The world of gaming has rapidly evolved in recent years due to an influx of new technologies.
As games, virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR) and extended reality (XR) continue to advance in this digital playing field, so too does the demand for experts capable of creating immersive, responsive and dynamic audio experiences with video game audio.
SAE’s BSc (Hons) Game and Interactive Audio course has been designed for the next generation of sound designers and audio developers in today’s video game industry, equipping you with the creative mindset, music theory, industry connections and technical know-how to meet this demand.
The number of opportunities are evolving as the game sound design market grows. The market size is expected to double by 2033 while headsets are one of the most popular products as players demand increasingly immersive and team-based gameplay.
If you want to launch a career in game audio jobs and gain a thorough understanding of audio content, then get in contact with our team now to discover more about our course. From creating a killer demo reel to honing your soft skills and entering education, there are various ways into the sector. Spend time reading our blog for more on the potential routes you can take with our Game and Interactive Audio course, the technical skills you can learn and some of the best ways of breaking into game audio career opportunities in 2025.
What you need to source game audio jobs
Finding audio career opportunities and breaking into the sector requires a strategic approach if you want to be successful.
From freelance work to project or contract work, there are different ways to find game audio opportunities. An updated CV showcasing your gaming experience alongside a regularly updated LinkedIn profile will be hugely important items in your job-hunting tool kit.
Other ways of approaching this include:
Build your portfolio and online presence
Employers expect candidates to demonstrate their skill set and experience on larger projects. To do, a strong online presence will make your work accessible to a wide range of industry professionals, businesses and potential employers. Some ways of developing an engaging online presence include:
- Create a showreel. You can do this by finding a favourite game, film, or TV sequence, removing the original audio, then redesigning it with your own take on the sound effects and soundtrack. This is a standard and very effective way of showcasing your abilities.
- Establish an online portfolio. Use platforms including YouTube, Vimeo, and Substack to display your best and most recent work. Many industry professionals utilise the likes of LinkedIn to gather various pieces of work together to demonstrate their abilities.
- Contribute to game jams. Events such as the Uni Jam we have hosted at SAE are an excellent way to gain hands-on experience, collaborate with peers, and build your portfolio with work. These events can offer a safe and supportive space where you can test your skills before using them in another project.
Network within the gaming and audio communities
Personal connections in the gaming industry are often invaluable as many job openings are filled through recommendations rather than online postings. This is why your network, both online and offline, can be so vital when looking to elevate your career. To further your network, you can:
- Attend industry events. Visiting conferences and smaller, more localised gaming events can be a great way of establishing yourself in the gaming industry. You can utilise online resources such as the Game Conference Guide to find out more on relevant events.
- Join online communities. Alongside in-person networking, joining online groups can be helpful in enhancing your network. Forums and chat groups, including the Game Audio Learning Portal, can help you find like-minded professionals at different stages of their journeys and careers.
- Connect on LinkedIn. LinkedIn is a dedicated platform for professionals looking to connect with peers and potential employees. You can follow companies and audio professionals you admire and build a network through your connections. It’s also an effective way of staying on top of the latest industry news, trends and developments.
Search specialised job boards for game audio professionals
Beyond major platforms, the game audio industry has specific resources where opportunities are posted.
Grackle: Features a dedicated audio department for filtering jobs.
Work With Indies: A resource for indie game opportunities.
Games Jobs Direct: Includes a dedicated category for game audio roles.
IndieDB: A platform focused on independent games.
Many studios list open positions directly on their websites too. You can also use the UK Games Map to find game studios near you, and regularly review their careers pages.
Social media can also be useful, particularly with company listings on LinkedIn, Blue Sky and Instagram.
List of game audio industry careers
Games, immersive installations or experimental interactive experiences will need a wide variety of professionals to bring them to life.
If you study our Game and Interactive Audio course, then these are some of the opportunities that could open up to you.
Game Sound Designer
As a game sound designer, you will be tasked with creating, recording, and editing sound effects for characters, weapons, UI, environments, and more. You will be skilled with a range of tools including Reaper, Logic Pro, Wise, FMOD, Unity, Unreal Engine and have an understanding of synthesis, layering, mixing, implementation.
Once you have secured a junior role, you will be able to work your way from sound designer to audio lead on a team.
Technical Sound Designer
Professionals in this job will have the opportunity to meld sound design with programming while connecting creative and technical teams. You will integrate audio into the game engine and make it respond interactively, for example, when footsteps change on different surfaces.
Different tools will include Middleware (FMOD, Wwise) and Unity/Unreal scripting (C#, Blueprints).
Composer / Music Designer
Media composers will need to come up with non-linear music for games and interactive media projects.
These creative skills include an ability to write music, perfect arrangements and work with adaptive music logic alongside MIDI programming.
A knowledge of various Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs) such as Cubase or Logic can be invaluable in empowering composers who can work in-house or as freelancers.
Game Audio Programmer
Programmers write code that help guide a game’s audio engine, tools, or real-time effects. Some of the skills that are required include C++, DSP, scripting, optimisation, engine integration.
This role can see you working at AAA studios, middleware developers (Audiokinetic, Dolby, etc.), or research and development labs.
Dialogue Editor / Voice-Over Specialist
Professionals in this role will record, edit, and implement dialogue lines; manage large databases and integrate them interactively.
You will be skilled at editing, naming conventions, localisation management and lip-sync systems while being able to utilise excel databases and project management platforms.
Interactive Media Sound Designer
Interactive applications for sound designers include installations, web apps, museums, or even theme parks. You will need to be able to work in sound design while being able to other tools including sensors too.
Different employers could include universities, design studios or art collectives.
Audio QA / Tester
In this role, professionals will test the implementation, balance, and performance of different game audio assets.
You will need to be able to work effectively as part of a wider team while also having attention to detail to debug code effectively.
As a tester, you will be able to work in quality assurance, then as a designer in implementation.
Audio Producer / Project Manager
Project managers look after budgets, scheduling, team communication, and creative direction for all audio deliverables.
You will need to be well-organised, capable of leading a team, overseeing different production pipelines. Working in this role can lead to a career path taking you through various producer roles on the way to becoming an audio director.
Study SAE’s Game and Interactive Audio degree
SAE’s Game and Interactive Audio degree has been developed in collaboration with key players across the creative industries.
Our state-of-the-art facilities and expert tutors are well placed to give your career the best possible start in exciting and creative sector.
