The Resilient and Thriving Ukrainian Gaming Industry

The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has posed significant challenges to the country’s game developers. However, despite the adversity, Ukraine’s gaming industry has shown remarkable resilience and the ability to thrive in the face of adversity.

The Impact of the War on the Ukrainian Games Industry

During the DevCom conference in Cologne, a panel discussion titled “Unpaused: The Ukrainian Games Industry in Times of War” shed light on the challenges faced by the Ukrainian gaming industry. Representatives from various Ukrainian game businesses, including product companies and conference organizers, discussed the effects of the war on the industry.

Challenges Faced by the Ukrainian Game Development Market

• Outsourcing companies experienced the most significant challenges as they lost global clients due to uncertainty.
• Many companies relocated their teams from Ukraine and set up offices in the EU.
• Publishers terminated partnerships with Russian and Belarusian companies.
• Several game releases were postponed, and projects and hiring came to a standstill.
• Mass layoffs occurred, and foreign companies no longer considered Ukraine a viable labor market.

The State of Investments

• Investments in the Ukrainian gaming industry were frozen.
• Some Ukrainian venture funds withdrew offers and put deals on hold.
• The absence of systematic support from the government and international institutions contributed to the investment freeze.

The Current State of the Ukrainian Game Development Market

• The outsourcing sector has experienced growth in Ukraine’s gaming industry.
• Despite challenges, companies continue to attract new clients and projects.
• However, securing new contracts has led to downsizing and layoffs within the industry.
• Playtika, for example, decided to focus on investing in studios with high potential rather than launching new games.
• Companies have severed ties with Russia and Belarus and opened new offices abroad.
• The number of gaming industry specialists has declined due to relocation and voluntary resignations.
• Nevertheless, international and foreign companies are returning to hiring Ukrainians.
• Some Ukrainian companies have seen a rise in profits despite the challenging circumstances.

The Ukrainian Labor Market

Highly skilled professionals in the gaming industry are in demand across various fields.

In-Demand and Vulnerable Professions

The most in-demand fields in companies include Art and Animation, Programming and Development, Marketing & PR, Producing and Management, and Communication Management & Support.

The top five most wanted specialists in Ukraine’s gaming industry are 2D artists, support specialists, game designers, Unity developers, and 3D artists.

Unity programmers are sought 47% more than UE programmers in Ukraine.

Number of Vacancies at Various Levels

The labor market currently has abundant highly skilled professionals due to recent layoffs. Senior-level experts who were made redundant are actively seeking employment and considering mid-level positions. Companies are posting mid-level positions that seniors can readily apply for in an effort to reduce costs.

Salaries and Income Satisfaction

Men in the Ukrainian gaming industry earn an average monthly salary of €2,315, while women earn €1,544.

The median gross monthly income for game development specialists based on experience level is as follows: trainee (€530), junior (€800), middle (€1,667), senior (€2,917), and expert/top/chief/head/VP (€4,000).

The Resilient Future of the Ukrainian Gaming Industry

The Ukrainian gaming industry continues to adapt and grow despite the challenges it faces. The industry offers opportunities and challenges for professionals across different disciplines, demonstrating its resilience and potential for the future.