Current TC 33k in a low COL mediterranean country. I got one offer at 45k in the same city from a startup in the ML hardware industry, and another one from FANG at 48k in a country with less COL but worst weather in central europe. I am asking King to raise my comp to 42k. (Promotion was on its way anyway). Even if they do, do you think it would be wise to stay in the gaming industry? It feels to me like everyone in videogames is undercompensated. There is many other factors than compensation, but I am only asking on that regard because I am clear on my preferences. Yoe: 4. 2 of them in videogames
no
Former King employee, they were pretty competitive in sweden, paying according to the market (in the top 20 %) Anyways, I feel like people are undercompensated because they are in a passion field, that's why I'm moving towards core tech companies.
Thanks for your insight. I am in Barcelona where the pay is probably not as competitive. However I ended up taking a non-formal counteroffer. I still have things to do here. In the future I think I will move to a tech company. For me videogames is not a passion field, though I enjoy my job and all the opportunities I have here very much
As long as there are thousands of new graduate developers willing to do your job for free .... no.
They will if you’re in a competitive area. Doesn’t sound like you really are.
Yeah, exactly. I think that is the problem. It is getting more competitive though. Also COL and quality of live is really good here. So I guess in a way I am paying for that with less salary
If you are single, forget about CoL and self-pity arguments. You deserve more.
Very few have studios compensate as well as companies outside the game industry. In most game studios (I doubt King is one of them), the margins and profits are much smaller. So there's less to go around. It sounds like you can make more $$ outside the game industry where you are. You'll need to decide for yourself if the difference in pay is worth it.
Thanks for your reply. Finally they offered me a raise. Not matching the other offer but still enough for me to stay. Now I understand that I need to ask for more money if I want more money. The difference was not worth it right now, but it might be in the future. I love my job and the people I work with and I also like senior leadership a lot, but still I am not really attached to the games industry in general. So I might switch in the future
And yes, I also think King has big margins
Which king office are you at. King paid very competitively in US and Sweden. Not as competitively in London and BCN. Unsure about Germany. Engineering as a whole in gaming companies will skew to the lower end when compared to their FAANG counterparts. I have been flirty surprised by engineer pay scales on the teams that I’ve inherited. Also both A’s in FAANG seem to pay at the lower end.
Thanks for your responses, very insightful. I am based in Barcelona, where it feels they pay less competitively. My offer in FANG was at Google in Poland actually. It surprises me a bit that Google is able to offer in Poland for L3 more than King in Barcelona for a mid-level engineer. And also more than my other offer in Barcelona. Anyway I ended up taking a counter offer. The difference will be not that much now and I wasn't done here. Plus I love what I do and there is full of people here I can trust. Including senior leadership. Now I understand I'll have to fight for my compensation to keep going up, but that is okay for now.
What was your Google offer in Poland?
Additionally - Kings bonus and equity plan has historically been incredibly generous. Company performance based with no individual modifier - outside of a few select teams that deserve a bit extra namely Candy.
Heck no. Blizzard pays beans. Bobby has to keep them yachts up to date.
Could have changed more since I left. King compensation didn’t entirely follow atvi protocol post acquisition (ie no individual modifier for bonuses). Biggest thing that changed was no more equity in the form of rsu at hire. Performance stock was long term in nature and largely options driven. Role plays a big part in comp as well. Designers may generally be compensated at a lower rate.
We don’t get any kind of stock options at all. Literally nothing. If you want stock you have to buy it off E*TRADE.
In the US, gaming pays well. But no where close to tech. Compare Glassdoor with levels.fyi.
How much is good? For example Valve pays more than Microsoft/Amazon but still less than FANG.
How can Valve pay more than Amazon but still less than FANG?
He said FANG not FAANG is how, Amazon's losing there spot.