Cultivate passion and Professionalism
In many industries, leaders wrestle with the challenge of getting employees to care deeply about their company’s mission. Countless books and management philosophies exist to address this problem. But in the games industry, the challenge is often the opposite.
Most game developers enter the industry because they already love games—usually as passionate players themselves. This passion naturally translates into a deep personal drive to create great experiences. For leaders, this is a gift worth nurturing. But left unchecked, passion can also become a destructive force, harming both individuals and teams.
The Double-Edged Sword of Passion
Passion drives creativity, innovation, and the relentless pursuit of quality. While these attributes are highly desirable they can also foster a pernicious destructive force: unchecked passion.
Unchecked passion often leads developers to push themselves too hard, sometimes ignoring warnings from management and their peers. They work late, chase perfection, and set working standards for themselves that are impossible to sustain. This behavior can create pressure for others to do the same, even if it’s unspoken.
On the other side, leaders and managers can exploit that passion—consciously or not—by insisting on hitting scope or quality goals at all costs. The outcome of either is the same: burnout. Burnout drains creativity, reduces productivity, and weakens team cohesion. Left unaddressed, it drives talented developers out of the industry.
Professionalism as the Antidote
The solution is not to dampen passion, but to temper it with professionalism. Professionalism in game development means recognizing that while this is our passion, it is also our livelihood. To thrive, we must work sustainably.
A professional developer values their time and well-being. They expect fair compensation for their work and respect for their limits. They understand that sustainable practices aren’t just about personal health—they are essential to creating consistently high-quality outputs over the long term.
For leaders, professionalism means leading by example: respecting boundaries, encouraging balance, and making it clear that health and sustainability are not secondary to the work, but foundational to it. When professionalism and passion coexist, studios can cultivate environments where creativity flourishes without burning people out.
The Path Forward
Game development thrives on passion—but passion alone is not enough. To build great games, we must channel it through professionalism. By fostering environments where enthusiasm is guided by balance, we not only protect the well-being of our developers but also strengthen our ability to create games that truly delight players.
Let’s go make a great game!