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Working in games is a dream job for so many people. I recently made a career switch to the tech-adjacent video gaming industry, which has been rewarding, challenging, and most importantly, it's been fun. Unfortunately, we haven't seen a lot of diversity in this space.
Leveling Up the Representation of Black People in the Games Industry
Working in games is a dream job for so many people. I recently made a career switch to the tech-adjacent video gaming industry, which has been rewarding, challenging, and most importantly, it's been fun. Unfortunately, we haven't seen a lot of diversity in this space.
According to a 2021 study of the video game population, 13% of the US population identifies as Black compared to a survey from the Entertainment Software Association where 8% of players identified as Black. When it comes to the professional games industry, only 4% of game industry professionals identify as Black, African American, African or Afro-Caribbean, according to the 2021 IGDA Developer Satisfaction Survey. In analyzing this data, I had to ask myself, "Where are all the Black people?"
I've paid attention to see the criticisms and the subsequent push to democratize information and remove barriers to entry that exist for Black people. While progress is evident, there's still so much more to be done. When I read articles about the lack of diversity in video game characters and the professional game development industry, I know that we still have a long way to go. As Program Manager for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility, I've influenced how my culture is represented in the games we are creating. I want to see more Black people in the same position. I want to see more Black people working in an industry they love, creating products that resonate with them and are proud of their contributions.
Working in the games industry has a wide range of professional disciplines and opportunities. Hitmarker, the largest gaming and esports jobs platform globally, has done an excellent job in posting resources to help people find a career in games and esports. This article outlines all the different professions available in games. You'll find an all-encompassing list of options to get your career started in games. Whether you're a career changer, an esports champion, or someone looking to join an innovative and fun industry, this is a great place to start. Hitmarker has loads of resources in their Career Advice section explaining best practices and educational articles explaining the function of different roles in the industry. I have used this as a reference to help me get acclimated to industry terms and learn about the vast opportunities available in the games industry.
Efforts such as The Black In Gaming Foundation's 5 in 5 initiative seek to increase the representation of Black professionals in the games industry to 5% by 2025. One way to do this is to educate Black youth on their academic options that set a foundation for a successful career in the games industry. I want to highlight this brief resource of HBCUs and their programs to help anyone gain the necessary tools to join the games industry. You'll find that the listed schools have degrees in Business (esports), Art, Programming, and Game Design. There is also a list of HBCUs with esports programs. Supplemented with internships, a student can set a solid academic foundation to begin their career in the games industry right out of undergrad.
If going to an HBCU isn't your plan, there are many schools that have degree programs that can lead to a job in the games industry. We have invested in two scholarships within our markets, the Iron Galaxy Diversity in Games Scholarships, focused on supporting game development students from underrepresented backgrounds. I also want to acknowledge that everyone doesn't have access to higher education. There are some free and self-taught ways to find your way into the games industry.
All in all, there are numerous online resources available and an expanding industry waiting to hire the next generation of game developers and operations team members. It's also important to remember that you don't have to have a game design background, experience in the gaming industry, or technical knowledge. There are roles in business, IT, and operations. The options are truly endless. Share the above resources with those curious about the industry. You never know what career path you may be igniting in someone.
