Breaking into AAA game development is challenging for anyone, but immigrants face additional complications with work authorization, sponsorship, and long-term career planning. From across the globe, five game devs share the lessons they've learned after transitioning between countries and the struggles that come with them.
Rather than providing legal advice, this talk focuses on the practical career decisions, conversations, and strategies that helped us advocate for ourselves, evaluate opportunities, communicate with employers, and build a sustainable career in games. Attendees will gain insight into the realities of pursuing a career as an international developer and learn how to ask better questions, prepare proactively, and navigate uncertainty with greater confidence.

Takeaway

Attendees will learn practical strategies for navigating the game industry as an immigrant, including how to approach conversations about work authorization, evaluate potential employers, build professional relationships, and prepare for uncertainty. Through personal experiences, this session encourages attendees to ask better questions, advocate for themselves, and make informed career decisions.

Intended Audience

This session is intended for immigrants, international students, recent graduates, early-career developers, people looking for opportunities abroad, and mentors supporting new talent. While it is not a legal or immigration-focused talk, it shares personal experiences and practical career lessons about navigating work authorization, communicating with employers, and building a long-term career in the game industry.