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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
Manor Lords
Game Studio
Indie Games
Game Pass
Marketing Strategies
Negotiation
Xbox
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 monthlyEpisodes66Founded4 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 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

While Fernando is off enjoying Italy, Shams is flying solo and holding down the fort for today's episode.

Today, our dear friend Tim Bender returns to talk about the incredible early access launch of Olden Era, which has by the time of today already... more

Did you ever wonder what happens when a bunch of cocky college students decide they're going to take over the games industry?

Spoiler alert: it involves immediate debt, panic attacks, and practically begging a publisher for survival.

Yes. We are ba... more

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Recent Guests

Johan Pilestedt
Founder, Chief Creative Officer and former CEO of Arrowhead Game Studios
Arrowhead Game Studios
Episode: Episode 56 - From the ass end of nowhere - Johan Pilestedt Pt. 1
Tim Bender
CEO and founder of Hooded Horse
Hooded Horse
Episode: Episode 54 - 100 plus years - Tim Bender Pt. 1
Trent Kusters
Co-founder of League of Geeks, interviewee
League of Geeks
Episode: Episode 52 - Just get published - Trent Kusters Pt. 1
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
Game industry veteran with roles at Xbox and GSC Game World
GSC Game World
Episode: Episode 50 - Keeping a business alive - Agostino Simonetta Pt. 2
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
Tyler Sigman
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 40 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 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.
Episode 54 - 100 plus years - Tim Bender Pt. 1
Q: What is the right fit for early access, and how does Hooded Horse approach it today compared to the past?
Early access is appropriate when developers want to gather a year or more of player feedback and refine the game, but not necessary for every title; updates are typically monthly, with emphasis on good communication and thoughtful pacing to avoid player frustration.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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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. Triple Click
2. Post Games
3. Search Engine
4. Giant Bombcast
5. Noclip Crewcast

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

The Business of Video Games Podcast launched 4 years ago and published 66 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. Johan Pilestedt
2. Tim Bender
3. Trent Kusters
4. Sam de Boeck
5. Daniel Lyozov
6. Agostino Simonetta
7. Adam Boyes
8. Chris Bourassa

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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