Embracing Global and Local

How Game Industry Expatriates Work Between Global and Local Game Development Practices

Abstract

The paper explores cases of immigrant/expatriate game developers (“game expats”) in Finland, focusing on the influence of global platforms and local game development practices. Results from qualitatively analyzing longitudinal interview transcripts (n=64) collected from 2020 to 2023 indicate that the migration of game expats is inherently bound to globally shared and fast-changing game development tools and platforms (e.g., shared game engines, publishing channels). Thus, an individual’s digital compatibility with global technical practices positively affects the motivation to migrate. Meanwhile, countries and companies each have different ways of implementing game development practices into work (e.g., different terminology, prioritization). The individuals’ ability to adapt to such local interpretations of practices positively affects settlement and motivation to stay. However, despite the pluralistic nature of game development — of both global and local factor’s influence — the incidents of cultural encounters and tryouts were often perceived as a risk amongst game developers. This negative perception leads to game expats’ assimilation and self-exploitative work attitudes. Therefore, the paper calls for a joint effort of industrial and societal game ecosystem stakeholders to encourage cultural competence and tolerance in the ecosystem to nurture sustainable talent pools and inclusive game work environments.