PLANO, TX, UNITED STATES, November 11, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — Unreal Engine is the primary engine for 42% of developers in GDC’s 2026 State of the Game Industry survey, ahead of Unity at 30%. Juego Studios has broken down what that split means for US and Canadian studios planning their 2027 slates.
The survey, published in January and based on responses from more than 2,300 game industry professionals, also points to where developers want to ship next: Steam Deck, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC. Juego Studios Inc., the company’s US operating entity, says that combination makes engine choice a planning question as much as a technical one.
What the Survey Found
GDC’s report, released by Business Wire in January, found Unreal Engine named as the primary engine by 42% of respondents and Unity by 30%. On platforms, 28% of developers make or optimize games for Steam Deck, the fourth most developed platform in the survey. Interest runs higher than current output: 40% are interested in making games for Steam Deck and 39% for Switch 2. Among executives, 73% place PC in their top three next-generation platforms.
The survey draws on respondents worldwide. Of those, 28% said they were laid off in the past two years, rising to 33% in the US, the context for 2027 staffing and engine decisions.
What It Means for 2027 Planning
Juego Studios points to three planning questions for studios in both countries.
Plan around skills, not just the engine. Unreal leads, but Unity is the primary engine for nearly a third of respondents, so a studio’s next hire, port or partnership may land on either.
Treat platform targets as engine decisions. Moving a game to a new platform (porting) depends on engine-specific know-how, so interest in Steam Deck and Switch 2 is also a staffing question.
Check engine depth before signing with a partner. For co-development (an outside team building alongside a studio’s own), confirm hands-on experience with the specific engine version, target platforms, and build tools.
“Engine choice used to be a technical call made once, at the start of a project. For 2027 it is a planning call, because it shapes who a studio can hire, which platforms it can reach, and how easily an outside team can plug in,” said Suman BK, CEO and Co-Founder of Juego Studios.
Juego Studios at a Glance
Juego Studios works across both engines in the survey, Unreal and Unity, through its Unreal game development services and Unity game development services. Its services run from full-cycle development (idea to launch), co-development (working alongside a client’s own team), and outstaffing (dedicated specialists who join a client’s team), through to game art, porting, and live operations (post-launch updates and events).
Juego’s proprietary AI pipeline is used across that work. In development, the company says it can shorten the path from idea to MVP (a first playable version) by up to 5x. For game art services, it is used for concept exploration and early-stage research.
The company cites 200+ projects and 50+ global partnerships, with client work for brands including Sony, Disney, Tencent, Amazon, and Zynga.
Juego Studios Inc. and the US Market
Juego Studios Inc. is the US operating entity of Juego Studios, with offices in Plano, Texas, and Aventura, Florida. The team there works with US studios on Unity and Unreal projects spanning game development, art, and porting, where engine and platform choices shape the work. Delivery is handled by the wider Juego Studios team based in India.
Where Canadian Studios Stand
The Canadian Press puts Canada’s industry at roughly 34,000 game developers, with Quebec home to more than 300 studios and 45% of those developers. Quebec cut its payroll tax credit by about a third two years ago, and Montreal studios have announced layoffs in recent months. Ubisoft also closed its Halifax and Winnipeg studios.
An industry study for the Entertainment Software Association of Canada counted 821 active studios and a C$5.1 billion GDP contribution in its 2024 report, Retail Insider reported, a baseline from before this year’s layoffs and closures. The engine, platform, and partner questions above apply as much in Canada as in the US.
About Juego Studios
Juego Studios is a game development company covering full-cycle development, co-development, game art and porting across PC, console, and mobile, with Unity and Unreal expertise. The company works with first-time founders and funded startups as well as established studios and publishers. In the US it operates as Juego Studios Inc.
Rudresha MUNIRAMAIAH
Juego studios
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