GITNUXREPORT 2025

Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion In The Game Industry Statistics

Diversity efforts in gaming industry show progress, but underrepresentation persists widely.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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Rigorous fact-checking • Reputable sources • Regular updatesLearn more

Statistic 1

60% of gamers support more inclusive character representation

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About 55% of gamers support greater efforts to include marginalized communities in gaming content

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67% of professional gamers support policies promoting inclusivity and anti-discrimination

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65% of gamers agree that gaming platforms should do more to promote inclusive content

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70% of gamers believe that the industry still has a long way to go in achieving true inclusivity

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88% of gamers agree that representation of diverse characters makes games more relatable

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78% of gamers support more transparent reporting on diversity efforts by gaming companies

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About 35% of gamers report that they are more likely to buy games with diverse representation

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65% of esports viewers support initiatives promoting diversity and inclusion in competitive gaming spaces

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Approximately 29% of gamers worldwide are from Asian markets, indicating regional diversity

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Women make up approximately 24% of the gaming workforce globally

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Only about 2% of game developers identify as Black or African American

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LGBTQ+ individuals constitute roughly 10% of the gaming industry workforce

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Only 7% of game developers are from underrepresented ethnic backgrounds

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The average age of game developers is 32 years old, with only 10% over 45, indicating a lack of age diversity

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Women in managerial roles in gaming companies represent only 15%

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Only 12% of game narrative writers are from underrepresented groups

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The representation of women in competitive esports is approximately 24%

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Women hold only 22% of executive positions in major gaming publishers

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The number of female-led game development teams has increased by 20% over the past three years, demonstrating progress in gender diversity

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The number of women in design roles increased by 18% in the last five years, showing improvements in gender inclusion

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76% of multicultural gamers say increased diversity in games would improve their gaming experience

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55% of gaming companies report challenges in recruiting diverse talent, citing pipeline issues

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52% of players with disabilities feel underserved by current gaming options

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55% of minority gamers report feeling unwelcome or marginalized in mainstream gaming communities

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40% of gamers report experiencing or witnessing harassment

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65% of women in gaming have experienced discrimination or harassment

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80% of minority gamers feel that their cultural background is poorly represented in mainstream games

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Nearly 60% of minority gamers feel excluded by the language used in gaming communities

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An estimated 50% of gaming industry employees experience burnout related to workplace inclusion issues

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Nearly 60% of women in the gaming industry have experienced gender-based discrimination at work

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46% of game developers feel their workplace culture is not inclusive enough, despite efforts, indicating ongoing issues

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75% of game studios have no formal diversity and inclusion policies

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Players from diverse backgrounds are 30% more likely to stay loyal to a game with inclusive content

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The percentage of indie games featuring diverse protagonists increased by 25% over the past three years

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85% of game developers agree that diversity improves creativity

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70% of gaming companies have initiatives aimed at increasing diversity, but only 30% have already seen measurable results

Statistic 38

90% of gamers want more diverse storylines, characters, and settings

Statistic 39

Only 3% of gaming tutorials are tailored for non-native English speakers, indicating linguistic inclusivity gaps

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The number of playable diverse characters increased by 40% in AAA titles over the past five years

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45% of game developers believe their teams lack diversity, yet only 15% say they have concrete plans to improve it

Statistic 42

80% of gaming companies report that diverse teams lead to better innovation and problem-solving

Statistic 43

The average diversity training duration in game companies is less than 3 hours annually, highlighting insufficient efforts

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Less than 10% of awards in major gaming festivals are awarded to games with themes of inclusion or social justice, indicating industry bias

Statistic 45

70% of game designers believe that inclusive character design improves player engagement

Statistic 46

Only 1% of VR/AR game developers focus on accessibility features for players with disabilities, pointing to a significant gap

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82% of gaming executives believe that increasing diversity will lead to better financial performance

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30% of game industry job postings now specify diversity and inclusion as desirable qualities, up from 10% in 2020, indicating increasing emphasis

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Over 80% of game developers agree that incorporating diverse perspectives improves game quality

Statistic 50

Only 6% of gaming awards in 2022 went to games with explicitly diverse themes, highlighting recognition gaps

Statistic 51

40% of gaming companies have no formal D&I training programs for staff, indicating a gap in professional development

Statistic 52

62% of game industry leaders say that prioritizing diversity leads to better innovation

Statistic 53

Nearly 70% of industry professionals believe that cultural sensitivity training should be mandatory

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Only 5% of games explicitly focus on social justice themes, despite high player interest

Statistic 55

The representation of racial minorities among game characters is only 10%, despite minority gamers being 40% of the player base

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78% of women gamers say they prefer games with diverse characters and storylines

Statistic 57

Only 4% of game narrative characters are openly LGBTQ+, despite 10% of gamers identifying as LGBTQ+, indicating underrepresentation

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The percentage of diverse protagonists in popular mobile games increased by 35% between 2019 and 2022

Statistic 59

67% of players want to see more stories centered around marginalized communities, according to recent surveys

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About 20% of popular games include at least one disabled character, showing room for growth

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The proportion of diverse voices in gaming podcasts has doubled since 2020, reflecting growing inclusion in industry discourse

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Only 15% of game characters have non-Western cultural backgrounds, despite the global nature of gaming audiences

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Less than 5% of game awards recognize games with social justice themes, indicating recognition bias

Statistic 64

Only 8% of gaming advertisements feature diverse characters or themes, showing industry representation gaps

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Sources

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Key Highlights

Women make up approximately 24% of the gaming workforce globally
Only about 2% of game developers identify as Black or African American
40% of gamers report experiencing or witnessing harassment
65% of women in gaming have experienced discrimination or harassment
LGBTQ+ individuals constitute roughly 10% of the gaming industry workforce
Only 7% of game developers are from underrepresented ethnic backgrounds
75% of game studios have no formal diversity and inclusion policies
Players from diverse backgrounds are 30% more likely to stay loyal to a game with inclusive content
80% of minority gamers feel that their cultural background is poorly represented in mainstream games
The average age of game developers is 32 years old, with only 10% over 45, indicating a lack of age diversity
Women in managerial roles in gaming companies represent only 15%
60% of gamers support more inclusive character representation
The percentage of indie games featuring diverse protagonists increased by 25% over the past three years

Despite growing awareness, the game industry still lags in true diversity and inclusion, with startling statistics revealing that women comprise just 24% of the workforce, Black or African American developers make up only 2%, and 65% of women in gaming report experiencing discrimination—highlighting a pressing need for meaningful change.

Consumer Attitudes and Support for Policies

60% of gamers support more inclusive character representation
About 55% of gamers support greater efforts to include marginalized communities in gaming content
67% of professional gamers support policies promoting inclusivity and anti-discrimination
65% of gamers agree that gaming platforms should do more to promote inclusive content
70% of gamers believe that the industry still has a long way to go in achieving true inclusivity
88% of gamers agree that representation of diverse characters makes games more relatable
78% of gamers support more transparent reporting on diversity efforts by gaming companies
About 35% of gamers report that they are more likely to buy games with diverse representation
65% of esports viewers support initiatives promoting diversity and inclusion in competitive gaming spaces

Consumer Attitudes and Support for Policies Interpretation

With a resounding 88% of gamers rooting for diverse characters and over 65% advocating for inclusive policies, it's clear that the game industry must level up from mere pixels to authentic representation, or risk respawning in irrelevance.

Demographics of Gamers

Approximately 29% of gamers worldwide are from Asian markets, indicating regional diversity

Demographics of Gamers Interpretation

While nearly a third of the global gaming audience hails from Asia, highlighting regional diversity, the industry must ensure that this vibrant mosaic is matched by equitable representation behind the scenes to truly level the playing field.

Demographics of Gamers and Developers

Women make up approximately 24% of the gaming workforce globally
Only about 2% of game developers identify as Black or African American
LGBTQ+ individuals constitute roughly 10% of the gaming industry workforce
Only 7% of game developers are from underrepresented ethnic backgrounds
The average age of game developers is 32 years old, with only 10% over 45, indicating a lack of age diversity
Women in managerial roles in gaming companies represent only 15%
Only 12% of game narrative writers are from underrepresented groups
The representation of women in competitive esports is approximately 24%
Women hold only 22% of executive positions in major gaming publishers
The number of female-led game development teams has increased by 20% over the past three years, demonstrating progress in gender diversity
The number of women in design roles increased by 18% in the last five years, showing improvements in gender inclusion
76% of multicultural gamers say increased diversity in games would improve their gaming experience
55% of gaming companies report challenges in recruiting diverse talent, citing pipeline issues

Demographics of Gamers and Developers Interpretation

Despite a modest 20% rise in female-led teams and increasing female representation in design roles, the gaming industry's persistently skewed statistics—such as only 24% women overall, 2% Black or African American developers, and 12% from underrepresented ethnic backgrounds—highlight that achieving genuine diversity, equity, and inclusion remains an elusive quest requiring more than incremental progress.

Experiences and Discrimination

52% of players with disabilities feel underserved by current gaming options
55% of minority gamers report feeling unwelcome or marginalized in mainstream gaming communities

Experiences and Discrimination Interpretation

These statistics highlight a sobering reality: despite growing awareness, over half of players with disabilities and minority gamers still face exclusion and neglect within the very industry that should be gaming for all.

Experiences and Experiences of Discrimination

40% of gamers report experiencing or witnessing harassment
65% of women in gaming have experienced discrimination or harassment
80% of minority gamers feel that their cultural background is poorly represented in mainstream games
Nearly 60% of minority gamers feel excluded by the language used in gaming communities
An estimated 50% of gaming industry employees experience burnout related to workplace inclusion issues
Nearly 60% of women in the gaming industry have experienced gender-based discrimination at work
46% of game developers feel their workplace culture is not inclusive enough, despite efforts, indicating ongoing issues

Experiences and Experiences of Discrimination Interpretation

Despite ongoing efforts, the stark statistics reveal that the gaming industry still has a long way to go in transforming its culture from a virtual battleground of harassment and discrimination into a truly inclusive arena where all voices are heard and valued.

Inclusivity and Diversity Initiatives

75% of game studios have no formal diversity and inclusion policies
Players from diverse backgrounds are 30% more likely to stay loyal to a game with inclusive content
The percentage of indie games featuring diverse protagonists increased by 25% over the past three years
85% of game developers agree that diversity improves creativity
70% of gaming companies have initiatives aimed at increasing diversity, but only 30% have already seen measurable results
90% of gamers want more diverse storylines, characters, and settings
Only 3% of gaming tutorials are tailored for non-native English speakers, indicating linguistic inclusivity gaps
The number of playable diverse characters increased by 40% in AAA titles over the past five years
45% of game developers believe their teams lack diversity, yet only 15% say they have concrete plans to improve it
80% of gaming companies report that diverse teams lead to better innovation and problem-solving
The average diversity training duration in game companies is less than 3 hours annually, highlighting insufficient efforts
Less than 10% of awards in major gaming festivals are awarded to games with themes of inclusion or social justice, indicating industry bias
70% of game designers believe that inclusive character design improves player engagement
Only 1% of VR/AR game developers focus on accessibility features for players with disabilities, pointing to a significant gap
82% of gaming executives believe that increasing diversity will lead to better financial performance
30% of game industry job postings now specify diversity and inclusion as desirable qualities, up from 10% in 2020, indicating increasing emphasis
Over 80% of game developers agree that incorporating diverse perspectives improves game quality
Only 6% of gaming awards in 2022 went to games with explicitly diverse themes, highlighting recognition gaps
40% of gaming companies have no formal D&I training programs for staff, indicating a gap in professional development
62% of game industry leaders say that prioritizing diversity leads to better innovation
Nearly 70% of industry professionals believe that cultural sensitivity training should be mandatory

Inclusivity and Diversity Initiatives Interpretation

Despite growing acknowledgment that diversity fuels innovation and enhances player loyalty, the gaming industry’s persistent lack of comprehensive policies, insufficient training, and recognition gaps reveal that inclusivity remains more of an aspirational goal than a practiced reality.

Representation in Gaming Media and Advertising

Only 5% of games explicitly focus on social justice themes, despite high player interest
The representation of racial minorities among game characters is only 10%, despite minority gamers being 40% of the player base
78% of women gamers say they prefer games with diverse characters and storylines
Only 4% of game narrative characters are openly LGBTQ+, despite 10% of gamers identifying as LGBTQ+, indicating underrepresentation
The percentage of diverse protagonists in popular mobile games increased by 35% between 2019 and 2022
67% of players want to see more stories centered around marginalized communities, according to recent surveys
About 20% of popular games include at least one disabled character, showing room for growth
The proportion of diverse voices in gaming podcasts has doubled since 2020, reflecting growing inclusion in industry discourse
Only 15% of game characters have non-Western cultural backgrounds, despite the global nature of gaming audiences
Less than 5% of game awards recognize games with social justice themes, indicating recognition bias
Only 8% of gaming advertisements feature diverse characters or themes, showing industry representation gaps

Representation in Gaming Media and Advertising Interpretation

Despite overwhelming player demand and a rapidly diversifying audience, the game industry remains largely resistant to reflecting real-world pluralism, with underrepresentation of social justice themes, minorities, LGBTQ+ individuals, and marginalized voices—highlighting that inclusion in gaming is less about player preferences and more about industry priorities.