Key Facts about the Games Industry
Games development is a fast-moving, multi-billion pound industry.
- 8,850 people are employed in the computer games development industry, which is 2% of the whole creative industries.
- There are around 220 businesses of which: 155 are games development companies; 30 games publishing companies; and 35 games support companies.
- 25% of businesses employ between 1 and 5 people, 11% between 6 and 10, 18% between 11 and 20, 21% between 21 and 50 people.
- 68% of the workforce has a degree, but an estimate 90% of entrants since 2000 were at degree level.
- 27% of the degrees held by those in computer games are media related.
(Gov UK 2012)
Career Options
Games industry workers tend to be degree educated, especially in highly skilled areas such as programming. However employers often tend to be less concerned with formal qualifications than with relevant experience, portfolios and knowledge of specific software tools.
Many of the most successful games professionals are qualified in the broad-based disciplines that draw on both creative and analytical approaches. The industry recruits both creative individuals and those with more specific technical skills. The games developer job title covers a broad area of work and there are many specialisms within the industry. These include:
Quality Assurance Tester - Programmer, with various specialisms such as network, engine, toolchain and artificial intelligence - Audio Engineer - Artist, including concept artist, animator and 3D modeller - Producer - Editor - Designer - Special Effects Technician