76% of Developers Love Making Games But Trust in the Industry Has Collapsed

New Duamntes Gaming Report shows the state of gaming today and not just through numbers, but through the lived experiences, frustrations, and hopes of the people who build it.

The results reveal a striking contradiction: while gaming professionals are deeply passionate about their work, trust in the industry is collapsing.

• 98% of industry professionals surveyed play games themselves

• 76% enjoy their work

• Yet advocacy (NPS) falls to –40 in most regions, reflecting deep structural issues.

• Satisfaction is relatively stronger in DACH, APAC, and Africa, but the system itself is widely seen as unstable and unsustainable.

“It can feel like a game of attrition, but for those who stay, the work is meaningful and the impact on players is undeniable. To sustain this passion, we need to match it with stability — otherwise the cycle of attracting talent only to lose it will continue,” said Maria Amirkhanian, Head of Gaming Division.

Amir Satvat, Founder of Amir Satvat’s Games Community emphasized: “Remain passionate about many things while staying grounded in your skills. Don’t tie your self-worth to achieving one dream outcome or working in one industry. Life is about something much bigger.”

The study highlights that the heart of the industry beats with passion.

Nearly 80% of developers entered the field not for perks or titles, but for creative expression, the joy of making games, and the chance to bring their own ideas to life.

Despite layoffs, crunch, and uncertainty, more than 65% still plan to stay in gaming, driven by fulfillment, impact on players, and challenge.

Vardis Vardinogiannis, Founder & CEO of Couch Heroes, noted: “I am surrounded by talented people who teach me every day how to make better games, be a better person.”

Oscar Clark, CEO of Fundamentally Games, warned: “For people like me who ‘have to make games’ there is nothing else to match the diversity and creativity. But there are easier ways to make a living and it can be very difficult. Liking playing games is not a good reason to work in games.”

When developers leave, it is rarely for lack of passion. Low pay (54%), unstable jobs (43%), and burnout remain the biggest drivers, alongside ethical concerns and chronic crunch.

Jennifer Cacheux-Girling, Executive Producer (ex-Blizzard, Riot Games, My.Games), explained: “We would need to stop maximizing profits for investors and suits, and start thinking of a balanced industry that benefits all parties — game workers, players, and investors.”

Looking ahead, developers expect the future to be player-focused and collaborative, with the industry moving toward making games for people, not just profits. They also call for healthier relationships between developers and publishers, as well as greater investment in tools to support sustainable growth.

Cheryl Platz, author of The Game Development Strategy Guide and former Director of UX at Riot Games and Scopely, added: “Learning how to collaborate. Truly collaborate. And embrace prosocial gaming. There are many unmet needs out there. Not everything needs to be competitive.”

A strong majority plan to stay in the industry, but without stability, low pay, and burnout continue to push talent out. Developers warn that without structural change, passion alone won’t be enough to sustain the industry.

The opportunity lies in building an industry that is player-centric, collaborative, and fair. A true Golden Age will not come from profit curves or graphics, but from diversity, fairness, and meaningful collaboration.

Read more: www.duamentes.com/gaming and reach out for any questions [email protected]