AI exposure by occupation, O*NET 15-1255.01

Will AI replace Video Game Designers?

Video Game Designers: AI can already handle 13 of 24 tasks; the work mostly needs a frontier-tier model.

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Every task, scored

The 24 tasks O*NET 30.3 lists for Video Game Designers, from most to least exposed. 13 reach 60 or more, the level at which AI already handles a task.

Task AI exposure Evidence Model tier Importance
Prepare two-dimensional concept layouts or three-dimensional mock-ups. 93 Observed Frontier 3.8
Develop and maintain design level documentation, including mechanics, guidelines, and mission outlines. 74 Observed Frontier 4.3
Conduct regular design reviews throughout the game development process. 65 Estimated Standard 4.4
Keep abreast of game design technology and techniques, industry trends, or audience interests, reactions, and needs by reviewing current literature, talking with colleagues, participating in educational programs, attending meetings or workshops, or participating in professional organizations or conferences. 65 Estimated Standard 3.6
Review or evaluate competitive products, film, music, television, and other art forms to generate new game design ideas. 65 Estimated Standard 3.6
Balance and adjust gameplay experiences to ensure the critical and commercial success of the product. 60 Estimated Frontier 4.7
Devise missions, challenges, or puzzles to be encountered in game play. 60 Estimated Frontier 4.5
Create gameplay prototypes for presentation to creative and technical staff and management. 60 Estimated Frontier 4.0
Oversee gameplay testing to ensure intended gaming experience and game adherence to original vision. 60 Estimated Standard 3.9
Write or supervise the writing of game text and dialogue. 60 Estimated Frontier 3.6
Consult with multiple stakeholders to define requirements and implement online features. 60 Estimated Standard 3.6
Collaborate with artists to achieve appropriate visual style. 60 Estimated Standard 3.6
Provide test specifications to quality assurance staff. 60 Estimated Standard 3.0
Solicit, obtain, and integrate feedback from design and technical staff into original game design. 50 Estimated Efficient 4.4
Document all aspects of formal game design, using mock-up screenshots, sample menu layouts, gameplay flowcharts, and other graphical devices. 50 Estimated Efficient 4.2
Provide feedback to designers and other colleagues regarding game design features. 50 Estimated Standard 4.2
Create and manage documentation, production schedules, prototyping goals, and communication plans in collaboration with production staff. 50 Estimated Frontier 4.2
Provide feedback to production staff regarding technical game qualities or adherence to original design. 50 Estimated Standard 4.1
Guide design discussions between development teams. 50 Estimated Frontier 4.0
Present new game design concepts to management and technical colleagues, including artists, animators, and programmers. 50 Estimated Standard 3.9
Prepare and revise initial game sketches using two- and three-dimensional graphical design software. 50 Estimated Frontier 3.5
Determine supplementary virtual features, such as currency, item catalog, menu design, and audio direction. 50 Estimated Frontier 3.5
Create gameplay test plans for internal and external test groups. 50 Estimated Frontier 3.3
Create core game features, including storylines, role-play mechanics, and character biographies for a new video game or game franchise. 40 Observed Standard 4.5

Observed: scored from AI use recorded in the Anthropic Economic Index (June 2026 release), 3 of 24 tasks. Estimated: scored from the task's O*NET 30.3 work activity, 21 of 24. Importance is O*NET's 1 to 5 rating of how central the task is. Model tier is the lowest tier that can do the task under the published rubric; "No tier" marks hands-on work.

The model tier this role needs

A frontier-tier model or lower covers 100% of the role's importance-weighted task work. 100% of the work is something AI can address at some tier.

Efficient, standard and frontier tiers come from the JobRoute model tier reference. The recommended tier is the lowest one that covers 80% of the work AI can address. How the method works.

Wages, employment and outlook

US employment
113,330
Median annual wage
$104,000
Middle half of earners
$73,290 to $158,820
Projected change, 2024 to 2034
+7.0%

Employment and wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, national. Projection: BLS Employment Projections 2024 to 2034. BLS publishes these figures by SOC code, so O*NET occupations that share a SOC code show the same figures.

Adjacent roles

The occupations that reuse the most of this role's skills, with the usual time to move. These are the first places to look when you plan to redeploy or retrain people in this role.

Skill overlap and transition time from the JobRoute role adjacency graph on O*NET 30.3 skills.

Questions about Video Game Designers and AI

Will AI replace Video Game Designers?

AI already handles 13 of the 24 tasks O*NET lists for this occupation, at a task exposure of 60 or more, and the role's importance-weighted exposure is 58 out of 100. JobRoute scores tasks, not whole jobs, so the score shows how much of the work changes rather than whether the job disappears. BLS projects employment to change by +7.0% from 2024 to 2034.

What is the AI exposure of Video Game Designers?

58 out of 100 on JobRoute's task exposure measure, the importance-weighted average of the role's O*NET task scores. Higher means more of the work is AI-doable today. 3 of the 24 task scores are observed in the Anthropic Economic Index (June 2026 release), and the other 21 are estimated from each task's O*NET work activity.

Which Video Game Designers tasks can AI already do?

The tasks with the highest exposure are: Prepare two-dimensional concept layouts or three-dimensional mock-ups; Develop and maintain design level documentation, including mechanics, guidelines, and mission outlines; Conduct regular design reviews throughout the game development process. They are three of the 13 tasks that reach 60 or more.

What AI model tier does this role need?

A frontier-tier model or lower covers 100% of the role's importance-weighted task work. JobRoute assigns each task the lowest tier that can do it under a published rubric and recommends the lowest tier that covers 80% of the work AI can address.

How many people work as Video Game Designers, and what do they earn?

113,330 people in the United States, with a median annual wage of $104,000 (BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025). BLS Employment Projections expect a change of +7.0% from 2024 to 2034.

How to cite

Data version 2026-11-02, JobRoute method v1.0.0. Download all occupations or this occupation as JSON. Methodology.

JobRoute (2026). AI exposure: Video Game Designers. Data version 2026-11-02, method v1.0.0. Built on O*NET 30.3, BLS OEWS May 2025 and the Anthropic Economic Index (June 2026). CC BY 4.0. https://www.jobroute.ai/jobs/video-game-designers

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