GDC Survey Signals Shifts: Layoffs Up, AI Adoption Grows, and Union Support Surges in US Gaming
TL;DR
The 2026 GDC State of the Game Industry survey of 2,300 professionals finds layoffs up about 6%, 36% using AI at work with 52% viewing it as harmful to the industry, strong US union support at 82%, and Unreal Engine now leads as the primary development engine ahead of Unity.
- GDC survey reveals layoffs up 6%, 36% of industry using AI, and overwhelming support for unionisation in the US GamesIndustry.biz
- One-Third of U.S. Video Game Industry Workers Were Laid Off Over the Last Two Years, GDC Study Reveals Variety
- Half of developers think gen AI is bad for the gaming industry The Verge
- 82 percent of US-based game developers support unionization Game Developer
- Is this make or break for GDC? The Game Business
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