The World Is Changing: Should I Leave Web Development for Game Development?

🎮 From Web Developer to Game Creator: Why I’m Finally Building My Childhood Dream

For most of my life, I’ve been a web developer — someone who loves to build things that live on screens. I’ve written countless lines of code, deployed dozens of projects, and learned more frameworks than I can remember. But lately, something inside me has shifted.

The tech world is changing. Fast.

Layoffs are everywhere. Startups are cutting costs, big tech companies are trimming teams, and AI is automating tasks that once made my job feel secure. Every week, it feels like another story of uncertainty hits my feed. And somewhere between burnout and curiosity, I started asking myself: What if it’s time to learn something new?

That’s when I looked back to something that has always been there — my childhood dream of making a game.

🎮 Rediscovering the Passion I Left Behind

When I was a kid, video games weren’t just entertainment. They were worlds.
I remember spending hours imagining levels, characters, and rules. I used to draw maps on graph paper, thinking: What if I could make my own?

Of course, back then, I had no clue what coding or game engines were. Life took me elsewhere — to web development, HTML, React, APIs, and client work. But the dream never really left. It was just paused.

And now, with the world shifting so rapidly, that pause button feels like it’s finally been released.

🧠 Learning Something New — Unity, C#, and Patience

Starting game development feels like stepping into a parallel universe of coding.
Sure, I can build websites. But making a game? That’s storytelling through logic, design, and emotion all at once. It’s code with creativity baked in.

I decided to use Unity, one of the most beginner-friendly yet powerful engines in the world. The community is massive, the tutorials are endless, and the opportunities — from 2D pixel art to 3D mobile worlds — are inspiring.

What’s exciting is how much it challenges my comfort zone:

• In web, I think in terms of components and APIs.

• In Unity, I think in terms of game objects, collisions, animations, and physics.

• In web, the “user” scrolls and clicks.

• In games, the “player” feels, reacts, and engages.

It’s both technical and emotional. It’s both structure and imagination. And learning that duality feels like discovering why I fell in love with coding in the first place.

⚙️ The Joy (and Chaos) of Building Something That Moves

I still remember the first time I made a car move in Unity.
It was clunky. It jittered. It overlapped other cars. But it moved.
And that was enough to make me smile like a kid again.

It reminded me that learning is supposed to be messy. You don’t have to start perfect — you just have to start.

I’ve begun working on a few simple projects — small games that test mechanics like traffic control, pattern recognition, or timing. Each prototype teaches me something: how physics behaves, how prefabs save time, how random spawns make games feel alive.

And with each lesson, I realize: I’m no longer just coding for clients. I’m creating worlds.

🌏 The World is Changing — So Should I

The past few years have shown one clear truth: the only constant in tech is change.

AI can now write code, design layouts, and even deploy full-stack apps. Website builders are becoming smarter and cheaper. Most web development jobs today are already being replaced with no-code tools or automated systems.

That doesn’t mean web development is dead — but it’s definitely evolving fast.
In five years, the demand for traditional front-end work might shrink drastically. Clients will expect fewer developers to do more with AI assistance.

And while others might see this as a threat, I see it as a nudge — a reminder that I shouldn’t build my identity around just one technology.

So I asked myself: If my current skills become obsolete tomorrow, what would I still love to build?
The answer was clear: games.

Because unlike web pages, games are timeless. They evolve with technology, but the human desire to play, explore, and imagine never disappears.

🕹️ Why Mobile Game Development Makes Sense Now

Mobile gaming is exploding. It’s not just about “casual” fun anymore — it’s a multibillion-dollar industry where even small developers can make something viral.

In the Philippines and across Asia, mobile is the primary gaming platform. Everyone has a phone, but not everyone has a console or gaming PC. That means if I can create something fun, simple, and engaging, I have a shot — even as a solo dev.

Plus, Unity makes publishing to mobile incredibly accessible. I can build once and deploy to Android and iOS. Add monetization via AdMob or Unity Ads, and suddenly, the dream doesn’t feel so far away.

It’s not about getting rich overnight. It’s about creating something I own, learning continuously, and maybe — just maybe — inspiring others to start too.

🔮 The Next 5 Years: What Could Happen?

Let’s imagine the road ahead.

1. AI Will Reshape Creation

Tools like ChatGPT, Midjourney, and Unity Muse are already accelerating development. In five years, game devs might generate assets, code logic, and even storylines in minutes. That means creativity — not technicality — will become the new edge.

Learning now gives me a front-row seat to that evolution. I don’t want to just consume what AI builds — I want to collaborate with it.

2. Indie Developers Will Thrive

The barriers to entry are gone. Small studios and even solo creators can publish global hits. Look at Vampire Survivors, Among Us, or Stardew Valley — all made by individuals or tiny teams.
If I start now, even small progress each year compounds. By year five, I could have a library of games, followers, and passive revenue.

3. The “New Web” Will Be Playable

The web won’t die — it’ll merge with interactive experiences.
Games, simulations, and gamified apps will dominate user engagement. Being both a web developer and a game creator gives me a unique hybrid skill set for that future.

4. Job Security Will Mean “Self-Security”

Instead of relying on employers, I can rely on my own creativity.
In a world where layoffs are unpredictable, building independent income through games or apps is a form of freedom. Maybe I won’t hit millions — but even small, consistent success can mean independence.

5. My Child Will See What I Dreamed Of

And perhaps most importantly — I’ll get to show my kids that dreams don’t have expiration dates.
It’s easy to give up on childhood goals once adulthood sets in. But maybe the best gift I can give them is proof that learning never stops.

🚀 Am I Ready to Start?

Honestly? I don’t feel 100% ready.
But I’ve realized — no one ever does.

You don’t need to know everything before you begin. You just need the courage to start where you are, with what you have.

I’m starting small:

• Following Unity tutorials.

• Joining online communities.

• Documenting my journey — including the failures.

• Experimenting with monetization, publishing, and game loops.

And through all that, I’m rebuilding the most important skill of all: the willingness to learn again.

🧩 What I’ve Learned So Far

In just a short time of exploring Unity, I’ve learned more about creativity than in years of web work. I’ve learned to:

• Accept imperfections in my first builds.

• Balance logic with visuals.

• Think from a player’s point of view, not just a user’s.

• Appreciate small wins — like fixing a car spawn bug or creating a working score counter.

It’s humbling and exciting all at once. I’m not chasing perfection — I’m chasing progress.

✨ Closing Thoughts: The Power of Reinvention

Maybe this isn’t just about learning Unity.
Maybe it’s about reinventing myself in a world that never stops changing.

I’ve spent years optimizing websites, but now I want to optimize fun.
I’ve built products for clients, but now I want to build stories for players.
And in the middle of economic shifts, AI disruptions, and layoffs, I’ve found something no algorithm can replace — human creativity.

So yes, the world is changing.
Yes, web development may evolve faster than we can keep up.
But if change is inevitable, then so is the opportunity to start again.

And this time, I’m not just starting a new project.
I’m starting my dream.

💬 Final Thought

If you’re reading this and feeling stuck in your own career, ask yourself:

“What did I love doing before life got in the way?”

Because maybe, just maybe, that’s the direction you need to look again.
As for me — I’m opening Unity, pressing Play, and letting that kid inside me finally build his game.