Introduction
The gaming industry has grown rapidly over the past decade, and game developers are at the forefront of this growth. With new technologies and platforms emerging all the time, there is a constant need for talented game developers to create engaging and innovative games for players around the world. In this article, we will explore how many game developers there are in the world 2021 and what factors are driving this growth.
The Rise of Game Development
Game development has come a long way since its early days. In the past, game development was a small, niche industry with only a handful of talented programmers working on games in their basements. However, with the advent of new technologies and platforms, game development has become a multi-billion dollar industry that employs millions of people around the world.
One of the key factors driving the growth of game development is the increasing popularity of gaming as a form of entertainment. With the rise of smartphones and mobile devices, gaming has become more accessible than ever before, with billions of people playing games on their phones and tablets every day. This has created a huge demand for new and innovative games, which in turn has led to a growing number of game developers.
Another factor driving the growth of game development is the increasing use of cloud-based technologies. Cloud-based gaming platforms like Google Stadia and Microsoft Xbox Series X/S allow players to stream high-quality games directly from their devices, without the need for expensive hardware. This has opened up a whole new market for game developers, as they can now create games that are accessible to a wider audience.
The Impact of COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic has also had a significant impact on the gaming industry and the number of game developers. With many people spending more time at home, gaming has become an even more popular form of entertainment. This has led to a surge in demand for new games and a corresponding increase in the number of game developers.
According to a report by Newzoo, the number of gamers worldwide grew from 2.1 billion in 2019 to 2.5 billion in 2020. This represents an increase of over 16%, and is largely due to the fact that more people were spending time at home during the pandemic. The report also predicts that the number of gamers will continue to grow in the coming years, reaching 2.8 billion by 2022.
The Role of Education
Education has also played a significant role in the growth of game development. As gaming has become more mainstream, there has been a growing interest in educational programs that teach game development skills. Many universities and colleges now offer degrees and courses in game design, programming, and art, which have helped to produce a new generation of talented game developers.
One example of this is the Game Design and Development program at the University of California, Santa Cruz. This program teaches students everything from game design and programming to 3D modeling and animation, preparing them for careers in the gaming industry. According to the program’s website, many of its graduates have gone on to work at some of the biggest game development studios in the world, including Epic Games, Activision, and Ubisoft.
The Future of Game Development
As the gaming industry continues to grow, there is no doubt that the number of game developers will continue to rise as well. With new technologies and platforms emerging all the time, there is a constant need for talented game developers to create engaging and innovative games for players around the world.
One area where we are likely to see significant growth in game development is the use of augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technologies.