CLICK HERE TO TAKE THE 2024 GAMEWORKERS.ORG RATES AND CONDITIONS SURVEY
LOS ANGELES, CA — Building on the momentum of last year’s first-ever survey by the union, the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) announced the launch of the 2024 Gameworkers.org Rates and Conditions Survey, Thursday. This annual initiative reflects IATSE’s commitment to championing the rights and working conditions of video game industry professionals during one of the industry’s most challenging periods.
Last year’s survey revealed critical insights into the lives of game workers, highlighting industry-wide issues with pay equity, overtime, and lack of job security. Since, workers at 2K Motion Capture in Petaluma, CA, took a historic step by voting to unionize with IATSE—a testament to the growing call for representation in this rapidly evolving sector.
“Video games represent a new frontier in the entertainment labor movement. Those who create games deserve the same rights and protections that workers in other areas of the entertainment industry already have,” said Chrissy Fellmeth, a Video Game Workers Organizer for IATSE. “Surveys like these aren’t just data — they give game workers a voice, especially in these turbulent times.”
The survey comes as the video game industry grapples with significant layoffs. In 2023, over 10,000 workers lost their jobs, and 2024 has proven even harsher, with an additional 14,000 job cuts in the first nine months. Many have anecdotally reported these layoffs have led to understaffing, which has worsened conditions, increased crunch, and more lowered employee morale for those who remain employed. The media and trade publications have said this is the most difficult period for game workers in years, and the 2024 survey aims to measure the effects of these layoffs and provide a clear picture of the industry’s current landscape.
IATSE is calling on all video game workers—regardless of employment status or union membership—to take part in the survey. Participation is confidential and will not be shared with any employer, with responses aggregated to protect individual identities. Submissions will help shape the future of advocacy for game workers, providing critical data to inform strategies for improving pay, working conditions, and job stability.
“Last year’s results demonstrated the power of collective data in shedding light on industry realities,” said IATSE International President Matthew D. Loeb. “As the challenges facing game workers grow, it’s even more vital to understand their experiences. This survey is a tool to not only measure the impact of these difficulties but to chart a path forward.”
Submissions for the 2024 survey will be open through February 16th, 2025. From there, results will be shared publicly in a detailed report, helping to inform IATSE’s advocacy efforts, legislative initiatives, and future organizing campaigns.
It’s time to press ‘Start’ on building a better future for video game workers. Participate in the 2024 Gameworkers.org Rates and Conditions Survey today: iatse.co/gw-2024-survey
