Immersive & Gaming Recruitment: 2025 Hiring Trends
Curious about the latest trends in immersive & gaming recruitment heading into 2025? Whether you’re expanding your studio, scaling up for a major release or planning your next big career move, the timing of your decisions can be just as important as the move itself.
In fast-paced industries like gaming and immersive technology, there’s rarely a “perfect” time to hire or change roles. Studios can get greenlit overnight, projects can pivot fast and talent moves quickly. That’s why we went straight to the source – developers, creative leads, tech strategists, and hiring managers – to find out when they expect the most action in 2025.
The results give us a snapshot of when hiring is likely to surge, and when talent might be most open to making their next move.
When will businesses be hiring next?
According to our 2025 survey, 50% of gaming and immersive tech employers are planning to hire new talent within the next 6 months. Interestingly, no respondents said they’re holding off until the next 1 to 2 years, while 17% revealed they’re not hiring at all right now.
What does this tell us? The majority of businesses in the gaming and immersive space are actively hiring in the short term – great news if you’re looking for your next opportunity. This hiring momentum reflects growing confidence across the sector, likely fuelled by continued innovation in immersive experiences, next-gen game development and the need for highly skilled, future-focused talent.
When will professionals start their next job search?
The gaming and immersive job market is still moving, just with a slightly more measured energy. Our latest survey found that 41% of professionals in this space are planning to explore new opportunities within the next 6 months. Meanwhile, 19% are considering a change later in the year, and 27% are staying put for now.
So, what does that mean? For candidates, it could be a great time to stand out with fewer people actively job-hunting right now. For hiring managers, it’s a clear signal: the talent is out there, but they’re not rushing to move. If you want to spark interest, you’ll need to go beyond just the role. Think compelling growth paths, standout projects, and flexible ways of working – those are the factors that will help you cut through the noise and attract the right immersive tech professionals.
Get your immersive & gaming recruitment strategy in place
When you look at both sides of the equation – companies hiring and professionals considering new roles – there’s a clear alignment that hiring managers should take full advantage of.
On the employer side, 50% of gaming and immersive businesses are planning to hire in the next 6 months, showing strong short-term demand for fresh talent. Meanwhile, 41% of professionals in the space say they’re also looking to explore new opportunities within that same timeframe. That’s a valuable overlap – both sides are active, but cautiously so.
This creates the perfect window for hiring managers: a solid pool of talent is open to conversations, and businesses are primed to make strategic hires. However, with 27% of candidates staying put for now and 17% of companies not hiring, competition for the most engaged talent could still be tight.
The key takeaway? Hiring managers should act decisively but thoughtfully. With professionals being more selective, it’s crucial to make roles stand out with clear progression paths, purpose-driven projects, and flexible working options. If you can align your hiring push with what candidates are quietly looking for, you’ll be in a strong position to attract the right people, while others wait for the “perfect” moment.
Looking for more immersive & gaming recruitment trends?
Our 2025 Gaming & Immersive Tech Salary Survey report has it all! Download a free copy and get all the latest insights.
If you’re hiring talent, submit your vacancy and we’ll be in touch!
