Hiring Game Developers on Budget: Yes, It’s Possible, Here’s How

Hiring game developers on budget is more than a wishful idea, it’s a necessity in today’s market. The current state of the games industry (and the broader IT sector) is turbulent, to say the least. Layoffs are an all-too-frequent headline. What we’re seeing now is, in large part, the aftermath of economic uncertainty and business decisions made during the boom years (think overhiring, inflated headcounts, and pouring millions into high-risk productions that never turned a profit).

In this environment, many newly established game studios or even those simply looking to grow sensibly might assume hiring talent is easier than ever. There’s a wave of available talent, right? So what’s stopping you from putting out a job ad (maybe not even a paid one) on LinkedIn, and having game developers knocking on your virtual door, free of charge, within days?

Well… that’s where reality often hits hard.

The Cost of DIY Recruitment in Game Development

Yes, the talent is out there. Incredible talent, in fact. But assuming that:

• they’ll magically come across your job ad,
• take the time to apply,
• and that you’ll effortlessly identify the right fit from a sea of resumes,

…is an easy mistake to make.

What we see as a recruitment partner in gamedev is that studios who go this route often find themselves quickly overwhelmed. Reviewing hundreds of CVs, filtering out mismatches, and figuring out how to interview for technical and cultural fit – it’s not only time-consuming but risky.

Most studios that come to us are already exhausted and frustrated. They’re also often still intimidated by the potential cost of collaborating with an external recruitment partner, understandably so, as the days of venture capital groups throwing money at game studios are long gone.

And now they ask the real question: can we hire game developers on budget – and still make quality hires?

The answer is: you can. But only if you look beyond the traditional (and expensive) success fee models. That’s exactly what we’ve built two of our solutions around.

Subscription: Predictable, Scalable, Cost-Efficient

Perfect for studios with multiple roles to fill or a long-term hiring roadmap, the Subscription Model is a flat-fee solution designed to give you maximum value without blowing your budget.

Think of it as a streaming platform, but for recruitment. You pay for access, not per hire. Whether you hire one person or ten, your costs stay the same. We assign a tailored number of expert recruiters who work on your roles continuously, making sure you always have a fresh stream of qualified, vetted candidates.

It’s one of the most cost-effective options out there and a rare find among recruitment agencies. We’re proud to offer it at 8Bit.

Retained Search: Budget-Friendly, Milestone-Based

Our latest addition, the Retained Search model, is designed for studios needing one great hire, especially for high-profile or niche roles.

Instead of a large, one-time success fee, this model works on a milestone-based payment structure, breaking down the cost into smaller, more manageable installments.

You get:

• A fixed total cost, agreed upfront
• Payments tied to clear stages in the recruitment process
• Significant cost savings compared to traditional models

This approach gives you the quality and support of a premium search without the financial pressure.

Hiring Game Developers on Budget Isn’t a Myth

You absolutely can hire game developers on budget, and even multiple of them. The key is stepping away from traditional recruitment pricing models and choosing smarter, more sustainable alternatives.

Both Subscription and Retained Search take the burden off your plate. Instead of filtering through piles of resumes, you’ll meet only pre-vetted, handpicked candidates who are the right fit for your team’s goals, culture, and tech stack.

And with 10+ years of recruiting exclusively in gamedev and 100+ international collaborations behind us, we’re confident in saying: we know the drill.

Want to know more? Send us your hiring needs, we’ll walk you through the process and help you build your team, without breaking the bank.