The Crisis Behind the Games

The people who build
the games you love
are in crisis.

You may not know their names, but you know their work. The worlds they built. The characters they wrote. The music that stayed with you. Right now, tens of thousands of them have lost their jobs -- and the industry isn't slowing down.

Browse Needs →Recipient Portal
0+
jobs lost in gaming since 2022
Amir Satvat / layoff trackers
0%
of US game workers laid off in the last 2 years
GDC State of the Industry 2026
~0%
of laid-off workers still unable to find new work
GDC survey respondents
0+
entire studios closed or dissolved since 2022
Wikipedia / industry trackers

Why This Exists

Since 2022, over 45,000 jobs have been eliminated across the gaming industry. In 2024 alone -- the worst year on record -- more workers were laid off than in 2022 and 2023 combined.

According to the GDC State of the Industry 2026 survey, 1 in 3 US game workers has been laid off in the past two years. Nearly half of those are still unable to find new work.

These are artists, engineers, writers, and designers. Many of them are racing against time -- trying to find income while keeping their families fed, housed, and hopeful. Some are not making it.

In Their Words

“

Within each statistic are scores of intimate miniature apocalypses: someone's livelihood, maybe their dream job or first break in this competitive industry, dashed against the wall.

Game Developer Magazine

“

These mass layoffs affect real people and real families and throw their lives into disarray.

ZeniMax worker, via Game Developer

“

When I was laid off, it included about 15 people in a 50-person office. I soon realized this was a growing systemic problem for the whole industry.

Anonymous developer

“

Almost half of laid-off respondents say they've been unable to find new work.

GDC State of the Industry Survey, 2026

What This Actually Means

🏠
Housing instability
Many workers relocated for jobs that no longer exist. Some have lost their homes. Some are couch-surfing. Some are living in their cars.
👨‍👩‍👧
Families under pressure
Health insurance gone overnight. Childcare suddenly unaffordable. Children asking why their parent is sad.
⏳
Racing against time
Hundreds of qualified candidates compete for each open role. Nearly half of those laid off are still searching months or years later.
🎂
Small things, big impact
A child's birthday. A warm coat. Groceries for the week. The basics become the hardest asks when there's no income.
🧠
Mental health in freefall
Research shows confidence and morale collapse after layoffs and the damage lingers long after the announcement.
🌍
The US is hit hardest
The United States accounts for the majority of global gaming layoffs -- the people building the world's most beloved games are struggling most in their own backyard.

How It Works

01
Recipients request what they need
Verified gaming industry workers -- referred by community members -- add specific essential items to their need list.
02
Donors browse and choose
Anyone can browse active needs. No account required. See what someone needs and why, then choose to help.
03
Item ships directly to them
You pay for the item. It ships straight to the recipient. No cash pool, no middleman, no ambiguity.

You can do something real about this.

No donation disappearing into a fund. No bureaucracy. Just a person who needs something specific, and you choosing to send it to them directly.

Browse Needs →I need help

Sources

Wikipedia: 2022-2025 LayoffsGDC Survey 2026 (Variety)PC Gamer / GDC SurveyGame Developer MagazineAmir Satvat / LinkedIn

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