If you've been on Twitter for the past couple of days, you've probably noticed a hashtag trending. The #GameDevPaidMe movement is game developers' way of finding out just how much each other is paid, regardless of where they are. This way, they can compare each other's salaries and see if anyone is getting paid fairly. Unfortunately, it appears that all the trend has done is expose one of the dirty secrets of the gaming industry.
Why aren't video game developers paid more by studios?
The video game industry has had a long and unsavory relationship with its workers. It's no secret that the majority of employees aren't paid well or treated fairly if not both. However, it appears that this also extends to people who are actually working on video games and not just contracts and freelancers. In a bid to try and get studios to pay them more, programmers and designers have decided to step up and make their salaries public.