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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
Video Game Industry
Entrepreneurship
Video Games Industry
Manor Lords
Marketing Strategies
Game Studio
Indie Games
Negotiation
Deep Rock Galactic
Game Publishing
Epic Games
Startup Phase
Playstation
Armello

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 monthlyEpisodes63Founded4 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
LeisureBusinessVideo Games

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Artwork for The Business of Video Games Podcast

Latest Episodes

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

It's finally time for the first round of our exclusive deep-dive series with Arrowhead Game Studios CCO & Founder Johan Pilestedt!

In this kickoff episode, we take a closer look at Johan's roots in Gällivare, a remote Swedish mining town where Johan... more

We are back with the second part of our conversation together with our good friend Tim Bender as the we dive deeper into the weeds of some of the most surprising moves in the industry lately.

Why not start with the backstory of the Ubisoft partnersh... more

In the first part of our two-parter, Shams sits down with Tim Bender from Hooded Horse to pull back the curtain on one of the currently most talked-about trajectories in modern indie game publishing.

From the logistical realities of scaling a team t... 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
Executive at Hooded Horse, co-promoter of Heroes of Might and Magic: Old World
Hooded Horse
Episode: Episode 55 - Recoup is self-destructive - Tim Bender Pt. 2
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
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 of The Business of Video Games Podcast
Fernando Rizo
Co-host of The Business of Video Games Podcast

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
    Spain10 months ago

Listeners Say

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

The show offers honest, founder-focused perspectives on funding and publishing decisions.
Guests bring deep industry experience and candid stories about studio life and strategy.
Content often connects publishing economics to real-world outcomes for developers and players.
Very insightful discussions with practical takeaways for guest pitches and sponsorships.

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 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.
Episode 54 - 100 plus years - Tim Bender Pt. 1
Q: Has the portfolio shifted in focus with new titles, broadened, or narrowed in scope?
Tim explains that the portfolio remains broadly aligned with a core focus on strategy and strategy simulations, but increasingly includes games that appeal to the same core player base and occasionally ventures into adjacent genres if they attract similar audiences.

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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?

A thoughtful look at how publishing, funding, and platform choices shape the video game industry. Across episodes, the conversation pivots around independent publishing strategies, no-recoup and long-term sustainability, team dynamics in small studios, and the shifting economics of marketing, community building, and distribution. Notably, guests tend to be studio founders, publishers, and industry veterans who share concrete lessons from early-stage funding, platform relations, and navigating market changes. The show likely appeals to people who want actionable insights from real-world decisions, with a practical, founder- and publisher-focused lens rather than purely theoretical discussions.

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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. Gamecraft
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3. Big Technology Podcast
4. Y Combinator Startup Podcast
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 63 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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