In the year 2025, game development studios across Europe markedly increased the amount of money they allocated to external talent, registering a striking 63 percent rise in expenditure. This surge outstripped the overall global growth rate for outsourced labor, which was measured at 55 percent for the same period. The data comes from the recently published analysis titled "Talent Signals Reshaping the Games Industry," authored by Tanja Loktionova, who is both the founder of Values Value and a co‑founder of InGame Job.
One of the most telling indicators in the report is the expansion of the freelance workforce that partners with European studios. The number of independent contractors and project‑based specialists working alongside these studios grew by roughly a quarter—24 percent—over the past year. At the same time, the average earnings of freelancers worldwide experienced a healthy uplift, climbing 19 percent on a global scale. This dual trend of higher demand for freelance expertise and better compensation reflects a broader shift in how game development teams are structuring their talent pipelines.
Despite the positive financial signals, the industry is still grappling with significant talent‑sourcing challenges. Almost six out of ten studios—about 60 percent—reported difficulty in locating professionals with the right mix of skills and experience to fill their open positions. On the freelancer side, more than half—54.1 percent—said they struggled to secure projects that matched their capabilities or career aspirations.
These figures suggest a mismatch between supply and demand that could have lasting implications for both studios and independent workers. Financial stability remains a central concern for the freelance community. While the average monthly income for freelancers rose by 19 percent globally, a substantial 63 percent of freelancers expressed worry about the consistency of their earnings.
This anxiety is understandable in a market where project contracts can be short‑term and where the termination of a sprint or development phase often means the end of a freelancer’s engagement with a studio. The broader labor environment within the gaming sector also appears volatile. According to the survey, 30 percent of respondents indicated that they had experienced layoffs within the previous twelve months.
For those who lost their positions, the typical time required to land a new role was six months, underscoring a relatively lengthy job‑search cycle in a competitive field. Career mobility expectations are high: half of all respondents anticipate changing jobs within the next half‑year, and fewer than 50 percent reported satisfaction with their current employment situation. Professional growth appears limited as well—only 26 percent felt they were advancing in their careers, while 36 percent described their development as stagnant. Moreover, a striking 55 percent of participants disclosed that they had not received any formal training or upskilling opportunities in the past year, highlighting a gap in continuous learning support.
Loktionova interpreted these findings as a "structural signal that the industry has matured past its growth‑at‑any‑cost phase and has not yet figured out what replaces it." In other words, the sector is moving away from a frenetic expansion model and is now searching for a sustainable, post‑boom operating paradigm. The report also points to an emerging "two‑tier team model" within studios. At the core of this model sit a small group of senior figures—directors, lead architects, and custodians of a franchise’s creative vision—who typically receive comprehensive compensation packages that include equity stakes, health benefits, and performance bonuses. Surrounding this nucleus, a larger peripheral layer consists of contractors and freelancers who are brought in for specific development cycles or sprint‑based tasks.
Once those tasks are completed, many of these external contributors are released from the studio’s payroll, effectively operating on a project‑by‑project basis. Beyond staffing structures, the report examined the impact of emerging technologies on the workforce. A notable 61 percent of European developers expressed concern that generative artificial intelligence could increase pressure to accelerate production timelines and deliver more content at a faster pace. Conversely, 35 percent feared that AI might actually diminish demand for certain roles, potentially leading to job displacement or a reduction in the number of positions available.
Taken together, these data points paint a picture of an industry in transition. European game studios are investing heavily in external talent, freelancers are earning more but remain uneasy about income continuity, and both sides face challenges in matching skill sets with project needs. At the same time, the looming influence of AI adds another layer of uncertainty, prompting studios and workers alike to consider how best to adapt to a rapidly evolving creative and technological landscape.