Average Age of People in the Gaming Industry Continues to Rise

Average Age of People in the Gaming Industry Continues to Rise

As a seasoned gamer with decades of experience under my belt, I find this trend of aging game developers quite intriguing. The revelation that the average age of employees at major game development studios like Ubisoft and Nintendo has been steadily increasing since 2001 is not just a statistic but a reflection of the industry’s changing landscape.


As a gamer, I’ve noticed that not only are we maturing, but so are the creators behind our favorite games. According to a report by Stephen Totilo at GameFile, the average age of staffers at some leading game development studios has been on an upward trend since 2002.

Based on my extensive experience in the video game industry and having worked with various game development companies over the past two decades, I have noticed a significant trend that warrants attention. From my own observations and the research I’ve conducted, it appears that the average age of employees in this field has been steadily increasing since the early 2000s.

The age of individuals in the game industry has been gradually rising over the past two decades. For instance, Ubisoft has seen a consistent upward trend since 2001, while the average age at Nintendo recently surpassed 40. Data from other gaming companies like Capcom and Namco also indicates this pattern. The implication of this trend is clear but its consequences – positive or negative – remain uncertain.

— Stephen Totilo (@stephentotilo) July 23, 2024

As a gamer, I’ve noticed that not many 20-somethings seem to work at Ubisoft according to the company reports. It’s important to mention here that their reports categorize employees into specific age groups instead of revealing individual ages.

Over the past few years, Ubisoft has experienced a significant drop in the number of staff members between the ages of 20 and 29, with approximately 2000 individuals leaving this age group. In contrast, there was a smaller decrease in the 30-year-old demographic, with around 300 employees departing. On the positive side, Ubisoft has seen an uptick in the number of employees aged 40 and above. Currently, the average age of Ubisoft’s workforce is 35.6 years old in 2024.

As a gamer, I’ve noticed an intriguing trend in Ubisoft’s workforce composition over the past two years. The number of employees under 30 has decreased by almost 2000, while the group in their 30s, which is larger, only saw a decrease of fewer than 300. It leaves me wondering if we’re dealing with a massive youth exodus or just an increase in staff aging into their 30s? The answer isn’t clear yet.

— Stephen Totilo (@stephentotilo) July 23, 2024

The rising average age of employees in our industry is a intriguing development, and pondering over the cause might spark larger discussions concerning the field as a whole.

As a seasoned video game industry insider with over two decades of experience under my belt, I’ve seen my fair share of restructuring and layoffs. So when I heard the news that Humble Games was undergoing some changes and there had been rumors of job losses, I braced myself for the worst. But to my relief, Humble Games came forward with an announcement that they were not closing down, but rather restructuring their team. I’ve seen firsthand how these situations can be devastating for those affected, but it’s heartening to see a company facing up to the challenges and finding a way forward.

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2024-07-24 14:48