Video game developer

A software developer who specialises in video game development is called a video game developer. Video game development refers to the process of generating video games as well as the disciplines that are associated to that process. The term "game developer" may refer to anything from a solitary individual who is responsible for all aspects of the development process to a large company in which employees specialise in a variety of areas, including programming, design, art, testing, and so on. The majority of firms that make video games get financial help and, in most cases, marketing assistance from video game publishers. Developers that create their projects using just their own personal funds are known as independent or indie developers, and such games are also called indie games.

A video game developer may choose to specialise on a certain video game console (such as Nintendo's Switch, Microsoft's Xbox Series X and Series S, or Sony's PlayStation 5), or they may choose to create for a variety of other gaming platforms (including personal computers and mobile devices).

Developers of video games sometimes specialise in developing certain kinds of games (such as role-playing video games or first-person shooters). Some developers concentrate on transferring games from one platform to another or changing the language used in games from one language to another. Some game developers also work in the software development industry, but this is far less prevalent.

The majority of video game publishers are responsible for running their own development studios, such as Electronic Arts's EA Canada, Square Enix's studios, Activision's Radical Entertainment, Nintendo EPD, and Sony's Polyphony Digital and Naughty Dog. On the other hand, since publishing is still their core activity, they are more often referred to as "publishers" than "developers." There is also the possibility of private developers.

The creation of video games is often carried out in a laid-back commercial setting, and T-shirts and sandals are acceptable forms of dress for the workplace. A substantial number of employees consider environments like this one to be fulfilling and enjoyable both on a professional and a personal level. Having said that, the sector also expects its workers to put in lengthy hours of labour (sometimes to an extent seen as unsustainable). The exhaustion of one's workforce is not unusual.

If they are successful in securing employment in a job with a medium-sized or big video game firm, entry-level programmers have the potential to earn an annual salary of more than $66,000 on average. In 2007, the average salary for a seasoned professional in the game development industry was around $73,000, depending on the person's level of knowledge and experience. It's possible for independent game creators to make as little as $10,000 to $50,000 per year, but that range is entirely dependent on how successful their games are commercially.