For many games studios, the festive season is a chance to celebrate a year of creativity, collaboration and resilience. However, traditional Christmas parties and end-of-year expectations can unintentionally exclude staff or add pressure at a time when rest is most needed. By taking an inclusive, thoughtful approach, studios can ensure everyone feels welcome at celebrations – and genuinely encouraged to switch off over the break.
Rethinking the ‘Christmas Party’
Inclusivity starts with recognising that not everyone celebrates Christmas, drinks alcohol, or enjoys late-night social events. Rather than framing celebrations around one cultural or religious tradition, studios might want to consider hosting an end-of-year or winter celebration that welcomes everyone, regardless of background or belief.
Timing and format matter. Consider holding events during working hours rather than evenings or weekends, which can exclude parents, carers, or those with health-related needs. Offering multiple ways to participate – such as a shared lunch, games afternoon, creative workshop or online social for remote staff – gives employees more agency over how they engage.
Food and drink choices are another key consideration. Providing clear labelling for allergens, halal/kosher options, vegetarian and vegan choices, and a strong selection of non-alcoholic drinks ensures no one is left navigating awkward explanations or exclusions. If alcohol is included, it should never be positioned as the focal point of the event.
Accessibility should be planned, not reactive. Quiet spaces, clear itineraries, accessible venues, and the option to opt out without judgement all signal that inclusion is embedded in studio culture, not an afterthought.
Celebrating Without Pressure
Even well-intentioned celebrations can feel compulsory in studio cultures that value visibility and ‘being there’. Leaders should explicitly communicate that attendance is optional and that opting out will not affect how someone is perceived. Inclusive events respect different energy levels, social comfort zones, and cultural boundaries.
Recognition is also part of celebration. Taking time to thank teams and individuals in meaningful ways – beyond loud shout-outs or public praise – helps ensure appreciation reaches everyone, including those who may not enjoy performative recognition.
Encouraging Staff to Truly Switch Off
Festive celebrations should go hand in hand with encouraging genuine rest. In the games industry, where burnout and crunch have long been issues, leadership behaviour is especially important. Encouraging staff to switch off starts with clear boundaries: setting expectations that emails, Slack messages and work notifications are paused during the break, unless absolutely essential.
Studios can support this by planning realistic delivery schedules that don’t push deadlines right up to the last working day. Using out-of-office messages, handover documents and clear ownership of any essential cover reduces anxiety about taking time off.
Leaders should also model the behaviour they want to see. When managers log off, take leave, and avoid sending late-night messages, it gives permission for others to do the same. Publicly acknowledging rest as a positive, not a risk, helps dismantle harmful ‘always on’ norms.
Inclusive festive planning is less about perfection and more about intention. By designing celebrations that respect difference and encouraging meaningful rest, games studios can end the year in a way that supports wellbeing, belonging, and long-term sustainability – sending staff into the new year feeling valued, rested, and empowered.
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