I'm trying to decide between following a self-taught game development learning path or pursuing formal education. There are so many game development youtube tutorials and game development udemy courses available for free or cheap, but university programs offer structure and credentials. What's been more valuable in your experience? Can you really get a job in game development with just online tutorials and portfolio projects, or do you need a degree?
I'm self-taught through game development youtube tutorials and online courses, and I've been working professionally for 3 years. What matters most is your portfolio and demonstrated skills. A degree might help get your first interview, but your portfolio gets you the job. That said, formal education provides structure and networking opportunities that can be valuable.
I have a computer science degree and work in games. The degree taught me fundamentals that make learning new engines and languages much easier. However, I learned actual game development through game development udemy courses and personal projects. The ideal path might be a CS degree supplemented with game-specific online learning. But if you can't afford/don't want a degree, a strong portfolio can compensate.
As someone currently self-teaching, I find the lack of structure challenging. It's easy to bounce between tutorials without making real progress. A formal game development learning path would help with this. However, the cost of university is prohibitive for many. Maybe look into structured online programs that offer certificates - they provide guidance without the full university price tag.
Consider your goals. If you want to work at a large AAA studio, a degree might be more important (though still not required with an amazing portfolio). If you want to work at indie studios or go solo, skills and portfolio are everything. Also consider location - some regions/countries value formal education more than others in their hiring practices.