Josh Sawyer, who has dedicated 26 years to gaming and currently serves as the design director at Obsidian, recently spoke at the GCAP game development conference in Melbourne, Australia. In his talk, he reflected on the precariousness of job security within the industry.

“I’ve never really felt secure in a job. Even now. Less so now, actually,” he remarked, signifying a troubling trend despite his extensive experience with notable titles like Fallout: New Vegas and Pillars of Eternity.

Sawyer reviewed how the gaming landscape has shifted drastically since his first role in 1999, pointing out that where developers once worked in small teams, the trend now leans towards larger, less stable setups. Furthermore, he observed an uptick in contract work and a decline in long-term positions, contributing to a volatile employment atmosphere – a scenario that he sees diverging from when he first started.

With the development cycles stretching longer, from 10 months to now anywhere between five to eight years, Sawyer noted the impact such changes have on developers’ well-being and job stability. He concluded his observations with a sense of caution, indicating that for many developers today, the feeling of uncertainty looms as large as ever.