Breaking Into the Game Industry: A Complete Guide

PLOT INTERACTIVE
Oct 18
6 min read

Updated: Oct 21

Welcome to the first ASCJogos Blog post!

When we host events and presentations about the Games Market and Industry or about ASCJogos, one or more questions usually come up: "So what does it really take to break into the game industry?"

Seeking to answer some of the (many) possible questions related to this, I wrote this text to provide initial guidance. If there's any topic you'd like more details on, get in touch with us!

What studios look for in professionals

Before talking about specific paths, it's important to understand what studios typically value when hiring. And no, it's not just technical skills (although that's important too!).

Passion for games and entertainment is fundamental. This might sound obvious, but making games requires dedication and genuine enthusiasm for the medium. Working with what you love makes all the difference in day-to-day work.
Communication and teamwork are essential. Game development is always a collaborative effort. You'll work with programmers, artists, designers, producers, and many other roles. Being able to communicate clearly and work well with different people is crucial.
English proficiency (at least reading and writing) has become practically mandatory. Most technical documentation, tutorials, and tools are in English. Additionally, many studios work with international clients and partners.
Having a continuous learning mindset is vital in an industry that evolves so rapidly. New technologies, tools, and trends emerge constantly. Professionals who adapt and always seek to learn stand out.
Knowing how to receive feedback without taking it personally is a skill many underestimate. In game development, iteration and feedback are part of the creative process. You'll receive many opinions about your work. Knowing how to process them constructively is essential.

Finally, initiative and self-management make a difference. Studios value professionals who don't wait around for orders, who identify problems and propose solutions, and who know how to manage their own tasks.

AI: A reality we can't ignore anymore

Let's talk about the elephant in the room: artificial intelligence. It's a topic that generates a lot of discussion and, yes, concern. But here's my straight take on the subject.

Embrace AI and learn to use it as a tool. It's here to stay, and every day more companies are incorporating AI into their processes. Resisting this reality will only leave you behind. What you need to do is learn to use these tools to accelerate and improve the quality of your work.

Here's the crucial point: the more you master the fundamentals of your field, the better you use AI. When you deeply understand programming, art, design, or any other discipline, you can better specify (both to humans and AIs) exactly how you want the work done. You can evaluate whether the output is good, identify problems, and correct them.

The professionals who will be most negatively affected by AI are those who depend on copying others' work without truly understanding what they're doing. For copying, AI is unbeatable. But to create something truly original, to have creative vision, to solve complex problems in innovative ways, you still need solid knowledge and critical thinking.

The most important skill in the AI era isn't just knowing how to use it. It's knowing how to judge whether the result it delivers is good enough, understanding why it works or doesn't work, and having the ability to improve it. This requires deep knowledge of your field.

So yes, use AI. Use it to generate prototypes faster, to create variations, to automate repetitive tasks, to explore ideas. But invest heavily in learning the fundamentals of your profession. These are what will differentiate you and allow you to use these tools truly effectively.

Working at studios

If your goal is to work at a studio, there are some well-established paths:

Build a solid technical foundation. Whether you're a programmer, artist, designer, or any other role, master the tools and concepts of your field. You don't need to know everything, but you need strong fundamentals in what you set out to do.
Attend game industry events. Conferences, meetups, talks, and workshops are great opportunities to meet people, learn about the market, and network. The game industry is smaller than you'd think. People know each other and remember who shows up at events.
Don't sleep on Game Jams. Participating in game jams is an excellent way to practice, work under pressure, collaborate with others, and have something concrete to show in your portfolio. Plus, it's fun!
Release your own games. Even if they're small. Having published games (even simple ones) shows initiative, ability to finish projects, and offers something tangible to discuss in interviews. We'll talk more about this later.
Referrals carry serious weight. In fact, referrals from team members are one of the most important factors in hiring decisions. This reinforces the importance of networking and building good relationships in the community.
Send in your resume, of course! But remember: a resume with a relevant portfolio and concrete projects has much better chances of standing out. And speaking of job openings, be sure to check the Jobs section on the ASCJogos website, where member companies post opportunities.
QA (Quality Assurance) can be an entry point. Many professionals started in QA and later moved into programming, design, or production. It's a way to enter the industry, learn how development works, and make connections.

Opening your own studio

Opening a studio is a dream for many, but it requires more than just knowing how to make games. It requires maturity and responsibility for other people. You won't just be taking care of your own projects, but the livelihood and development of a team.

It's fundamental to discover whether the partners have entrepreneurial aptitude. Not every good developer is a good entrepreneur. Opening a business requires management, sales, finance, and strategic planning skills. Be honest with yourself about this.

Partners should be complementary. If everyone on the team is a programmer or everyone is an artist, you'll have problems. Look for people who fill the skill gaps in the group, both technical and business-related.

Build a strong portfolio. Before seeking clients or investment, you need to have something concrete to show. Personal projects, game jams, freelance work, everything counts.

Here's the key: in B2B (business to business), the first clients buy people, not products. They're trusting you and your team to deliver. Your reputation, experience, and portfolio weigh much more than your game idea at the start.

Only incorporate when you actually need to issue invoices. Don't create bureaucracy and costs ahead of time. Many make the mistake of formalizing too early. Test your ideas, validate the market, have some workflow going before making it official.

Don't reinvent the wheel. Especially when it comes to engines and APIs that already exist and work well. Your time and resources are limited. Use them to create what's unique in your project, not to recreate tools that are already available.

Know the market's success metrics. DAU (Daily Active Users), MAU (Monthly Active Users), ARPU (Average Revenue Per User), CAC (Customer Acquisition Cost), LTV (Lifetime Value), Churn, and other metrics are the language of the games business. Understand them to make informed decisions and talk with investors or partners.

Creating your own game

Here's the most important advice, and I can't stress this enough: ⚠️ START WITH SMALL SCOPES AND RELEASE YOUR GAMES. Seriously. The amount of ambitious projects that never see the light of day is enormous. It's better to release 5 small games than to spend 5 years working on a game that never gets finished. You learn much more by shipping.

Understand the platforms

Steam is different from Mobile, which is different from Console, which is different from Web. Each platform has its particularities in promotion, rules, and audience. What works on mobile might not work on Steam, and vice versa.

Essential questions before starting:

Do you know the market size for your game's genre?
Do you know if that market is saturated or not?
What are your main benchmarks (similar successful games)?

These answers will help you have realistic expectations and make strategic decisions.

Tips for Mobile

Learn to do ASO (App Store Optimization). It's the "SEO" of app stores. Your game needs to be found.

Be prepared to spend money on Ads or build excellent marketing channels. On mobile, organic promotion is especially challenging. You'll need a solid strategy.

Tips for Steam

Don't launch the game with less than 7,000 wishlists. This isn't a hard rule, but it's an important indicator of initial interest. Launching with less can mean very low visibility.
Participate in all possible festivals (Steam Next Fest, for example). It's free and valuable visibility.
Gather player feedback as soon as possible. Use platforms like itch.io, channels like AlphaBetaGamer, communities on Discord and Reddit. Early feedback can save your project.
The demo has become an important marketing milestone. Consider releasing it first on other platforms to generate buzz before arriving on Steam.

Opportunities and next steps

If you're looking for opportunities in the industry, in addition to following the tips above, keep an eye on:

Internship programs offered by various studios.
The Jobs section on the ASCJogos website, where member companies regularly post open positions.
Events and meetups in the game development community.

Remember: relevant portfolio with published projects and referrals have a high success rate. Invest time building your presence in the community and work you can showcase.

About the author:

Leonardo Guedes Bilck is passionate about games and a partner at Plot Kids and Truth and Tales, Brazilian studios focused on game development and animation that have worked with companies like Disney and Sanrio. With years of experience in projects, Leonardo actively participates in the development community through ASCJogos and believes that sharing knowledge is essential for the growth of the Brazilian game industry.