Searching for strategically best graphic job to get into game dev

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[Please, put a link to your portoflio in your reply, if it’s not in your included in your account. It can be your own site, ArtStation, whatever. I just need it as a part of little verification of mine]

I am doing some research and it would be ULTRA beneficial for me to hear an opinion from a professional. I’m planning to get into game dev, specifically the graphical side. I have a general and broad background in graphics skills, but not on professional level yet. Which profession is currently strategically the best to get into the industry as quickly as possible? Now is a great moment in my life, to put my game art career in specific direction and my goal is to get to industry asap, assuming it’ll belong in my passions spectrum, which will be outlined in a while. I want to put my energy and dedication on one that potentially get me job quicker than, lets say, illustration or character designer. (these two would be suicidal in that context). I am the type who can get a lot of fun from “not galmorous” jobs and I see huge opportunity here.

Please, spare me teachings and revelations abou game dev industry’s poor situation and what it really takes to get into industry as an artist. I know these and take them into account. Any motivational speeches will be ignored, as I need only replies that answer my question. I just need data from well oriented proffesional to support my decision.

I’m mainly wondering about professions like Environmental Artist, 3D Artist, 2D/UI/UX Artist, Motion Designer but not only. I am considering 3 criteria when analyzing each field:

  • Job market demand (number of job openings)

  • Level of competition

  • Difficulty of learning the discipline

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Consider re-posting your query on a gamedev related site, such as Polycount Forum also they’re widely acknowledged for straight talking ‘tough love’ feedback + there’s also tons of relevant resources too mine at ones leisure, as well.

Edit:

Oh my bad looks as if already done so - https://polycount.com/discussion/238913/searching-for-strategically-best-graphic-job-to-get-into-game-dev

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Im a little confused about Your question, You wanna know about job demand and level of competition, but You dont wanna hear about that?
There are no quick to get to jobs at this moment. Also its kinda straight forward: higher job difficulty and time required to learn that skill, the lower the competition and thus higher job opportunities.

Its industry where people go with passion, so competition in normal times is quite high. And with layoffs you are competing against people with experience, thus Your skill at those positions must at least match their skill.

Anyway, look at that tier list made by someone:

ubisoft-barcelona-celebrates-successful-assassins-creed-v0-7iaj8a5kc8ch1
ubisoft-barcelona-celebrates-successful-assassins-creed-v0-7iaj8a5kc8ch11140×384 30 KB

source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9wlnfGnJjo

I mostly agree with that list. And in gamedev art, decent job opportunity is either being mid/senior 3D Generalist that knows everything somewhat on decent level or requires some technical knowledge like TechArt/VFX or Animatior/Rigger.

Also going generalist or specialization route depends on what kind of studio You wanna work in. Small Indie studios rather look for generalist (like i’m) or AAA/Outsource companies look for more specialized people.
Also going into field without passion to that field is not really recommended in this industry, You will quickly burn out. I recommend You to try out different fields, and then go with route that You like and have better job opportunities. Like You if You like: Enviro or TechArt. Then go with TechArt.

You asked specifically about in Enviro, 3D Generalist, and 2D( but i dont know much about 2D jobs).

There are some job openings for both.
Enviro is relatevly easy to get into, but its (and prop modeling) is default way of getting into 3d gamedev so there is quite high competition.

Being 3d generalist is kinda harder and not harder, because You are simultaneously enviro artist and other fields, so there is that.

List of gamedev job lists:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1agVeF3cW5aK4skDnHnB0IVwmma7n1rD8Sm9btTCTFdw

Just study Yourself what is required now, but take in account that at a time that You will be skilled enough to apply for a job, things can just change.
Also look for a other people currently looking for a job in that field and look at their skill level, to know what kind of stuff You have to can do to get a job.

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I am considering 3 criteria when analyzing each field
Job market demand (number of job openings)

The demand is shrinking rapidly. EA laid of approx 4500 people recently; Sony and Microsoft are also cutting huge numbers of artists and game talent.

Level of competition

See above. Due to all those layouts, we now have thousands of talented people with very strong resumes all competing for a shrinking number of positions. It is likely a lot of these people will leave the industry, either in the short term (they’ll take whatever retail job they can get, etc), or permanently. Some will get lucky and cross over to a related 3D zone, but many won’t.

All of them are better than someone who - starting today, has decided they want to work in games. The veterans will get the job first.

Difficulty of learning the discipline

The difficulty depends on your own ability to learn. I notice you put this in terms of “grinding it” - learning 2D/3D is not a gatcha game. It’s easy to find someone who’s been doing 3D for years, who is not even close to a level that they’re ready for a professional position. I also know someone who’s spent every day/night for the past 2 years learning to animate, who’s now working at an indie studio.

So that last bit - it can’t be answered. There’s no “grind” shortcut here. I recommend you work hard at it - and, this will 100% improve your skills as an artist. But becoming employed - that part will be up to the market conditions.

I think you have at least 3 years ahead of you to get your portfolio/reel up to a great level, so good luck with your efforts.

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I think most has been said.
My advice is to focus on where you’re good at and what you like to do…

There might be more open positions in some whatever niche area but it’s going to be crowded anyway… And in all case you’ll have to become very good, but while everything can be learned there are stuff we are more comfortable with. So it’s better to put all the chances from your side and work on where your the most comfortable.

On the flip side, after watching your portfolio you didn’t bother to provide, first you can start to get good generalist skills. Meaning get a decent set of basic 3D and game related skills. Which is a bit unclear if that’s the case or not…

Then pick area where you feel you have the most interest in, look for professional portfolios and work toward reaching that level.

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Thank you all for your time advices. Sorry, i forgot to mention that I’ve grasped and tried all of the fields i mentioned, execpt motion designer, and every of them is equally fullfiling for me or at least extremely similar. Actually the first requirement is that job will belong to my passion, like i somewhat said earlier.
If it comes to what I have written I don’t wanna hear about, I meant very broad and clearly seen info like “the industry is now harsh, there are jobs lay off”. As it’s crucial information It still doesn’t necessarily change the fact that jobs doffer. Illustration/Splash art doesnt become equal to UI/UX or Tech Art, because job market is very difficult. They still have relative differences as how much mastery it takes, to get a job (Like i said, illustration or concept art is suicidal in this context). As i have different paths to choose from and they are equally satysfying i chose another goal, to get into industry quicker than later, so It’s kind of cmmon sense to make a research as, like i said, jobs differ. Like, for what purpose should i pursue concept art when my aim is to get to industry, if it’s as equally fullfiling for me as UI/UX? Of course, paying the bills has a priority here and i will only consider a job like that If my overall income (from other sources aswell) will pay them.

Again, thx for your insights guys

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If your goal is the fastest path into game art, I’d focus on environment art or prop art. Demand is generally stronger, portfolios are easier to build with production-ready assets, and competition is often lower than character art. Learning modular workflows, Blender/Maya, Substance 3D Painter, and Unreal Engine will make you a strong candidate for many junior positions.