game design jobs
With the worldwide web transitioning to Web 3.0, tech companies are expanding their scope and reach to take advantage of the groundbreaking technology, resulting in many new video game jobs. Facebook announced that it would create 10,000 new high-skilled jobs when it changed its name to Meta in October of 2021, and Facebook isn’t the only company with big plans. Overall, more than 150 companies are planning some expansion efforts in response to the creation of the metaverse.

The word “metaverse” is a portmanteau, meaning a new word created by combining at least two words that maintain both the sounds and meanings of the original words, with metaverse being a combination of meta and universe. The metaverse is best described as a shared virtual world where users will immerse themselves in a simulated environment through the creation of an avatar. Their online personification will allow the user to work, play, socialize, attend events like a ball game or concert and even shop using blockchain technology and a virtual reality headset.

The good news for game developers is the metaverse is creating a new category resulting in new video game jobs at a breakneck pace. New positions that require a hybrid skill set of tech and non-technical abilities are expected to continue to grow for the next several years. To help job seekers get a leg up on the competition, here is the outlook for the top four metaverse developers’ jobs, the salaries, and what you need to know in order to land one of the new high-paying video game jobs.

1) Software Engineers (AR and VR)

Augmented reality, or AR, adds elements to existing technology to improve user experience. A good example of AR technology is the yellow “first down” marker superimposed on the TV screen of a football game broadcast. Virtual reality, or VR, allows users to immerse themselves in a virtual world through an avatar. Companies are hiring developers and engineers with AR/VR skills by the thousands to construct new virtual applications and augment existing ones for the metaverse, with these positions seeing well over a 10-fold increase in the last few years.

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Engineers may oversee the entire development process, whereas programmers typically focus on a single phase in the development cycle. Because the two positions have a lot of overlap, AR and VR game programmer and engineer positions are and will continue to be two of the most in-demand game programmer jobs in the metaverse. In major markets, engineers with experience working in AR and VR earn anywhere from $100,000 to $150,000. These are highly technical positions, and only developers who have a firm grasp on the fundamentals, such as experience with C#, C++, and Swift, as well as server programming, will be qualified for these jobs.

2) Game Designers

While developers are charged with turning a game designer’s concept into reality, the game designer’s vision makes it all possible. Gaming companies like Unity note that new game design requires designers with strong artistic ability to design the types of games the metaverse is demanding. In the metaverse, game designers are responsible for many more aspects of game creation than previously to create the all-immersive 3D experience web 3.0 is capable of.

Skills needed for game design jobs in the metaverse include a wide range of technical and creative abilities, including 3D modeling and illustration, computer animation, lighting, and working with game interfaces. Familiarity with gaming software programs like Unreal Engine, Unity, Blender, and Maya is also needed. Aside from creativity skills, 3D designers need to possess excellent communication, collaboration, and leadership skills as well as analytical ability. As of 2022, the average game designer’s salary in the U.S. can range from $80,000 – $150,000 depending on the years of experience.

3) Product Manager

While coding skills are not required, product managers need technical knowledge. Product managers oversee new initiatives and new product development by working with a team of engineers, developers, and designers. AR and VR video game jobs will require at least five years of experience in consumer technologies, emphasizing augmented- and virtual-reality products. Product manager salaries range from $120K per year for entry-level positions to over $200K for highly experienced managers.

4) Marketing Specialist

With many in the industry predicting the metaverse market will exceed $800 billion in the next few years, the role of metaverse marketing specialist will be one of the most in-demand positions.

Marketing specialists must have a broad skill set that includes technical expertise, creativity, and a strong business sense, along with the ability to analyze trends and interpret data to develop long-term strategies. Metaverse marketing specialists must be able to conceptualize, create and carry out immersive and interactive ad campaigns that include both the physical and digital markets that will appeal to multiple generations of gamers from the millennials to the boomers. The average marketing manager’s salary is between $85K and $180K annually.

The metaverse is expected to become the digital representation of the physical universe, allowing users to carry out activities in a digitally designed space. It will bring together the new technologies of augmented and virtual reality, artificial intelligence, blockchain applications, and much more. With the most prominent and most influential companies across the globe exploring how to cash in on the metaverse, game design jobs for talented candidates will only continue to expand.

game design jobs

As with the web itself, video game recruiting is perpetually changing, and those serious about landing a position working on the metaverse should consider working with a recruiter like DAM. DAM is a video game recruiting company that works with studios across the U.S. and helps talent their career to the next level, both financially and professionally.

DAM never charges a fee to job seekers, and they are specialists in metaverse jobs and blockchain recruiting.