Kevin Won ➡️ GDC

If you want a glimpse into how dire the video game industry is, look no further than Rob Carr, who was an Audio Designer on L.A. Noire, GTA 5 and RDR2. He has been unemployed for over a year now and despite working on some of the most prestigious titles ever, can't find work simply because he is competing against 35 other people in his field with the same skillset. We are living through an extinction level event in the video game industry.

Thousands of gaming-related job openings right now in China ready to be filled up after the Chinese New Year. ‼️And before people list the usual (dated/ignorant) cons about working in China: - Wages in some major gaming hubs in China are on average higher than in several so called "Western markets"; -Yes, generally people don't get California/US level of pay in China, but also, the cost of living is much more affordable here, and quality of life is arguably much higher (yes!); -In gaming hubs like Shenzhen, Chengdu, Guangzhou...even Shanghai and Beijing, housing with excellent conditions can cost you anywhere between US$300~$1000/month, without roommates! -No, you likely/generally won't find a job in gaming in China if you're not Chinese (or an industry veteran applying to particular major senior positions), but that's not an "industry problem". Geo-centric views often lead us to make general assumptions about the whole industry, when issues and crises are more often than not localized. IMO *Don't @ me to argue with specific fringe cases that are inconsequential in the context of a workforce of hundreds of thousands of people (or millions), or to tell me you can't get a good apartment for under $1000 in a city like Shenzhen. If you can't, that's a YOU problem.* (I've been continuously working and living in China for almost 15 years)

I don't think gamers really understand how bad of a state the video game industry is in right now. The Rockstar developer I am interviewing next week has been unemployed for a year, he can't find work and this is someone who worked on L.A. Noire, RDR1, GTA V and RDR2!! Even with an impressive resume he can't even get interviews, I wasn't exaggerating when I said we are in the midst of an extinction level event of talent in the game industry.