provide important context for anyone hiring or job hunting in 2025.

Our way of giving back

This report wouldn’t exist without the community that supports it. As in previous years, we’ve turned every survey response into a donation. For Gamedev Salary Pulse 2025, we’re proud to share that we raised $1,100 to support pet rescue efforts.

This year, part of the funds went directly to Fundacja Bezdomniaczki and ŁAPA Nysa to provide emergency aid following the severe floods in Europe. The remaining donations were distributed equally among Koty Spod Bloku and Krzykosiaki.

Gamedev Salary Pulse 2025 is free to download

The full report is available for free, no email required, no strings attached.

We believe that transparency, access, and shared knowledge benefit the entire industry. Feel free to share it with your team, your network, or at events where data like this can spark real change. Just credit 8Bit – Games Industry Recruitment (8bitplay.com) as the source.

Feedback form

We’re eager to hear your feedback, input, or questions. Everything you share helps us make next year’s edition even more relevant and useful! Click here to share your thoughts on the Gamedev Salary Pulse 2025 report.