Who Are The Highest Paid Video Game Designers? | Best Countries

One of the factors that contribute to some video game designers becoming the highest-paid video game designers in the world is their job location.

Are you a gamer who enjoys playing video games? But have you ever considered how those games are designed and developed?

Yes, the games are designed by professionals, and some of these professionals are well-known for being among the highest-paid video game designers. It’s understandable that no one can simply wake up one day and begin creating a game even if they’re passionate about creating games.

It is expedient that one understands the rudiments of the profession before venturing into it. Before we look at the highest-paid video game designers, we need to clearly understand everything about video game designs.

About Video Game Design

Video game design is the act of developing and designing the contents, storyline, environment, and character of a game.

Game design is a fun, fulfilling, and multifaceted field with a lot of job opportunities. Video game creation requires creative and practical abilities, as well as writing abilities. 

Furthermore, it entails developing engaging stories, characters, goals, rules, and challenges to influence interactions with other characters, users, or objects. Video games can be developed for entertainment or educational purposes. 

Actually, becoming a video game designer is not an easy task because there are vital skills that must be developed in order to be successful in the field. Some of the skills are: 

  • Proper time management,  
  • Patience, 
  • Passion, 
  • Problem-solving skills, 
  • Creativity, 
  • Teamwork spirit,
  • Great writing and speaking skills,
  • Storytelling ability,
  • A detail-oriented mindset is required.
  • Attention to detail,  
  • Technology skills.

The creation of a video game begins with an idea, which is frequently a tweak on an existing model. As earlier said, video game design inspiration can stem up from diverse roots and experiences. But without the essential skills, the video game developed might not be user-friendly and responsive.

Examples of video games are sports games, action games, action-adventure games, puzzle games, strategy games, role-playing games, and lots more.

What Are the Major Reasons for Becoming a Video Game Designer?

Every video game designer has different and unique reasons for choosing their career.  Let’s check out some of the major identified reasons for being a video game designer.  Here are some of the reasons:

1. A friendly and relaxed work environment

The environment of game design is unlike that of any other industry. Employees are motivated, energetic, and creative, and they are living their passion. You also get to experience the ultimate gratification of producing a thing that you love and will make other people happy.

2. Decent salary

Game developers are a component of the broader software development profession.

Video game design is such a lucrative profession that some are already among the highest-paid video game designers. Their salary is competitive and satisfactory.

3. Entertaining people

People of all ages enjoy themselves in an interactive way, whether it’s a fantasy world or a sports field, interactive entertainment is more than just pleasure. And such pleasure cannot be achieved without an entity that will trigger the enjoyment. Video games are one of those pleasure tools. 

So, some people love the fact that their creativity can bring entertainment to other people’s lives.

4. Special and Creative skill-set

You’ll apply intellectual and creative skills as well as technical expertise as a game designer.

Being analytical and methodical is essential when determining how various components of the game will work. For instance, how a character tackles challenges in the game or how the user obtains a score based on mission completion.

Salary Of Video Game Designers 

Video game design can be a profitable career, but it also takes a great deal of effort. Most game developers will need to take a second job while breaking into the industry for the first few years. Many successful game designers advise upcoming video game designers against doing it for the money.

Once you’re recognized as a game designer, you’ll be able to earn a more consistent income. Game designers in the United States earn a starting income of roughly $50k, according to Glassdoor. Senior designers working for large firms, on the other hand, can earn up to $100k per year.

A video game designer’s pay ranges from 40000 to 60000 dollars per year, depending on their level of experience. The average annual pay for video game designers is expected to be $54,000. The highest-paid amount to video game designers is $70, 360 in Washington.

In the United States, video game designers earn about the same as their counterparts in similar fields.

They earn less than computer hardware engineers but more than photonics engineers on average. The average compensation for a video game designer In the United States is roughly $90,270 per year.

A lot of times, years of experience or expertise level can also determine the salary of a videogame designer. 

According to April 2018 PayScale.com salary data, you can receive a large compensation increase as a  video game designer and eventually be promoted to a senior game designer role, where you can earn a higher salary between $66,617 and $120,620.

Let’s look at how much video game designers make on average based on their expertise level:

  • 0 to 5 years: $56,000
  • 5 to 10 years: $71,000
  • 10 to 20 years: $79,000
  • 20 or more years: $98,000

How do Video Game Designers Make Money

The job title of a game developer is unquestionably exciting. Who wouldn’t want to earn money by developing and improving video games?

Many prospective game developers, however, are unaware that there are various ways to make money in this industry. This industry is so large that making money is easier than the designing process.

With today’s popularity of video games, there are a variety of ways to generate money in the game production industry.

Below are some of the ways by which a video game designer can earn up to the point of being one of the highest-paid video game designers.

1. Apply As a Video Game Designer For a Studio 

Working for a large publisher is one of the surest ways to make a livelihood as a game developer.

You can collaborate with a publisher to create a game as a game developer. They’ll buy the finished game, as well as the characters and rights to it.

The transaction will then be completed. You will not receive any additional revenue or incentives as the game’s developer.

There are other methods to generate money as a game developer besides publishing your own game or making a game for a larger publisher.

You may become a significant addition to any workplace by perfecting your expertise in a specialized area of game development.

2. Make More Money By Focusing On a Specialized Area of Game Development

It’s critical to specialize in a specific area of video game production, especially if you want to work in a large firm like Bethesda, Rockstar, and Electronic Arts. Mostly, the game development teams are often hundreds of employees strong. 

Although this approach may appear restrictive to some, it helps you to concentrate your time and talents on becoming the greatest you can be in that one area of development.

If you want to work at a smaller game production studio, though, this method may not be as effective. When working with a small team, game designers must typically be accountable for various areas of the process.

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3. Teach Others Video Game Designing

Sharing your expertise and abilities with ambitious game designers may be extremely rewarding, and it can also provide you with more control over your working hours.

Teaching others can also help you in becoming more sound and passionate about video game designing. Furthermore, this will open another gateway to earning more.

Also, Working as a game design consultant can be a refreshing break after several years in the fast-growing world of game design.

4. Connect With The Right People

Make sure you’re attending both large industry events and smaller local meetups of different game designers. You never know who you might meet who might be able to help you get a job.

Meetups are vital for just meeting the ideal individuals and groups to land a job at a smaller game design company.

5. Selling Game Developer Tools To Game Companies.

Selling tools or assets to other game creators is another way for a game developer to make money. Backgrounds, 3D models, and other things that make the job of a game producer easier might provide a constant source of cash.

You may list tools that answer common problems for other game creators on especially online marketplaces, like the Unity Asset Store. You may be able to sell these assets for a high price and make a living off of this component of game design in some situations.

However, the salary of video game designers might vary based on location.

10 Highest Paying Countries For Video Game Designers

Talking about the best countries for video game designers will basically depend on how much the countries are paying the video game designers.

Despite the fact that there are over 2,000 game production firms worldwide, not every city is made equal.

When it comes to game production, some companies stand out from the crowd. They’re labeled “game development hotbeds” because they have the most game development studios – and thus the most gaming jobs – of any location.

1. USA  $106,120 ( £73,246)

Of course, the United States is home to nearly every major technology company on the globe. It also boasts enormous average salaries for developers.

If you want to work as a developer, the United States is the place to go. It’s home to Facebook, Amazon, Google, Netflix, and a slew of other companies.

2. Switzerland   $101,449 (£70,022)

Switzerland is one of just two countries with six-figure average pay for developers, due to the government incentives to companies through the Commission for Technology and Innovation.

This is one of the locations for the highest-paid video game designer jobs. The only issue is that the standard of living is a bit high.

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3. Denmark — $81,778 (£56,444).

Denmark is the best-paying country for developers in the European Union. Issuu, a platform that allows anyone to publish their own material and has over 90 million monthly viewers, is one success story.

4. Australia   $80,093 (£55,281)

Video game designers and Developers in Australia are among the highest-paid on the planet.

The cost of living is higher in New Zealand than in many of the other countries on the list.

5. Norway   $77,429 (£53,443)

Norway may not be the first country that comes to mind when people think of technology, but it should be for ambitious developers.

Norway’s “EdTech” products, such as Kahoot!, which provides classroom games and assessments, are used by more than 40 million people.

6. Ireland   $76,747 (£52,272)

Ireland is home to Apple’s only headquarters outside of the United States, which explains why the country grew at the quickest rate in the EU in 2015.

The average developer income in the United States is equivalent to 18,058 Big Macs each year.

7. UK   $75,654 (£52,217)

The “Silicon Roundabout” in East London is being spoken in the same language as its Californian equivalent, therefore it’s no surprise that average developer salaries in the United Kingdom are sky-high.

While no one can accuse London of being inexpensive, your salary will still buy you 17,925 Big Macs.

8.  Israel    $74,400 (£51,352)

In Israel, software companies are thriving, with apps like BreezoMeter — which uses a phone to detect air pollution — making waves. The average compensation for their developers is without a doubt a huge draw.

Hopefully, they like Big Macs as well because the wage will pay them $17,447.

9.  New Zealand    $70,727 (£48,817)

New Zealand has a thriving IT scene, as well as some significant pay packages. While its distance from the rest of the world raises the cost of goods, 18,089 Big Macs is still a significant amount of money.

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10. Canada   $70,307 (£48,527)

Montreal is home to some of the world’s biggest video game designers, including Ubisoft, the creator of Assassin’s Creed, so it’s no wonder that the average wage is in the top ten.

It’s also a reasonably priced location so that wage will get you 16,978 Big Macs every year.

Top 10 Richest/Highest Paid Video Game Designers

Much of the video game industry generated money at a time in the early days. Today’s video game designers, on the other hand, aren’t counting pennies; instead, they’re making millions. Some of them are among the world’s wealthiest people.

Playing video games has become an incredible pleasure or, to be more accurate, a fascinating addiction for millions of people all over the world in the previous two decades.

As the number of fans grows, so does the number of game design organizations and gaming businesses.

1. Sony Computer Entertainment   ($13.4 billion)

Sony produced a breakthrough Playstation console system by focusing on technology and innovation.

SIE Worldwide Studios (a group of video game developers owned by Sony Interactive Entertainment) produces popular projects including God of War, Gran Turismo, and Turismo Sport today, including Guerilla Games and Insomniac Games.

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2. Microsoft Studios    ($12.82 billion)

Microsoft is an exclusive publisher for Xbox and Windows, and it also develops its own games.

As a Microsoft subsidiary, it serves as a designer for Windows, Steam, and all Xbox versions. For example, it aided in the development of Gears of War, Halo, Minecraft, and other well-known titles.

3. Nintendo   ($6.28 billion)

Another Japanese firm has made the list of the world’s wealthiest gaming companies. Nintendo is one of the three best game development firms of all time, thanks to its handheld devices and some amazing initiatives.

When you see the Nintendo logo, the first things that come to mind are Mario, Pokemon, and The Legend of Zelda.

This is one of the highest-paid video game designers.

4. SEGA   ($4.9 billion)

You can express your gratitude to this corporation for creating Sonic the Hedgehog and Pac-Man. Sega is an acronym for “Service Games,” in case you didn’t know.

The studio is mostly focused on the arcade style. Apart from Sonic the Hedgehog, Sega’s most well-known projects are Total War, Football Manager, and Virtual Tennis.

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5. Activision Blizzard  ($4.85 billion)

The company was formed in 2008 when Activision and Vivendi Games merged.

Activision Blizzard is one of the top three game development firms in the United States, with subsidiaries such as Infinity Ward and Treyarch.

Call of Duty, Warcraft, Starcraft, Diablo, and Guitar Hero are just a few of Activision Blizzard’s many successful titles. And they pay one of the highest-paid Video game designer’s salaries.

6. Namco Bandai  ($4.74 billion)

This is most likely the list’s oldest game design firm. Masaya Nakamura, another Japanese entrepreneur, launched it in 1955.

The company’s name isn’t as well-known as the others, but when you think of Dragon ball Z or Naruto, you should know that Namco Bandai was behind it all.

7. Electronic Arts  ($4.14 billion)

Electronic Arts have been creating game masterpieces since 1982. Millions of FIFA enthusiasts all across the world were blown away by their most recent release.

Due to the popularity of FIFA, NHL, NFL, and MMA, many players identify EA with sports simulations.

However, the studio has released a slew of other hugely popular videogames in the recent decade. Consider The Sims and Crysis.

8. Konami   ($3.24 billion)

Konami was founded in Osaka, Japan, 50 years ago, in 1969. It is well known for Pro Evolution Soccer, a popular soccer simulator. Silent Hill, Castlevania, and Dance Dance Revolution are among the other prominent titles.

9. Ubisoft ($1.85 billion)

The Guillemot brothers started one of the world’s iconic top gaming studios in 1986 in France.

It has a dozen superhero games under its belt, but its most well-known works are Prince of Persia, Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, and the Tom Clancy series.

10. Square Enix  ($1.26 billion)

Square Enix specializes in arcade and role-playing games, and their most well-known titles include Space Invaders, Danus, and Final Fantasy.

The most recent one was made available on all major gaming platforms.

Square pays one of the highest Video game designers’ salaries.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much do video game designers make?

The average hourly wage for video game designers is $40.13, with monthly salaries ranging from $3,559 to $11,227. The average yearly pay is $83,470, with the possibility of earning up to $134,723 each year.

What do video game designers do?

The concepts of video games are created by game designers. They are involved in the creation of video game genres, environments, stories, characters, gameplay systems, goals, and user experiences. A game designer is a person who comes up with ideas for a video game.

How can I become a video game designer?

To become a video game designer, you need to follow these steps:

Learn more about video game design.
Get adequate knowledge  (find quality training)
Begin compiling a portfolio of your game design work.
Obtain an internship in game design (or volunteer)
Apply for video game design jobs
Make the hiring process a breeze (screenings & interviews)

Is video game design a good career to choose?

Working in the video game industry is one of the most gratifying jobs on the globe, but it’s also one of the most difficult, requiring a unique set of abilities and even personalities to succeed.

What are the exceptional skills that a video game designer must possess?

Here are the vital skills a video game designer must have:

Proper time management,  
Patience, 
Passion, 
Problem-solving skills, 
Creativity, 
Teamwork spirit,
Great writing and speaking skills,
Storytelling ability,
A detail-oriented mindset is required.
Attention to detail,  
Technology skills.

Conclusion

Finally, video game designers are handsomely compensated for their extraordinary ability. However, this is entirely dependent on the designer’s location. For a multitude of reasons, developers choose their profession. 

Working as a video game producer can be financially as well as personally gratifying.

We hope you enjoyed reading this article on the highest-paid video game designers, their salaries, and job prospects. In case of questions, get back to us in the comment section.

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