It was 8:50 a.m. I was just about to log into work. 

Before I could open my laptop, my phone buzzed. It was a Microsoft Teams notification from my supervisor informing me of a surprise meeting with human resources at 9 a.m.

I knew then that my time as a marketing assistant at video game company Wargaming was up.

At 8:53 a.m. I read an email from higher-ups about the “difficult decision” they’d made to let me, and several others, go. HR, they said, would give me more details on my compensation.

Remcy Pimentel, a graphic designer at Wargaming who lives in Seattle, also got the news early that day in mid-January. “Staff reduction” was the reason she was given for her termination. Eventually, we were told that the Cyprus-based company needed to cut costs.

We were unemployed and hadn’t even had our morning coffee.

“It felt like a last resort,” Pimental said. “I know that the company has tried to prevent such things from happening.”

Layoffs in the gaming industry are nothing new. According to a survey conducted by the Game Developers Conference, 11% of developers say they were laid off in 2024.

At the start of 2025, many other studios have faced layoffs. In late February, Warner Bros. closed three studios, including Monolith, the studio behind popular games such as F.E.A.R and Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor. The studio was founded in 1994.

It feels like a gut punch. Many of those laid off will leave the industry altogether. Their experience, skill and mentorship will leave with them.The employment crisis in this industry shows no signs of stopping.

But what do you do after being laid off?

At first, still in shock, I rolled with the punches. I took the Brown Line to my office to turn in my company-issued laptop.

Since then, as my graduation from DePaul approaches, I’ve been weighing whether or not I should continue working in the gaming industry.

Video games are a passion for so many.

Workers in the industry don’t get rich, but the people who play and create games stay for the art of it all. They’ve endured burnout, sexual harassment and layoffs to produce something that will hopefully make someone smile.

My own experience at Wargaming was largely positive.

That January day when I got laid off, I received supportive messages from colleagues and friends. Pimentel did too.

“The flood of DMs I got that day were a lot,” she said. She got so many she couldn’t respond to them all.

When I got to the office, my colleagues gathered around my desk. I said goodbye to my comrades, exchanging hugs and handshakes.

On that day, I didn’t feel alone, and I’m grateful for that.

Based on the pained expressions I saw on the faces of my bosses, I — like my coworker Pimental — don’t believe the decision to lay people off was made lightly.

But it’s difficult to endure when even employees who work for companies with the most successful games are not safe.

In February, NetEase announced that its mega-hit hero-shooter game Marvel Rivals had 40 million players and that the company’s yearly revenue for 2024 reached $11.5 billion.

Hours earlier, the company had confirmed layoffs at its Seattle-based support studio that helped make the game.

John Nolan, a junior studying computer science at DePaul, is also upset by the widespread industry layoffs and a job market for video games that is “not so great.”

Video games have been a beacon for many of us. I loved playing through the entire Halo series with my friends during the pandemic.

“Games are supposed to be fun,” Nolan said.

He, too, sees how this industry can rip your heart out.

I have spent the last month feeling depressed. I’ve fallen behind in my schoolwork and I’m more irritable.

I know I’m slowly getting better. The gap in my life will be filled by another job eventually.

Pimentel always tries to maintain positivity, but finding outlets to express her moments of sadness is important to her.

“I would like to say that there is positivity, and things will be alright,” she said.

I’m lucky that my chosen major, public relations, has a lot of job options.

I still find myself pausing on job postings for video game studios. I get excited and then ask myself how long this job could feasibly last.

I love video games. I took pride in giving this industry all I could.

I may be lucky enough to give my all again, but it may take a while for the industry to regain my trust.

For now, I’m not holding my breath.

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