As we enter the penultimate month of 2024, it’s disheartening to note that the slumping job market in the video game industry is even worse than the already difficult situation in 2023.
The recent disbanding of the team behind Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown struck a chord with many, including English actor Ben Starr, who voices several video game characters, such as Clive Rosfield in Final Fantasy XVI and Prometheus in the upcoming Hades II. Starr expressed his disappointment to GamesRadar+, saying, “I hope we can find a way to rectify it. It’s sad because I love these games.”
This isn’t the first time Starr has spoken out about significant layoffs in the video game industry. Last year, before winning Best Lead Artist at the Golden Joystick for his role in Final Fantasy XVI, he was asked if he thought 2023 was the best year for video games. He acknowledged that while it was “an amazing year for video games produced, it didn’t necessarily reflect a thriving industry.” At the time, he held out a glimmer of hope for improvement, stating, “Hopefully, this is the worst that can happen; I’m afraid not.”
Sadly, that optimism hasn’t materialized. Starr candidly commented that the situation “continues” to deteriorate. He noted, “There are a lot of companies making tough decisions, leading to the loss of exceptional talent in the industry, contributing to a significant brain drain.”
As someone deeply connected to gaming and invested in the well-being of its workforce, Starr expressed his hope: “I just want people to stay in the industry. I hope that something positive comes out of this, that people find new opportunities, and that new creativity emerges from these challenges. I hope that there’s a safety net for creatives to come together and produce amazing work, whether it’s in the AAA, AA, or indie sectors.”
Do you think 2025 will bring a brighter future for the industry? Let us know what you think! Be sure to join our 80 Level Talent platform and our new Discord server, and follow us on Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Telegram, TikTok, and Threads for all the latest news, analysis, amazing artwork, and more.
This isn’t the first time Starr has spoken out about significant layoffs in the video game industry. Last year, before winning Best Lead Artist at the Golden Joystick for his role in Final Fantasy XVI, he was asked if he thought 2023 was the best year for video games. He acknowledged that while it was “an amazing year for video games produced, it didn’t necessarily reflect a thriving industry.” At the time, he held out a glimmer of hope for improvement, stating, “Hopefully, this is the worst that can happen; I’m afraid not.”
Sadly, that optimism hasn’t materialized. Starr candidly commented that the situation “continues” to deteriorate. He noted, “There are a lot of companies making tough decisions, leading to the loss of exceptional talent in the industry, contributing to a significant brain drain.”
As someone deeply connected to gaming and invested in the well-being of its workforce, Starr expressed his hope: “I just want people to stay in the industry. I hope that something positive comes out of this, that people find new opportunities, and that new creativity emerges from these challenges. I hope that there’s a safety net for creatives to come together and produce amazing work, whether it’s in the AAA, AA, or indie sectors.”
Do you think 2025 will bring a brighter future for the industry? Let us know what you think! Be sure to join our 80 Level Talent platform and our new Discord server, and follow us on Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Telegram, TikTok, and Threads for all the latest news, analysis, amazing artwork, and more.
This isn’t the first time Starr has spoken out about significant layoffs in the video game industry. Last year, before winning Best Lead Artist at the Golden Joystick for his role in Final Fantasy XVI, he was asked if he thought 2023 was the best year for video games. He acknowledged that while it was “an amazing year for video games produced, it didn’t necessarily reflect a thriving industry.” At the time, he held out a glimmer of hope for improvement, stating, “Hopefully, this is the worst that can happen; I’m afraid not.”
Sadly, that optimism hasn’t materialized. Starr candidly commented that the situation “continues” to deteriorate. He noted, “There are a lot of companies making tough decisions, leading to the loss of exceptional talent in the industry, contributing to a significant brain drain.”
As someone deeply connected to gaming and invested in the well-being of its workforce, Starr expressed his hope: “I just want people to stay in the industry. I hope that something positive comes out of this, that people find new opportunities, and that new creativity emerges from these challenges. I hope that there’s a safety net for creatives to come together and produce amazing work, whether it’s in the AAA, AA, or indie sectors.”
Do you think 2025 will bring a brighter future for the industry? Let us know what you think! Be sure to join our 80 Level Talent platform and our new Discord server, and follow us on Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Telegram, TikTok, and Threads for all the latest news, analysis, amazing artwork, and more.
