By 2025, European studios had increased their expenditure on external roles by 63%, surpassing the global growth rate of 55%.
This information is based on the findings of the report titled ‘Talent Signals Reshaping the Games Industry‘ authored by Tanja Loktionova, the founder of Values Value, and co-founder of InGame Job.
Last year saw a 24% growth in the number of freelancers collaborating with European studios, with a corresponding 19% increase in average freelancer income globally.
A significant challenge reported by nearly 60% of studios was the difficulty in sourcing qualified specialists, while 54.1% of freelancers faced challenges in finding suitable projects.
Despite a global 19% rise in average monthly freelancer income, almost 63% of freelancers expressed concerns about income stability.
In the current job market, 30% of respondents had experienced layoffs in the past year, with an average of six months required to secure a new position.
Approximately half of the respondents anticipated changing jobs within the next six months, and less than half expressed satisfaction with their current roles.
Only 26% of respondents believed they were experiencing professional growth, 36% felt stagnant, and 55% did not receive any training in the past year.
Loktionova interpreted this data as a sign that the industry has moved beyond its growth-focused phase and is now exploring new directions.
The data indicates a shift towards a two-tier team model in studios, with a core group handling key creative aspects while contractors and freelancers are brought in for specific tasks and phases, as explained by Loktionova.
The report also highlighted that 61% of European developers are anxious about generative AI potentially increasing work pressure and output expectations.
However, there is also a concern among 35% of developers that AI could lead to job loss or reduced demand for their roles.