When I first decided to pursue a career as a Video Game Designer, the narrative was clear: the industry was booming, expanding at a rapid pace, and landing a job would be a breeze. Fast forward six years: I’ve got my degree as a 3D Environment Artist, a Masters, and even a 16-month post-master’s course under my belt. I’m highly qualified, armed with everything I need to step into the world of video game development. My expectations? Through the roof.

But here’s the kicker: getting a job wasn’t so easy after all. Imagine spending all that time, energy, and money on your education only to be met with polite, “Thank you, but no thank you” emails. Seriously, it felt like the universe was playing a cruel joke. I started asking myself, “Wait a minute… wasn’t this supposed to be a sure thing?”

With the job hunt hitting a dead-end, I decided it was time to go back to basics—networking. Since I live in Barcelona, my first stop was Madrid, where I figured I could meet some people, share my story, and maybe, just maybe, catch a break. In early December, I went to Gamergy, a small event tucked away in part of a university. I had imagined something bigger—maybe more like the sprawling gaming conventions I’d seen online. Instead, Gamergy was intimate and focused mostly on recent graduates showing off their student projects. It was low-key, more of a showcase for young hopefuls than the networking hub I had pictured.

Despite the size, I thought I’d make the best of it. After all, every connection counts, right? I met a few people, saw some interesting projects, but it wasn’t the big break I had hoped for. That’s when I realized: I needed to aim higher.

So, the next logical step? BIG in Bilbao. If Madrid had been small, then Bilbao promised to be the real deal—the next level, the larger event I had envisioned. The kind of place where the industry’s major players would gather, where I could truly make a name for myself. At least, that’s what I thought.

BIG was, indeed, bigger. The conference halls were spacious, the displays polished, and the projects on show were certainly more refined than what I’d seen in Madrid. But as I wandered through the venue, something felt familiar in a way I hadn’t expected. The same indie developers from Madrid were there in Bilbao, showcasing their games with the same hopes of getting noticed. It became clear: these developers weren’t just showcasing their games—they were hopping from event to event, hoping to network and get their big break.

And then it hit me: the video game industry is currently in its biggest crisis in decades. The bubble that inflated during Covid has burst, and now, the market is flooded with overqualified and underemployed developers. What was once a booming job market has transformed into a hyper-competitive field, where experience is no longer enough. Studios are looking for developers with not just experience, but a standout portfolio. They want people with something extra, something that makes them shine above the rest.

It wasn’t all bad at BIG. The conference did showcase some genuinely innovative indie projects, and I had the chance to meet some developers who were clearly pushing boundaries. But there was a stark realization in the air: the game industry is as tough as it is rewarding, and the road to getting in is now full of hurdles. Networking, it seems, is no longer just about showing up at events—it’s about attending multiple events, hoping to make the right impression before the competition does.

So, here I am, 25 years old, still full of hope and good intentions. The video game industry isn’t the land of golden opportunities I once imagined, but I’m not backing down. I’m going to keep refining my portfolio, putting in the work, and, most importantly, staying patient. Because who knows? Maybe, just maybe, one day that elusive door to the industry will swing open.

And if not? Well, I’ll just have to build my own game and knock on the door myself.