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Technology & Data · Updated Aug 2026

Video Game Designers

Design core features of video games. Specify innovative game and role-play mechanics, story lines, and character biographies. Create and maintain design documentation. Guide and collaborate with production staff to produce games as designed.

JVS 2.0.0-phase4b
AI Exposure
78/100
Very high

How much of this occupation’s work can be materially affected by current AI systems.

Replacement Risk
70/100
High

How likely exposure is to translate into reduced human demand.

Includes provisional estimates for AI adoption pressure and labour-market resilience. How this is measured

Evidence quality
Confidence83/100
Task coverage85%

Confidence reflects task coverage, mapping and capability-evidence quality, and how much of the score rests on provisional inputs.

Task-level evidence

What is driving the score?

Occupation scores are built from the task mix—not a single prediction about a job title.

JVS 2.0.0-phase4b
TaskImportanceAI impactExposure
Balance and adjust gameplay experiences to ensure the critical and commercial success of the product.High
81
Develop and maintain design level documentation, including mechanics, guidelines, and mission outlines.High
81
Provide feedback to designers and other colleagues regarding game design features.High
81
Create and manage documentation, production schedules, prototyping goals, and communication plans in collaboration with production staff.High
71
Create core game features, including storylines, role-play mechanics, and character biographies for a new video game or game franchise.High
81
Devise missions, challenges, or puzzles to be encountered in game play.High
82
Solicit, obtain, and integrate feedback from design and technical staff into original game design.High
71
Conduct regular design reviews throughout the game development process.High
81
Provide feedback to production staff regarding technical game qualities or adherence to original design.High
71
Document all aspects of formal game design, using mock-up screenshots, sample menu layouts, gameplay flowcharts, and other graphical devices.High
65
Collaborate with artists to achieve appropriate visual style.Medium
81
Oversee gameplay testing to ensure intended gaming experience and game adherence to original vision.Medium
82
Prepare two-dimensional concept layouts or three-dimensional mock-ups.Medium
81
Determine supplementary virtual features, such as currency, item catalog, menu design, and audio direction.Medium
81
Present new game design concepts to management and technical colleagues, including artists, animators, and programmers.Medium
81
Consult with multiple stakeholders to define requirements and implement online features.Medium
82
Review or evaluate competitive products, film, music, television, and other art forms to generate new game design ideas.Medium
80
Prepare and revise initial game sketches using two- and three-dimensional graphical design software.Medium
80
Create gameplay prototypes for presentation to creative and technical staff and management.High
74
Most exposed

Where AI can do more

Routine, digitized, and highly repeatable tasks face the greatest pressure.

  1. Devise missions, challenges, or puzzles to be encountered in game play.82
  2. Oversee gameplay testing to ensure intended gaming experience and game adherence to original vision.82
  3. Consult with multiple stakeholders to define requirements and implement online features.82
  4. Balance and adjust gameplay experiences to ensure the critical and commercial success of the product.81
Hardest to automate

Where people still matter

These tasks score lowest on automation feasibility—physical presence, judgement, accountability and real-world variability all resist end-to-end automation.

  1. Document all aspects of formal game design, using mock-up screenshots, sample menu layouts, gameplay flowcharts, and other graphical devices.01
  2. Create and manage documentation, production schedules, prototyping goals, and communication plans in collaboration with production staff.02
  3. Solicit, obtain, and integrate feedback from design and technical staff into original game design.03
  4. Provide feedback to production staff regarding technical game qualities or adherence to original design.04
  5. Create gameplay prototypes for presentation to creative and technical staff and management.05
Where else this work leads

Related occupations

Occupations O*NET links to this one. Relatedness reflects shared work, not a claim that these roles are safer.

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Beyond AI capability

Adoption and labour-market outlook

Structural factors are kept separate from raw capability so you can see what actually resists automation. Adoption pressure and labour-market resilience are still provisional models—25% of this occupation’s replacement-risk weight rests on them.

Human dependency61
Physical dependency24
Adoption pressure58
Labour-market resilience49
Methodology & sources

O*NET 30.3 occupational data interpreted through the JobsVsAI capability, automation and structural-constraint models.

Confidence83/100
CalculatedAug 21, 2026
Read methodology →