Leveling Up: How Education Fuels Growth In The Gaming Industry

President of Xsolla, the business engine for gaming since 2005, processes 700+ global payment methods in 200+ regions, and in 20 languages.

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Since the early days of Atari and Coleco, the gaming industry has evolved into an entertainment juggernaut. Driven by creative innovation, technological advancements and a global community of players and developers, the industry is projected to reach $293.2 billion by 2027. For many youn g adults, games have always been a core part of their lives, much more than just a hobby.

As the gaming industry has grown and matured, the demand for skilled professionals has risen alongside it. Working in such a large, complex business requires specialized skills and knowledge to go beyond just game development. As a result, we have seen the rise of educational programs and initiatives to develop talent and promote diversity and inclusivity within the community. Academia and the gaming industry are becoming increasingly intertwined, and there are also other options that can help equip aspiring designers and developers with the skills to succeed.

Formal Education Programs

Universities and colleges around the world have recognized game design as a legitimate educational avenue. Many schools such as the University of Southern California, the University of Utah and MIT offer undergraduate and graduate programs in game design and programming. In the spring 2024 edition of our report on the gaming industry, w e found there are over 2,000 schools dedicated to video game design in 107 countries worldwide, with a 23% increase in submissions to game development programs in 2023 compared to 2022.

Alternative Avenues

Formal education isn't the only route to success in game development. Free online courses and professional certifications through platforms such as Coursera, Udemy and Kadenze offer hands-on training in visual storytelling, character design and game design. These are often taught by experienced artists and programmers and can sometimes be upgraded for college credit.

Coding boot camps, which are short but intense educational programs focusing on developing practical skills, are another option. These typically last for weeks or months and can be attended in person or online. Boot camps offer highly targeted certificates and hands-on experience that can pave the way for entry-level roles such as graphic designers, game engineers and story developers. They can be expensive but are a good stepping stone before committing to a full academic program.

"Game jams" are even shorter, more intense events where participants create a video game from scratch, either independently or in teams. Programmers, game designers, artists and writers usually have one to three days to put together a game on a certain theme. In the process, they hone their skills and have a chance to network within the game community.

What It Means For Gaming

Educational programs of all types play a crucial role in creating a skilled and diverse workforce for the gaming world—not just in creating games but also in business management, publishing and marketing. By serving as networking hubs, these programs connect students and alumni with industry professionals. They also boost independent game development, with the help of digital distribution platforms and more accessible development tools.

The increasing collaboration between academia and game development companies in the form of internships and workshops is opening the pipeline between education and employment. This is still a challenge, since the lingering reliance on personal connections can make it hard for graduates to break in. As an industry, we still need to improve the onboarding process to help students make the transition.

The growing globalization of gaming is increasing diversity within the industry, which means new ideas, business models and even entirely new gameplay genres like the "hypercasual" genre that emerged in Turkey in 2017. Just one or two people anywhere in the world can now make a great game using universally accessible tools. The more we can help increase diversity and access to experience in making games and operating the business of games, the better off we will be.

The ideal path forward will include a stronger connection between gaming education and the industry as a whole. This could involve universities playing a greater role not just in talent development but in R&D and technology innovations like virtual reality, which was pioneered at places like the University of Utah and MIT. As the gaming industry continues to grow and diversify, we should develop pathways that cater to a wide range of skills and backgrounds to ensure a steady pipeline of skilled talent.

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