Veteran Game Composer Struggles to Find Work Amid AI Disruption

Alexander Brandon, known for soundtracks like Deus Ex, says he's submitted 50 resumes and gotten just one interview in the past year.

Mar. 28, 2026 at 7:24pm by Ben Kaplan

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Alexander Brandon, a veteran game composer with credits on titles like Deus Ex and Unreal, is speaking out about the challenges he and other senior audio professionals are facing in the industry. Brandon says he's submitted 50 job applications in the last year but has only received a single interview, as full-time roles become increasingly scarce, especially for high-profile composers. He attributes this shift to the growing impact of AI on audio production, which is displacing some human audio work.

Why it matters

Brandon's experience highlights the significant disruption that AI is causing in the game audio industry, as emerging technologies automate certain tasks and put pressure on traditional roles. This trend is impacting even the most experienced and acclaimed composers, raising concerns about the future job prospects for audio professionals in the games sector.

The details

Brandon, who has over 30 years of experience in games as a composer, audio director, and voice actor, says the landscape has shifted dramatically, with far fewer full-time roles available, especially for senior-level talent. He notes that other industry veterans, like Bungie's former head of audio, are also struggling to find stable work and are having to rely more on contract gigs.

  • In the last year, Brandon has submitted around 50 job applications.
  • Brandon recently co-hosted a roundtable at the Game Developers Conference about the impact of AI on audio production.

The players

Alexander Brandon

A veteran game composer known for his work on soundtracks for titles like Deus Ex and Unreal, as well as roles as an audio director and voice actor in the games industry.

Bungie

A prominent game development studio, formerly the head of whose audio department is also struggling to find stable work amid the industry changes.

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What they’re saying

“My take on things is: Full-time is far less likely, high-paying full-time is probably more competitive than it's ever been. I've submitted 50 resumes and gotten one interview in the last year.”

— Alexander Brandon, Veteran Game Composer

“There are CEOs saying nobody's going to have a job in, like, two seconds, and we're all going to be in a utopia. Money's just going to flow into our mailboxes and we're going to turn into Wall-E or whatever. I'm just like, stop the techbro crap—I think people are sick of that.”

— Alexander Brandon, Veteran Game Composer

What’s next

Brandon and other audio professionals are continuing to advocate for greater transparency and ethical considerations around the use of AI in the games industry, through groups like the Special Interest Group he co-founded. As the technology continues to evolve, the long-term impact on job prospects for audio talent remains uncertain.

The takeaway

The struggles faced by veteran game composers like Alexander Brandon highlight the significant disruption that AI is causing in the audio production sector of the games industry. As automation displaces some traditional human roles, even acclaimed and experienced professionals are finding it increasingly difficult to secure stable, high-paying work, raising concerns about the future of the craft.