Diversity Not Increasing In Game Development, Says Majority Of Devs In New IGDA Survey

Game developers value diversity in their workplaces now more than ever, but the industry itself doesn't seem to be keeping up. That's according to the 2017 Developer Satisfaction Survey, which is done every year by the non-profit International Game Developers Association (IGDA). It found 81 percent of developers feel diversity in the workplace is important, but most of them don't believe the industry has become any more diverse in the past two years.

A large percentage of game developers are white or "multiracial with white" (71 percent), according to the IGDA, and a disproportionate number are men (79 percent). 86 percent are heterosexual and most are married or in long-term relationships without children. Among those that work for companies with diversity/equality policies, only 56 percent said those policies were adequately enforced. When asked what the industry needed to do to succeed in the future, about one-fifth of respondents said more diversity in the games it produces is a priority (the second most selected option after "advancement in game design").

The IGDA also highlighted some of its findings around job insecurity, too. Nearly 40 percent of developers expect to be at their current employer for three years or less, with one-fifth saying they didn't know how long their current job will last. 27 percent of developers have worked for 3-5 employers in the last five years, with the majority of respondents having spent less than 10 years in game development.

"We're seeing high rates of turnover and concerns about job stability...Combined with the lack of support for equality and diversity in the workplace, these results confirm the IGDA's belief that the organization must act to help game developers create fulfilling, sustainable careers," said Jen MacLean, interim executive director of the IGDA.

"A short average tenure in the industry is also a clear wakeup call for game development companies; we must do a better job of keeping talent engaged and participating in our industry," she added.

Developers were also asked which company is the most desirable to work for. For the first time in four years, Blizzard beat out Valve for the top spot with 8 percent of the vote. Valve took second place, with Nintendo coming in third and Bethesda coming in fourth place.