A Global Move: Worth It?

Author: by Staff

Is it worth moving across the world for a new job? Four developers discuss their out-of-country moves in Gamasutra's latest feature, The Relocation Game. With studios opening in places like Shanghai and Singapore and closing in Los Angeles, the temptation for experienced developers to stake out new jobs in the international market is increasing. But is this a move worth making? Montreal native Claude Langlais, who moved to establish Ubisoft's Singapore studio, says that there are plenty of perks and he's planning on staying. Describing the tropical climate as a "big draw", Langlais says Singapore's quality of life is "just amazing. Everything is super-efficient -- especially the public transport system which is very organized and very cheap, the food is incredible, and there's just so much energy in the air." The rationale for his move came from a need for change, however. "I needed to step out of my comfort zone in Montreal where I knew all the people, knew all the projects, and I could have kept on doing what I was doing. Instead, I was ready to learn new things, take on new tasks," he says. After two years at the studio, Langlais said he has "no immediate plans" to return to Canada. "I am really happy to have started this studio and have no regrets whatsoever. I would tell other developers that if you're looking for a new challenge, moving to a new country will do that for you. Of course you can find new challenges at home, but it's not like experiencing an entirely different culture, a different perspective." The full feature, The Relocation Game, which features more from Langlais, as well as interviews with three other developers who moved from the U.S. to Shanghai, Tokyo, and Montreal, is live today on Gamasutra. Image taken from Henry Leong's flickr, used under creative commons license.