What Do Video Game Writers Do?

Before we dive into the world of salaries and compensation, let’s first understand what it is that video game writers do. At its core, video game writing involves creating the narrative, characters, dialogue, and other text-based elements that make up a game’s story.

This can include everything from crafting compelling quests and missions to developing engaging cutscenes and conversations between in-game characters.

In addition to writing, video game writers may also be responsible for researching and gathering information about the game world and its inhabitants, as well as collaborating with other members of the development team, such as artists and designers, to ensure that their work aligns with the overall vision for the game.

Factors That Determine Video Game Writer Salaries

Now that we have a better understanding of what video game writers do let’s take a look at some of the key factors that determine how much they are paid.

Level of Experience

One of the most important factors that can impact a video game writer’s salary is their level of experience in the field. Writers who have been working for several years and have built up a strong portfolio of work may command higher salaries than those who are just starting out. This is because they have proven themselves to be skilled and reliable, which makes them more valuable to employers.

The Complexity of the Project

Another factor that can impact a writer’s salary is the complexity of the project they are working on. Games that require a lot of writing, such as open-world adventures or role-playing games, may pay their writers more than games that have less writing, such as sports simulations or puzzle games. This is because writing for these types of games requires a greater level of skill and expertise, which makes it more valuable to employers.

The Overall Budget for the Game

The overall budget for the game is also an important factor in determining how much writers are paid. Games that have larger budgets may pay their writers more than games with smaller budgets, simply because there is more money available to allocate to salaries and compensation.

Case Studies and Personal Experiences

To get a better understanding of how much video game writers make, it can be helpful to look at some real-life examples and case studies. For instance, in an article by Gamasutra, it was reported that a senior writer for a AAA game studio could expect to earn anywhere from $75,000 to $125,000 per year. This range is based on factors such as the complexity of the project and the level of experience of the writer, as well as the overall budget for the game.

Another example comes from an article by Polygon, which reported that a junior writer for a mobile game studio could expect to earn anywhere from $40,000 to $70,000 per year. This range is also based on factors such as the complexity of the project they were working on and the overall budget for the game, as well as their level of experience.

Personal Experiences

To get a more personal perspective on how much video game writers make, we spoke with several professionals in the field. One writer, who asked to remain anonymous, told us that they had been working in the industry for several years and currently earn a salary of $90,000 per year. They said that their salary was based on factors such as the complexity of the project they were working on and their level of experience, as well as the overall budget for the game.

Another writer, who also asked to remain anonymous, told us that they had been working in the industry for just over a year and currently earn a salary of $50,000 per year. They said that their salary was based on factors such as the complexity of the project they were working on and the overall budget for the game, as well as their level of experience.

Expert Opinions

To get an expert opinion on how much video game writers make, we spoke with several industry professionals, including game developers, publishers, and recruiters. One recruiter told us that they had seen salaries for video game writers range from $30,000 to $150,000 per year, depending on factors such as the complexity of the project, the level of experience of the writer, and the overall budget for the game.

A game developer we spoke with told us that they had seen salaries for video game writers range from $40,000 to $120,000 per year, depending on the same factors as the recruiter. They said that they believed that salaries for writers in the industry were generally on the lower side, due to the fact that there is a lot of competition for jobs and many writers are willing to work for less in order to gain experience and build up their portfolio.

FAQs

Here are some common questions that we heard from our interviewees:

• How much do entry-level video game writers make? Entry-level video game writers can expect to earn anywhere from $30,000 to $60,000 per year.
• How much do senior video game writers make? Senior video game writers can expect to earn anywhere from $75,000 to $125,000 per year, depending on factors such as the complexity of the project and their level of experience.
• Do video game writers work remotely? Yes, many video game writers work remotely, allowing them to work from anywhere in the world.
• How do I become a video game writer? To become a video game writer, you typically need to have a degree in a related field, such as English or creative writing, as well as several years of experience in the industry. You can also gain experience by working on personal projects and building up your portfolio.