What's your strategy for staying current with game industry trends?

1 Follow the news

One of the easiest ways to stay updated on game industry trends is to follow the news from reliable sources. You can subscribe to newsletters, podcasts, blogs, magazines, or social media accounts that cover the latest developments, announcements, reviews, and opinions on games and gaming culture. You can also join online forums, communities, or groups where you can discuss and share your insights with other game developers and enthusiasts. However, be selective and critical about the information you consume and avoid getting distracted by hype or rumors.

2 Play games

Another way to stay current with game industry trends is to play games, both old and new, from different genres, platforms, and markets. Playing games can help you learn from other developers' successes and failures, discover new ideas and inspirations, and understand the preferences and expectations of your target audience. You can also analyze the design, art, sound, story, and mechanics of the games you play and identify the strengths and weaknesses of each element. Playing games can also help you develop your own taste and style as a game developer.

3 Experiment with tools

A third way to stay current with game industry trends is to experiment with new tools and technologies that can enhance your game development process and output. You can explore different game engines, frameworks, libraries, editors, or plugins that can help you create, test, and deploy your games more efficiently and effectively. You can also try out new hardware, software, or services that can offer new possibilities and challenges for your games, such as VR, AR, cloud gaming, or AI. Experimenting with tools can help you expand your skills, knowledge, and creativity as a game developer.

4 Network with peers

A fourth way to stay current with game industry trends is to network with other game developers and professionals in the industry. You can attend events, conferences, workshops, or meetups where you can meet, learn from, and collaborate with people who share your passion and vision for games. You can also join online platforms, programs, or organizations that can connect you with mentors, partners, or clients who can support your game development goals and projects. Networking with peers can help you gain feedback, advice, opportunities, and exposure as a game developer.

5 Set goals and plans

A fifth way to stay current with game industry trends is to set realistic and specific goals and plans for your game development career and projects. You can define your vision, mission, values, and niche as a game developer and align them with the current and future trends in the industry. You can also identify your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats as a game developer and devise strategies to improve your performance and competitiveness. Setting goals and plans can help you stay focused, motivated, and adaptable as a game developer.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?