Employment
Ongoing coverage on Employment.
Latest coverage
European game developers are more concerned that AI will pressure them to work faster rather than take their job
A survey of European game developers reveals significant concern that generative AI will increase pressure to work faster, rather than lead to job losses. While 61% worry about increased work pace, only 35% fear AI might reduce their job demand. The report also indicates that AI is changing workflows for 78% of respondents and making skill assessment more difficult for 46%.
EU games industry generated €24bn in 2024, studios reached 6,600 and workforce exceeded 95,000
The European video game industry generated €24 billion in 2024, with over 6,600 studios employing more than 95,000 people, according to a report by the European Games Development Association and Video Games Europe. While the number of studios increased by 5-10%, the growth in the continent's talent base stalled, with some countries experiencing a decrease in employment due to layoffs and consolidations.
The Only Age Group Getting Less Worried About AI Is Americans in Their 50s
A Pew Research survey indicates that Americans aged 50 to 64 are the least excited and most concerned about Artificial Intelligence, yet they are also the most convinced that AI will lead to fewer jobs in the next two decades. This demographic shows a unique combination of calmness and fatalism regarding AI's impact on employment, diverging from other age groups who are increasingly worried about the technology.
Traders slash September Fed hike bets as July payrolls turn negative
Traders have significantly reduced bets on a September interest rate hike by the Federal Reserve following a negative July jobs report. The U.S. economy lost jobs, leading markets to price in a higher probability of the central bank holding rates steady. However, upcoming inflation data will be crucial in determining the Fed's next move, with potential hikes still considered for later in the year.
Xbox CEO Joins Fed’s Task Force To Help With Price Stability And Employment After She Raised Xbox Prices And Laid Of Staff
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has been appointed to a Federal Reserve task force focused on the economic impact of AI, aiming to improve job creation and price stability. This appointment comes despite recent controversial decisions by Sharma, including Xbox price hikes and significant layoffs, which have negatively impacted public sentiment towards the brand.
Xbox leader Asha Sharma has joined a US government task force for employment, days after announcing restructuring that has left thousands of people without jobs
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has joined a US Federal Reserve task force focused on productivity and employment, days after announcing a significant restructuring at Xbox that led to 3200 job losses. Sharma, who has a background in AI and previously worked at Meta, will advise on the impact of artificial intelligence on the workforce.
US Federal Reserve taps Xbox CEO Asha Sharma, who just laid off 3,200 employees, to lead task force on jobs
The Federal Reserve has appointed Xbox CEO Asha Sharma to lead a task force on employment and productivity. Sharma, who recently oversaw significant layoffs at Xbox, will work alongside other experts to assess the economic impact of new technologies like artificial intelligence. This appointment comes shortly after a major reorganization within Xbox, affecting studios like Mojang and King.
Comings and Goings
This article rounds up notable employment changes in the gaming industry for June 2026. It specifically highlights leadership shifts at the gaming service provider Side.
Anak Deddy Dores Nekat Jual Bola Mata demi Penuhi Kebutuhan Keluarga
Calvin Dores, son of the late musician Deddy Dores, has gone viral on social media for stating his willingness to sell his eyeballs to support his family. Dores explained that his intention was to meet the needs of his mother and children, citing difficulties in finding stable employment due to his diploma and having to take on odd jobs.
34-year-old Iowa man is suing Nintendo because it won’t grant him the ‘Pokémon Professor’ title
An Iowa man, Kyle Owens, is suing Nintendo and The Pokémon Company for $341,000 after being denied a 'Pokémon Professor' title. Owens claims he was rejected due to an old felony despite passing the program's exam, arguing the charges do not show guilty findings. The lawsuit highlights the structured nature of the Professor Program and its associated commercial advantages.
Kingdom Come Dev Responds To Accusation That It Fired A Dev To Save Money With AI
Warhorse Studios confirmed its use of AI in game development but stated it is not used for final content and not intended to replace human employees. This response comes after an accusation that a translator was fired to cut costs using AI. The studio is hiring new human translators and is also working on a new RPG, potentially a new The Lord of the Rings game.
A gaming CEO just said 'We’ve been a little bit too romantic about the idea that we should have employees and give people long-term job security', and doesn't that sum up everything wrong with the industry right now
Ustwo Games CEO Maria Sayans has sparked debate by suggesting the company has been "too romantic" about providing long-term job security to employees, citing high development costs in London. The studio is shifting its strategy towards PC and console releases, potentially relying more on contractors to manage growth and reduce budgets, a move Sayans admits she dislikes.
Ideals Like Full-Time Employment and Job Security Are ‘Too Romantic’ in Game Dev, Says Monument Valley Studio CEO
The CEO of ustwo, the studio behind Monument Valley, stated that ideals such as full-time employment and job security are 'too romantic' in game development. The company plans to utilize contractors to reduce development budgets.
AI Yi-Yi!
Chinese AI firm SenseTime has released a new image generation model designed for speed. Meanwhile, the CEO of Electronic Arts stated that AI is not currently causing job losses in the industry, but rather assisting employees.
"Those of us who joined in the early 2000s, we had it very good": Monument Valley boss says it's getting harder to give workers full-time stability
Ustwo Games CEO Maria Sayans believes the company has been too idealistic about providing full-time employment, leading to a shift towards using more contractors. Sayans, who also chairs Ukie, noted that the industry has changed significantly since the early 2000s, making long-term job stability for all employees more challenging. Ustwo Games is now prioritizing PC development after Monument Valley 3 was removed from Netflix.
Business and Finance
Shareholders have approved Paramount's deal for Warner Bros. Discovery, while the German game industry has seen a 3% drop in employment for the second consecutive year. Corsair Gaming is also mentioned in relation to business and finance news.
Elon Musk is more at risk of losing his job to AI than artists are according to Take-Two's CEO: 'If AI were…
Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick believes Artificial Intelligence poses a greater risk to high-profile figures like Elon Musk than to artists in the game development industry. He suggests AI can handle mundane tasks, freeing up human creators for more innovative and complex work, and argues that technological advancements historically lead to increased productivity and employment.
GTA 6 Company Boss Says AI Can Be Used For Evil, But "Woe Is Me" Risk Is Overblown
Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick believes the 'woe is me' narrative surrounding AI's impact on employment is overblown, while acknowledging its potential for misuse. He suggests AI will primarily serve as a tool to enhance productivity and creativity in game development, allowing employees to focus on more engaging tasks rather than leading to mass layoffs. Zelnick cited Elon Musk's continued busy schedule despite extensive AI use as evidence that AI does not eliminate human jobs.
The Outer Worlds and Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag share an unlikely lesson: we make our own pirates
This article draws a parallel between the fictional pirates in The Outer Worlds and historical pirates from Assassin's Creed: Black Flag, highlighting how mass layoffs and lack of economic opportunities can lead to individuals turning to piracy. It discusses how corporate practices, such as non-compete clauses and the refusal to rehire laid-off employees, can force individuals into desperate situations, mirroring historical patterns of privateers becoming pirates after conflicts ended.
AI Yi-Yi!
Take-Two Interactive has reportedly reshuffled its artificial intelligence team, including the dismissal of its AI boss just one month after the company announced its embrace of AI technologies. This move comes amid broader discussions about the connection between AI and job displacement.