The complete list of gaming jobs

Many people want to work in gaming, an industry that revolves around many of our favourite pastime in video games, but it can be hard to know where to start. Though we’ve already put together the ultimate guide for getting a job in gaming, as well as getting a job in esports for those who love competition, there are so many different avenues to consider.

Both gaming and esports consist of much more than simply those who make games and those that play them, and the options for a potential career in these areas are growing all the time as the sectors themselves do. If you’ve a passion for gaming but don’t know exactly where you could fit into the industry, this list will show you the many facets of the industry to help you get going.

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Game programming

A lot goes into bringing a game to life from storyboards and rough plans, to ensuring the in-game physics work as planned and the product is up to scratch graphically. Here, you make the magic happen!

• AI

• Engine

• Gameplay

• Graphics

• Network

• Physics

• Tools

• UI

Game design

Creating the design and wonderful aesthetics for a game is a multi-faceted job. There’s a lot that goes into creating the bundles of joy (or horror, if you’re into that thing) we play on a daily basis.

• Direction

• Economy

• Interaction

• Level

• Narrative

• Quest

• Systems

• UI

• UX

• World

Game art

Combine technology with creativity by working in game art, bringing concepts and environments to life. Be an important part of the game-making process!

• Concept

• Environment

• Model

• Technical

• Texture

• UI

• UX

Game animation

Often a complicated job, getting into game animation may not always be easy but it’s definitely satisfying when you perfect what you’re working on!

• Cinematics

• Generalist

• Motion Capture

• Particle

• Programmer

• Technical

Game audio

Audio is often the unsung hero in the umbrella of game design. You may not realize just how pivotal audio can be to the gaming experience, but imagine how unsatisfying it would be if the iconic “Overkill” voice line was removed from Halo!

• Composition

• Design

• Direction

• Engineering

• Programmer

• QA

• Voice

Game quality assurance

If you’re good at finding glitches, bugs, and irregularities in games then look no further, you’ve likely found the department you’ve always been looking for.

• Analysis

• Automation

• Certification

• Compatibility

• Compliance

• Engineering

• Interrupt

• Lead

• Localization

• Performance

• Platform

• SDET

• Submission

• Testing

Game production

The main stage of game development, production is where you bring an exciting project to life. There are plenty of roles here to pursue!

• Executive

• Live Operations

• Project Management

• Prototyping

• Publishing

• Release Management

• Storyboarding

• Studio Management

Marketing

It’s one thing to build a game, event, or product and an entirely other thing to promote it. Marketing is a vast department filled up with plenty of interesting activities and roles.

• Brand

• Community

• Content

• Digital

• Ecommerce

• Influencer

• Public Relations

• Prodcut

• User Acqusition

• Social Media

Competition

The world of esports goes far beyond competing as a player. It needs a bunch of dedicated people to help the players compete at their highest level, remain fair and honest, and be the best option for their team or organization.

• Admin

• Analyst

• Coach

• Manager

• Nutritionist

• Physical Trainer

• Player

• Psychologist

• Referee

• Scout

Talent

Events need broadcast talent to tie everything together, as well as educating and entertaining viewers; streamers and creators have proven pivotal to keeping eyeballs on a game. It’s not for everyone, but becoming talent or a creator puts you centre-stage!

• Agent

• Analyst

• Caster

• Content Creator

• Host

• Interviewer

• Streamer

Education

Want to play a major part in educating the next wave of heroes who help bring video games and esports to life? Here’s your chance.

• Program Development

• Teaching

Legal

In an industry full of IP, trademarks, and rights, the impact those who work in legal have cannot be understated.

• Compliance

• Counsel

• Employment

• Licensing

• Merger & Acquisition

Data

Working with data may not be for everybody, but if it interests you then you’ll be pleased to know there are plenty of opportunities here.

• Administration

• Analysis

• Engineering

• Science

Commercial

Often working hand-in-hand with marketing, the commercial department plays a pivotal role in making projects successful! It has to be built, then it has to be sold.

• Account Management

• Ad Operations

• Business Development

• B2B

• B2C

• Game Monetization

• Partnerships

• Revenue Strategist

Research

Researchers help provide context to the past, present, and future of gaming, from providing a better understanding on the demographics in gaming to projecting where the industry is going in the years to come.

• Academic

• Consumer

• Market

• UX

Content

Content is not only used to enrich the gaming experience, it keeps us all entertained outside of the server. From featuring on-camera to bringing footage together and wrapping it up in a pretty bow, content is pivotal in this industry.

• Cinematography

• Game Capture

• Graphic Design

• Motion Graphic Design

• Post-Production

• Video Editing

Human resources

Toby Flenderson, the human resources manager in The Office, didn’t get the respect he deserved. Keeping employees happy, safe, and surrounded by other hard-working staff members is a tall task but we thank you, HR heroes!

• Business Partner

• Compensation & Benefits

• Diversity & Inclusion

• Employer Branding

• Health & Safety

• Training & Development

• Recruiter

Finance

It may not be the most glamorous of professions, but finance is the lifeblood of gaming. Without those in accounting and analysis, a lot of our most important and exciting businesses may not be here today.

• Accounting

• Analysis

• Auditing

• Payroll

• Procurement

• Tax

Software & Web

Whether you're developing, designing, or testing software applications, engineering is a highly responsible and key facet of gaming. It often pays pretty darn well too, which is always nice!

• App

• Backend

• Full-stack

• Frontend

• Web Designer

• Web Developer

• Administrative Support
• Executive Assistant
  
• Facilities Support
• Front of House
• Office

• Creative Director
• Department
• Operations
• Product
• Program
• Project
• Strategy

IT

IT isn't unique to gaming and esports, but considering every aspect of our industry is built upon technology then the industry needs you engineers, support heroes, and technological aficionados!

• DevOps

• Networking

• Security Engineering

• System Administration

• Tech Support

Media

Media highlights all of the happenings in gaming and esports, both good and bad, putting a spotlight on many of the industry’s victories and helping to keep bad actors to account. They document the past and look to the future, serving an important role in the rise and safeguarding of the sector.

• Editor

• Journalist

• Photographer

• Videographer

Customer service

Customers (us gamers, that is) are imperative to the games industry. Without gamers, there’d simply be no point in companies building games. Customer support staff help keep gamers happy, which could well be one of the most thankless but paramount jobs out there!

• Customer Support

• Developer Support

• Technical Support

Broadcast

The difference between a good event and an amazing event can sometimes be down to the production quality. It’s not always easy, but working in broadcasting is a pivotal role in helping events live up to their full potential.

• Camera

  • DOP

  • Supervisor

  • Director

  • Operator

  • Engineer

  • Assistant

• Floor Manager
• Graphics
• In-game Observer
• Lighting
• Producer
• Scriptwriting
• Sound Engineering
• Stream Engineering
• Replays

Events

From game reveals to award shows to esports events with thousands of ecstatic spectators in a packed-out arena, events drive a lot of the hype in this industry. There are plenty of different roles that need to be filled to pull off these highly technical affairs.

• AV

  • Audio

  • Lighting

  • Set / Stage Design

  • Electrics

• Hospitality
• In-game Observer
• Licensing
• Logistics
• Player Manager
• Talent Manager

Now you know exactly what it takes to keep both gaming and esports going on the back-end. It’s a vast industry that requires knowledge and experience from a myriad of places to keep it going and growing. Now, get choosing and work towards your dream job!

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