Exploring Emotional Intelligence Across Job Roles in Video Game Development Teams

The video game industry, an important sector within software development, relies on multidisciplinary teams to develop products that integrate a variety of media and technical elements. This complexity, coupled with high stress, highlights the importance of Emotional Intelligence (EI)—the ability to recognize, manage, and utilize emotions effectively. EI is crucial for leadership, team dynamics, and workplace well-being, yet variability in EI within teams can exacerbate workplace challenges. Despite its significance, research on EI remains limited. To address this gap, this study investigates EI across various job roles within the video game industry, examining both horizontal (role-specific) and vertical (hierarchical) differences. A survey using self-rated EI scales was administered to video game professionals. Statistical methods were used to analyze EI differences across roles and hierarchical levels. The analysis showed minimal differences in EI across horizontal roles. However, leaders exhibited higher scores in dimensions such as Managing One's Own Emotions, indicating that EI is more pronounced in leadership roles. The findings suggest that, while the EI varies little by role, it is particularly relevant to leaders. Such a disparity between leaders and team members should not be taken lightly, as it could create an “emotional hierarchy,” potentially adding stress to leadership positions.