The July 2025 figure did not prove that game-industry layoffs were slowing: the Game Industry Layoffs Tracker showed about 4,000 estimated cuts for the year only through July 9, and the count was described as incomplete. More cuts were announced across multiple studios later in July. The lower midyear pace compared with 2024 could be real, but it was not evidence that the layoffs had stopped or that workers had returned to jobs.
What did the July 2025 layoff forecast actually measure?
The Game Industry Layoffs Tracker listed an estimated 4,000 cuts for 2025 through July 9. That was a year-to-date snapshot, not a forecast that the rest of the year would bring only a small number of cuts. Game Developer reported the count was likely conservative, and its July coverage described hundreds of people losing jobs across more than a dozen studios. The tracker had not been updated since July 9, and some reports did not include affected-worker totals. Game Developer’s tracker coverage makes clear why the July number cannot stand in for a complete month or a final annual result.
The apparent improvement was relative to the exceptionally high pace in preceding years. The European Commission’s 2025 Media Industry Outlook, citing the Obsidian platform’s tracker series, reported 8,500 cuts in 2022, 10,500 in 2023, and 14,600 in 2024. Its 4,000 figure for 2025 was explicitly an estimate through July, so it is not directly comparable to those full-year totals. European Commission, Media Industry Outlook.
How many game developers were laid off in 2025?
There is no single definitive total in the sources cited here. The archived Game Industry Layoffs Tracker lists 5,300 cuts for 2025. A separate estimate from Amir Satvat, reported by GamesBeat in 2026, puts the 2025 total at 9,053. Those estimates differ substantially and should be reported separately, not averaged into a seemingly precise figure. The tracker is an event-based listing that can lack worker totals; GamesBeat says Satvat’s estimate draws on public reports and information from his network of 5,000 companies. Their coverage and methods are not interchangeable. GamesBeat’s account of Satvat’s estimate.
#1 Best Overall
- Compatible with Windows and Android.
- 1000Hz Polling Rate (for 2.4G and wired connection)
- Hall Effect joysticks and Hall triggers. Wear-resistant metal joystick rings.
- Extra R4/L4 bumpers. Custom button mapping without using software. Turbo function.
- Refined bumpers and D-pad. Light but tactile.
The European Commission’s July 2025 figure is different again: 4,000 cuts through July, not a full-year count. Each number answers a different question depending on when it was captured and what its source counted.
Does a lower annual cut total mean the industry is recovering?
No. A slower rate of announced layoffs is not the same as net hiring, and neither measure shows whether people who lost jobs have found work. Worker surveys and company headcount data provide different kinds of evidence about the continuing impact.
Rank #2
- MODERNIZED DESIGN — Experience the modernized design of the XBOX Wireless Controller with sculpted surfaces and updated geometry that enhances comfort and control during long gaming sessions.
- PRECISION PERFORMANCE — Stay on target with a hybrid D-pad and textured grips on triggers, bumpers, and back case for improved accuracy and handling.
- SHARE BUTTON: Seamlessly capture and share content such as screenshots, recordings, and more with the new Share button.
- VERSATILE CONNECTIVITY — Connect via USB-C for plug-and-play on console and PC, or quickly pair and switch between supported devices with XBOX Wireless and Bluetooth support.
- BUILT-IN AUDIO SUPPORT — Plug in compatible headsets using the 3.5mm audio jack for direct voice chat and immersive in-game sound.
Workers’ reported experience
In GDC’s 2026 survey, 17% of respondents said they had been laid off in the prior 12 months, while 28% said they had been laid off in the prior 24 months. Among respondents who had experienced a layoff, 48% said they had not found another job. These are survey respondent shares, not a census of all game workers or a count of layoff announcements. GDC’s 2026 State of the Game Industry report.
For comparison, GDC’s 2025 survey found 11% of respondents reported a layoff in the prior 12 months, and 41% said they had been impacted by layoffs during the year. “Impacted” is broader than personally laid off, so that figure should not be treated as a layoff rate. Both results reflect the experiences reported by survey respondents, not administrative totals for the workforce. GDC’s 2025 report.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Rank #3
- With broad game support, the Logitech Gamepad F310 works with old standbys to today's biggest titles, so it's easy to set up and use with your favorite games.
- Profiler software allows the gamepad to be programmed to perform keyboard and mouse commands for games without gamepad support.* * Requires software installation.
- A familiar control layout that doesn't require a learning curve to be able to use, with all the same buttons as on an Xbox 360.
- The unique floating D-pad rests on four switches-instead of a single pivot point-making it responsive to quick changes in direction.
- The six-foot cord lets you lean back and play a comfortable distance from your PC monitor.
Company employment trends
S&P Global Market Intelligence reported that headcount in its entertainment-software company basket declined 3.5% during 2025. The basket covers around 3,000 companies focused on console, PC, and mobile game development; it is not the entire industry. Unlike tracker totals, this is a net headcount measure, which can reflect hiring as well as departures. Analyst Neil Barbour said margin pressures were a major driver of layoffs, and described any outlook for continued or accelerating downsizing as a forecast rather than a settled result. He also cautioned that staffing varies with production cycles, making a single midyear view risky to extrapolate. S&P Global Market Intelligence’s podcast coverage.
GDC’s 2026 report captures individual respondents’ reported experiences; S&P’s basket tracks net employment across a defined group of companies. Neither should be substituted for a global count of announced layoffs.
Rank #4
- Compatible with Wide Range of Consoles: This controller works with consoles such as Switch 2, Switch, Switch Pro, Switch Lite, and Switch OLED. (Please note): The controller's “HOME” button cannot wake up the Switch 2 console and does not have the C button for voice chat functions. However, all other functions are fully usable, including: dual vibration, 6-axis gyroscope, screenshot function, Hall effect buttons, and turbo.
- Cool and Colorful Lighting Switch Controller Wireless: It features 7 colors of RGB lighting (Red - Orange - Yellow - Green - Cyan - Blue - Violet) and 4 light modes (Dazzle - Monochrome - Monochrome Breathe - Monochrome Breathe Cycle).
- Hall Effect Technology for Switch Pro Controller: Experience zero drift and unmatched accuracy with our Hall effect joystick switch. Adaptive trigger feedback with adjustable resistance levels lets you feel every action. With <0.1 ms response time and 256 levels of pressure sensitivity, enjoy instant trigger detection in FPS games. 3+ million clicks on the controller mean a long service life.
- Dual Motor Vibration, Turbo Function and 6 Axis Gyroscope: The switch 2 controller has two vibration motors with three intensity levels—off, low, and high—and provides exceptional haptic feedback to enhance the gaming experience. The controller also offers three adjustable turbo speeds (5-10-15 Hz), which are particularly suitable for first-person shooter games. In addition, it features a 6 axis gyroscope chip for precise motion control. The physical movements of the players are precisely matched to the actions of their game characters.
- Reliable After-Sales Support You Can Count On: Your satisfaction is our top priority. Should you experience any quality concerns with your gaming controller, simply reach out to us via our customer service email, and we’ll respond promptly. We stand behind our product with a hassle-free replacement policy—ensuring you’re back to gaming without worry, no questions asked.
How many gaming jobs will be cut in 2026?
A July 2026 report put the ASGC Games Industry Layoffs Tracker’s 2026 projection at 14,259 cuts, with 9,781 confirmed by July 26. The 14,259 figure is a forecast, not a final annual result; the tracker combines reported cuts with estimates and projections, so it may change. The 9,781 figure is a tracker count as of that date, not proof that the full-year projection will be reached or exceeded. God is a Geek’s report on the 2026 tracker.
These 2026 figures do not turn the July 2025 snapshot into evidence of a lasting recovery. They are later measures with different dates and methods.
Best Value
- Feel physically responsive feedback to your in-game actions through haptic feedback
- Experience varying levels of force and tension at your fingertips with adaptive triggers
- Chat online through the built-in microphone and connect a headset directly through the 3.5mm jack
- Switch voice capture on and off using the dedicated mute button
- Play on more devices using the USB Type-C cable or Bluetooth to connect easily to Windows PC and Mac computers, Android and iOS mobile phones as well as your PlayStation 5
How to read layoff figures without confusing them
Before comparing a headline number with another, check what it actually counts:
- Time window: Is it a dated snapshot, a year-to-date estimate, a full-year total, or a projection?
- Population and geography: Does it cover reported game-industry events, survey respondents, a defined company basket, or a national workforce?
- Measurement: Is it an announced cut, an estimate, a survey share, or net headcount change?
- Coverage: Are worker totals missing, or does the source rely on public reports, survey responses, or an analyst’s company sample?
- Revision risk: Could later announcements, incomplete reporting, or forecast assumptions change the figure?
For example, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported 1.8 million layoffs and discharges across the U.S. nonfarm economy in July 2025. That broad JOLTS figure is not a game-industry count and cannot verify a claim that gaming layoffs were slowing. BLS, July 2025 JOLTS release.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
