The game industry is built on highly specialised skills, rapidly evolving roles, and project-based work that does not always fit into traditional job titles such as designer, producer, or programmer. These roles can mean different things depending on the studio, project, or even platform.
As a result, it can be difficult to understand what professionals and students are capable of doing, especially when they enter the industry, change roles or work across multiple disciplines. Gamebadges was created to address this challenge by focusing on a simple question: how to make game industry competence visible and easy to explain?
The solution consists of two parts. First, competences and connections between them are made visible through a Competence Map. Second, a verification system based on competence-based, open digital badges was created. This ecosystem is branded and marketed as Gamebadges, to be used for assessing game industry competences at different levels throughout a professional’s career. Gamebadges is not just a digital badge or a product, but an evolving ecosystem funded by Erasmus+ and delivered by nine European partner organisations. The project is coordinated by Metropolia University of Applied Sciences. (Heinonen 2025, Gamebadges 2026.)
Gamebadges ecosystem explained in detail
The Competence Map is a free tool consisting of nine competence categories: audio, art, business, design, marketing, production, programming, quality assurance and industry-wide skills. To specify these competences, the map includes more than 40 skillsets or role descriptions and their competence requirements. In addition, more than 140 individual competences illustrate expertise in three levels.
The Bronze level reflects basic or entry-level competence, Silver indicates independent professional or senior-level expertise, and Gold represents top-level mastery. These levels are not cumulative, so applicants do not need to hold a lower-level badge to apply for a higher one. Each badge stands on its own and is assessed independently.
Gamebadges is currently in closed beta phase, meaning that it is only open to a limited group of testers. Applications that consist of real-life work examples or similar mock-ups are submitted through the Open Badge Passport platform and assessed by industry experts. On this platform, users can store their digital badges and share them across various digital channels and networks.
To earn a badge, applicants need to demonstrate their competence by providing concrete evidence. This might include analyses, documentation, implementations, or other work that clearly shows they can carry out the tasks described. The emphasis is on what the applicants can do, not just what they know.
Each Gamebadge is built around a standalone competence description focusing on practical abilities, such as developing strategies, implementing systems, managing workflows, or producing concrete outputs for game projects.
Both parts, the map and the badges themselves, have been developed in collaboration with around a hundred industry professionals and educators during the year-long preparation phase. The iteration of the ecosystem continues until the end of 2026.
© Elina Tyynelä, Gamebadges
Gamebadges benefits professionals, studios and educators
Gamebadges is designed to benefit the whole game industry, not just individual professionals.
For game industry professionals, Gamebadges offers a way to visualise their competencies when job titles or portfolios alone are not enough. Through the system, professionals can apply for any badge, even outside their core field. If they possess a relevant competency and can demonstrate it to the required standard, they may present it as a verified credential alongside their work history and other more official documents.
For studios and employers, Gamebadges offers a shared language for understanding competences across roles and teams. Clear competence descriptions can support recruitment, team composition, and internal skill development by making expectations and capabilities more transparent.
For educators and training providers, Gamebadges bridges the gap between education and working life, providing portable evidence of skills. Competence-based badges can display both formal education and independent learning, and showcase skills gained during studies, internships, hobby projects, or game jams. More information on how to integrate Gamebadges into study programmes is available in the Guidebook for educational institutions.
Ecosystem for an evolving industry
Gamebadges is an evolving ecosystem, developed in collaboration with game industry professionals and experts from multiple disciplines. As the industry advances, the ecosystem must keep pace. Gamebadges aims to make game industry skills more visible, understandable, and portable, supporting professionals at different stages of their careers and contributing to a more transparent and connected industry.
To achieve this, we seek continuous feedback from experts in the field. If you would like to be an early adopter of Gamebadges, or have any questions or development suggestions, please contact us via email at info[at]gamebadges.eu.
References
Heinonen, S. 2025. From Classroom to Game Studio – The Role of Badges in Game Industry Competence Mapping. Published 14 May 2025. Metrospective Pro.
Gamebadges. 2026. About. Accessed 22 February 2026.
Author
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Ria Gynther
Project Coordinator, Metropolia UASAn a all-rounder in the game industry, engaged with the field and its topics since 2017.
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