Tightening immigration rules will impact the games industry in 2026

The US and UK are tightening immigration rules in 2026, directly affecting studios' ability to hire overseas talent. Expect stricter visa reviews for H-1B, L-1, and O-1 categories, expanded social media vetting for employment-based visas, and longer processing delays. For developers reliant on global talent pipelines, this means more complex hiring strategies and extended onboarding timelines.

Appeared in 2026-02-09.