Aaron Jason Espinoza, Advanced Senior Community Manager at Insomniac, has taken to X to discourage people from pursuing gaming industry careers amidst uncertainties and layoffs. This comes as quite a bit of a shock as industry-accredited professionals always look forward to new minds joining them.
However, this brutal statement by Mr. Espinoza confirms one thing, the gaming industry is in deep trouble and nobody who is working in it is safe. In spite of blockbuster releases this year, the industry continues to be in dire straits financially.
In times of growing crisis, it seems that the ominous post and the series of comments underneath come as a timely reminder for people aspiring to careers in the industry to choose their paths wisely.
Senior Developer at Insomniac Throws Caution to the Winds
Aaron Jason Espinoza is a renowned community manager for Insomniac. But he recently took to X to express his views regarding careers in the gaming industry. Upon multiple requests on how to secure a position of his stature, he posted his answer in the form of a post on X and commented his thoughts underneath it.
He branded it “irresponsible” to encourage people to pursue a career in the gaming industry. He also reiterated that in spite of his efforts to stay optimistic, the current scenario of the gaming industry prevents him from doing so.
Furthermore, he added some helpful bits for people who are still interested in a career in the industry despite the situation saying,
But if you really want to find a path: learning communication is key. That doesn’t matter if you’re doing that in gaming or otherwise – if you can prove effective communication, it’ll work in your favor. Experiment and land non-gaming roles, with the end game being gaming.
He also spoke in depth about his personal experience in the industry, resorting to metaphors and his own trajectory,
My personal experience was just that: sights on the goal, but picking up the essentials to get there, wherever I could. Sometimes the route is scenic. Sometimes, it’s simply the inconvenient detour, as in it’s not as pretty.
For those who felt discouraged by his statements, he did end with a ray of hope. He did not ask them to give up. Instead, he tried to motivate them otherwise saying,
I caveat that the games workforce has proven volatile as of late. Whether due to layoffs or discourse, there’s a lot that’ll likely discourage you. And again, truthfully, I don’t fault you for that. Maybe consider something else in the meantime and come back when you feel ready.
His advice is pretty simple – build your own career somewhere else and then move to gaming when you feel you are ready.
Careers in the Gaming Industry and Its Future
Things have never looked more bleak for the industry than they do now. With the global recession ongoing, it is no wonder that the industry is suffering too. But instead of taking the necessary steps to combat the issue, the industry seems to be intent on powering through, no matter how many layoffs are needed.
What did you make of Mr. Espinoza’s comments? Did his words deter you from pursuing a career in the gaming industry? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
