The 2026 games industry layoff projection ticked up to 14,259 — up 381 (+2.7%) from a July 10, 2026 forecast of 13,878, based on data from game job champion Amir Satvat.
In the past few weeks, somethings changed, including Microsoft’s announcement that it had laid off 1,600 game workers and it would lay off another 1,600 in the next year. So far this year, there have been 105 layoffs in gaming in 2026.
Satvat said that confirmed layoffs (actuals) rose from 9,464 to 9,781 since the previous forecast — a 317-person increase (+3%) — reflecting newly reported studio closures and workforce reductions. The forecast for the remainder of the year ticked up from 4,414 to 4,478 (+1.4%), a modest revision upward.
The bigger picture: Since Satvat’s first ASGC (Always Supporting the Games Community) forecast on January 6, 2026 (which projected 8,025 for the year), the projected total has climbed by 78%. The five-year cumulative total (2022–2026P) now stands at an estimated 58,087 layoffs. For context, 2024 remains the peak year at 15,631, but 2026 is already tracking above 2022 (8,500) and 2023 (10,500) and 2025 (9,197), with two more quarters to go in the year.
Key takeaway: The pace of layoffs is accelerating faster than Satvat’s models initially predicted, with 9,781 confirmed through July 26 and a rising forecast.
2026 YTD Breakdown (105 Layoff Events, 9,572 Affected)
Year to date, there have been 105 layoffs, with layoff events coming in at 0.7 per workday. North America accounted for 66% of all of the layoff events, for a total of 69 layoffs. And 95 of layoffs were in North America and Europe.
Regional concentration: North America accounts for 66% of all layoff events and ~79% of affected workers. The United States leads with ~48% of all events, followed by Canada at ~17%. Europe represents ~30% of events.
Concentration risk: The top five largest events account for approximately 56% of all layoffs, and the top two alone represent ~44%. Industry cuts remain highly concentrated around a few large-scale reductions.