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The Business of Video Games Podcast

The Business of Video Games Podcast
Game Development
Hooded Horse
Steam
Video Game Development
Arrowhead Game Studios
Paradox Interactive
Entrepreneurship
Video Game Industry
Video Games Industry
Game Pass
Xbox
Manor Lords
Game Studio
Indie Games
Marketing Strategies
Negotiation
Deep Rock Galactic
Game Publishing
Epic Games
Startup Phase

Welcome to The Business of Video Games Podcast.A show where we shed some light on the inner workings of the games industry—the why, how, who, and what the hell?! behind business decisions, publishing calls, and the steps (and missteps) that happen behind the scenes.

Basically: the inside view on how and why things are actually done the way they are. Not just guesswork on 4Chan.

The podcast is ho... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes68Founded4 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Video GamesBusinessLeisure

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Artwork for The Business of Video Games Podcast

Latest Episodes

It's Friday and we are back to to tackle two major industry deep-dives, but not before touching base on Microsoft and EA, comparing BBC quotes  and teasing a Patreon-exclusive story about a spectacularly failed kosher salt business.

First up, Shams ... more

Shams and Fernando bring on their buddy Jon Shafer (former Lead Designer on Civ V) from Conifer Games to cut through the noise and break down the actual state of PC gaming post-Steam Next Fest!

Spoiler alert: that 2010s indie golden age everyone mis... more

It's Friday!

And what do you expect? After our last conversation unexpectedly blew up and wormed its way into the gaming news cycle for a day or two (or three?), we are now back to talk about ... you guessed it! Xbox!

In this episode, we dive right... more

It's Friday and what a show we got for you today!

Shams and Fernando are tearing into the harsh new realities of the games industry where Microsoft’s new leadership has brought out the big black hammer, as well as slowing down on Game Pass deals acc... more

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Recent Guests

Jon Shafer
Lead designer known for Civilization V; indie/game designer with deep Steam research
Independent game designer / Firaxis alum
Episode: Episode 61 - Basically too many games - Jon Shafer
Johan Pilestedt
Founder of Arrowhead Game Studios
Arrowhead Game Studios
Episode: Episode 57 - We need to drop out of college now - Johan Pilestedt Pt. 2
Tim Bender
CEO and founder of Hooded Horse
Hooded Horse
Episode: Episode 54 - 100 plus years - Tim Bender Pt. 1
Trent Kusters
Founder of League of Geeks, driving force behind Armello
League of Geeks
Episode: Episode 53 - "Blizzard of Oz" - Trent Kusters Pt. 2
Sam de Boeck
Founder and CEO of Oro Interactive
Oro Interactive
Episode: Episode 51 - Vibes based publisher - Sam de Boeck and Daniel Lyozov
Daniel Lyozov
Publishing Producer at Oro Interactive
Oro Interactive
Episode: Episode 51 - Vibes based publisher - Sam de Boeck and Daniel Lyozov
Agostino Simonetta
Chief Commercial Officer at GSC Game World with over 27 years in the gaming industry.
GSC Game World
Episode: Episode 49 - Ask for forgiveness, not permission - Agostino Simonetta Pt. 1
Adam Boyes
Former VP of Third-Party Relations at PlayStation, co-CEO of Iron Galaxy Studios.
Episode: Episode 46 - The man from the memes - Adam Boyes Part 1
Chris Bourassa
Co-founder of Red Hook Studios
Red Hook Studios
Episode: Episode 45 - The Emotional Battle - Chris Bourassa and Tyler Sigman Pt. 2

Hosts

Shams Jorjani
Host with roles including CEO of Arrowhead Game Studios, Chairman at Hooded Horse, founder of Almost Ready Games Fund
Fernando Rizo
Co-host with roles including Partner at Kaboodle Games; former Raw Fury executive

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 49 ratings
  • Very Insightful Discussions

    These episodes shed light on the complexities of decision-making in a field that combines creativity and commerce. The interview with Rebekah Saltsman was especially thought-provoking.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Seeside Cuoko
    Spaina year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Interviews often reveal nuanced perspectives on indie funding and long-term studio sustainability.
Guests regularly bring deep, practical industry knowledge that translates to actionable business insights.
Feedback highlights the quality of guest expertise and the hosts' ability to extract meaningful lessons.
The show balances candid storytelling with sharp analysis of complex publishing deals and platform dynamics.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Episode 61 - Basically too many games - Jon Shafer
Q: Why do you think Next Fest demos and the top charts are still a meaningful signal for indie developers?
They're a useful early indicator of what resonates with players, but they're not a guarantee of long-term success; momentum and ongoing marketing are crucial.
Episode 58 - A reflective optimist - Tim Bender
Q: What is Griffin's new initiative and who does it target?
Griffin has launched a big games fund focused on project-based financing for indie games, offering no-recourse, flat-percentage terms to provide funding without pushing developers toward equity exits.
Episode 56 - From the ass end of nowhere - Johan Pilestedt Pt. 1
Q: Can you talk about the founding of Magicka and how the core team focused on iterative development and playtesting from day one?
He describes starting with a lean core, focusing on building a fun core experience, and the discipline of daily playtests and feedback loops that kept the team aligned and moving toward a polished product, despite the challenges of early publishing dynamics.
Episode 56 - From the ass end of nowhere - Johan Pilestedt Pt. 1
Q: So before we do, Johan, let's start as we always do with yourself. Take us, give us a little bit of an origin story about yourself.
Johan recounts growing up in Gällivare, discovering games early, and the family and educational influences that shaped his path toward game development and business leadership, including inspirations from parents, modding, and college experiences that led to Arrowhead's formation and the Magicka project.
Episode 54 - 100 plus years - Tim Bender Pt. 1
Q: What is it like to take over an older back catalog title, like Battle Brothers, and how does Hooded Horse handle ongoing updates?
Hooded Horse can publish post-1.0 games by sharing credit with developers and focusing on presentation, marketing, and minor updates, while respecting the original development and ongoing player engagement; active development may continue in collaboration but is not the same as launching a new title.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Business of Video Games Podcast

What is The Business of Video Games Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Industry-focused conversations with founders, publishers, and investors examining how business decisions shape game development and publishing. Recent episodes highlight indie financing models, platform dynamics (including Game Pass and Steam), international markets (notably China), licensing versus original IP, and the evolving role of AI in development and marketing. The show frequently centers on founder journeys, studio leadership, publishing philosophies, and the tradeoffs between creative freedom and financial sustainability, often through candid, nuanced anecdotes from seasoned guests. A standout pattern is a developer-centric, long-horizon view of the industry, emphasizing sustainable partnerships, transparent terms, and strategies ... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Business of Video Games Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Business of Video Games Podcast:

1. The a16z Show
2. Invest Like the Best with Patrick O'Shaughnessy
3. The Game Informer Show
4. Better Offline
5. Triple Click

How many episodes of The Business of Video Games Podcast are there?

The Business of Video Games Podcast launched 4 years ago and published 68 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The Business of Video Games Podcast?

Recent guests on The Business of Video Games Podcast include:

1. Jon Shafer
2. Johan Pilestedt
3. Tim Bender
4. Trent Kusters
5. Sam de Boeck
6. Daniel Lyozov
7. Agostino Simonetta
8. Adam Boyes

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