Video Game Designers
Design core features of video games. Specify innovative game and role-play mechanics, story lines, and character biographies. Create and maintain design documentation. Guide and collaborate with production staff to produce games as designed.
$104,000 a year (for the broader BLS group this job sits in).
of the working time. Estimate.
- 85%
- 15%
- 0%
Measured, from Anthropic's usage data (2025). Counts help on part of a task.
On the chosen pace and reliability. Estimate.
Share of the working time within reach, now to 2030
What each choice means: , , , , . Every pace starts from .
At this date and pace, models finish tasks up to 4.4 h long four times in five.
How far this has come
With GPT-4, measured in March 2023, 0% of this job's working time was within reach at . With Claude 3.7 Sonnet, measured in February 2025, 0%. With Claude Mythos Preview (early), measured in April 2026, 7%. Today's estimate: 11%.
A backcast: today's task data with the best model METR had measured by each date. It shows how fast the models have moved, not what anyone forecast at the time.
The tasks
Sorted by . 24 tasks from .
| Task | Kind | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balance and adjust gameplay experiences to ensure the critical and commercial success of the product.Done daily by most who do it. | 12% | 6.7 h1.7 h to 2.5 work days | 8%Half by Sep 2027 | |
| Develop and maintain design level documentation, including mechanics, guidelines, and mission outlines.Done more than monthly by most who do it. | 12% | 6.7 h1.7 h to 2.5 work days | 8%Half by Sep 2027 | |
| Document all aspects of formal game design, using mock-up screenshots, sample menu layouts, gameplay flowcharts, and other graphical devices.Done more than yearly by most who do it. | 12% | 1.3 work days2.5 h to 3.3 work days | 4%Half by Dec 2027 | |
| Create core game features, including storylines, role-play mechanics, and character biographies for a new video game or game franchise.Done more than weekly by most who do it. | 12% | 3.3 work days6.7 h to 2 work weeks | 0%Half by Oct 2028 | |
| Create and manage documentation, production schedules, prototyping goals, and communication plans in collaboration with production staff.Done more than weekly by most who do it. | 10% | 5 h2.5 h to 2.5 work days | 17%Half by Apr 2027 | |
| Devise missions, challenges, or puzzles to be encountered in game play.Done more than weekly by most who do it. | 8% | 5 h1.7 h to 1.7 work days | 17%Half by Apr 2027 | |
| Write or supervise the writing of game text and dialogue.Done more than monthly by most who do it. | 7% | 6.7 h1.7 h to 3.3 work days | Stays with people | |
| Determine supplementary virtual features, such as currency, item catalog, menu design, and audio direction.Done more than monthly by most who do it. AI observed on this task. | 3% | 6.7 h1.7 h to 2.5 work days | 8%Half by Sep 2027 | |
| Solicit, obtain, and integrate feedback from design and technical staff into original game design.Done more than weekly by most who do it. | 3% | 2.5 h50 min to 6.7 h | Stays with people | |
| Collaborate with artists to achieve appropriate visual style.Done more than monthly by most who do it. AI observed on this task. | 2% | 2.5 h50 min to 1 work day | Stays with people | |
| Oversee gameplay testing to ensure intended gaming experience and game adherence to original vision.Done more than monthly by most who do it. | 2% | 6.7 h1.7 h to 2.5 work days | 8%Half by Sep 2027 | |
| Create gameplay prototypes for presentation to creative and technical staff and management.Done more than monthly by most who do it. | 2% | 1.7 work days3.3 h to 1 work week | 2%Half by Apr 2028 |
Within reach, per task: the share of the task's time whose instances are short enough for a model to finish at the chosen date, pace and reliability. Half by: the date half of that time comes within reach.
Jobs that share skills with this one
From O*NET's related occupations. Within reach now and by the end of 2028, long-run pace, four in five.
Where this job works
The industry groups that employ the most of it (BLS, May 2025). Counts are for the broader BLS group this job sits in.
- Computer Systems Design and Related Services17,950 people
- Software Publishers16,970 people
- Management of Companies and Enterprises6,280 people
- Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services6,140 people
- Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers4,900 people
Where the most of these jobs are
The metro areas with the most people in it (BLS, May 2025). Counts are for the broader BLS group this job sits in.