Room 8 Voices: Meet Irina Lang 

Welcome to Room 8 Voices, a series about the people behind the projects. With Voices, we’ll strive to highlight the unique journeys and experiences of our specialists—those whose creativity and dedication powers everything we do.  

All month long, we’re celebrating International Women’s Day—a day dedicated to equality, empowerment, and opportunity. At Room 8 Group, we believe in empowering women and fostering an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive. Throughout March, we’ll be publishing special editions of Voices, each spotlighting one of our female experts. We’ll ask them a series of questions about their dreams, achievements, biggest inspirations and more to celebrate the considerable female talent in our company—and in the industry as a whole. Today’s voice is Irina Lang, Producer at Room 8 Group! 

With a childhood fascination for languages and a professional background in localization, Irina turned her passion for games into a successful career in production. Her honest takes on resilience, staying creative under pressure, and the ups and downs of the industry shows just how much experience she brings—and how much she cares about making great games and supporting the people behind them.  

When you were a child, what did you imagine you’d be doing as an adult? 

At first, I thought I’d be a pilot like my dad, until I realized how much math and physics that involved. So I shifted gears and explored foreign languages. For a while, I went back and forth between becoming an interpreter or studying law. 

What first sparked your interest in the gaming industry, and how did you break in? 

My passion for foreign languages, especially Japanese and Korean, ended up opening the door for me. I was already a gamer, but my love of languages led me to a role in game localization, and that’s how I got my start in the industry. 

Who is your favorite game character, and why do they resonate with you? 

Ellie from The Last of Us comes to mind. I’m not sure I see myself in her, but she’s such a well-rounded, complex character. I admire her resilience. She has this great mix of toughness, vulnerability, and snark that made her really fun to experience in the game. 

What has been the biggest challenge you’ve overcome in your career so far? 

Like many women in the industry, I’ve had moments where I had to work harder to be taken seriously. But beyond that, I think the biggest challenge is one that affects everyone: the lack of stability and structure in the industry. Career growth, mentorship, and consistent support can be hard to find, and you often have to navigate things on your own. That ongoing uncertainty has been one of the toughest hurdles. 

What do you love most about your job, and why? 

The people. I love working with teams—brainstorming, building ideas together, and bringing games to life. It might be a common answer, but it’s true: when you have a great team, the process is just as rewarding as the final result. 

What’s one misconception people have about working in the game industry that you’d like to clear up? 

That it’s all fun and games. It’s a creative field, sure, but it’s also high-pressured, and deadline driven. Burnout is real, and the amount of work that goes into making games is often underestimated. 

How do you stay creative and motivated, especially when facing tight deadlines? 

Honestly? Sometimes you don’t. The reality is that there isn’t always space to stay inspired. You just have to push through. When I can, I try to carve out small moments to recharge between crunch periods, but it’s not always possible. 

What advice would you give to women aspiring to join the gaming industry? 

Choose wisely. The industry can be incredibly creative and fulfilling, but women are still underrepresented, and that brings challenges. Build a strong support network, be clear about your boundaries, and don’t be afraid to advocate for yourself. 

Do you believe games can influence people on a deeper level? If so, how? 

Games are different from passive media because they make you participate. You make choices, face challenges, and experience stories firsthand. That can create powerful emotional connections, whether it’s empathy for a character, a new perspective on real-world issues, or even personal growth. Games can be a form of escapism, but they can also teach, inspire, and connect people in unique ways. 

What’s one crucial skill in game development that is often underrated? 

Resilience. The ability to bounce back from setbacks, adapt, and keep going is crucial. Game development is fast-paced, high-pressure, and often unpredictable. Being able to handle challenges without letting them break you makes all the difference. That said, I don’t want to glorify it—sustaining that level of effort long-term can be unhealthy. But realistically, it’s often necessary to move forward in this industry. 

Is there a skill or passion outside of work that you’ve found unexpectedly useful in your role? 

Dungeons & Dragons, actually! Especially since becoming a Dungeon Master, I’ve relearned how to really listen to people. With deadlines and client demands, it’s easy to rush things and forget to hear your team out. But listening can give you valuable insights and a better understanding of everyone’s work. Also, D&D has improved my conflict management skills. It can get pretty wild sometimes! 

What is your vision for the future of women in gaming, and how do you see the industry evolving to achieve it? 

Honestly, the times we’re in now are difficult and uncertain for everyone. More than anything, I hope the industry moves toward a place where everyone, women included, are truly supported, understood, and fairly rewarded for their work. If companies prioritized the human element, the whole industry would benefit.  

If you want to become part of the Room 8 Group team, explore opportunities here.