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The Game Business Show

The Game Business Show

Hosted by Christopher Dring 132 Episodes Oct 13, 2026

Christopher Dring hosts interviews, in-depth analysis and special features on what's truly going on in the video games industry.

Episodes

Star Fox developer Velan: How to survive as a North American game studio
Star Fox developer Velan: How to survive as a North American game studio Oct 13, 2026 3135 This week, we speak to Velan Studios leaders Guha and Karthik Bala, who run the studio behind the new Star Fox remake on Nintendo Switch 2.The Balas, who had previously founded Vicarious Visions, discuss how they won over Nintendo, how they keep costs low as an independent US developer, working with big IP, taking risky bets and finding a 'middle way'. This is a public episode. If you'd like to di
How did PS5 boxed games sell in September? And the problem with industry consolidation
How did PS5 boxed games sell in September? And the problem with industry consolidation Oct 8, 2026 3991 In today's bumper The Game Business Show, we're joined by leading analyst Joost van Dreunen as we discuss the perils and opportunities from a rapidly consolidating video game industry.We also reveal how the GTA 6 and Zelda reveals boosted console sales, how PS5 physical games performed last month, who came out top in September, and there's a small interview with Pearl Abyss Europe CEO Lybee Park a
How Undead Labs saved itself and State of Decay from oblivion
How Undead Labs saved itself and State of Decay from oblivion Oct 6, 2026 2514 In this edition, we welcome Philip Holt, the boss of State of Decay developer Undead Labs. The studio has just declared its independence from Xbox, but has had to lay off a 'significant' number of staff as it prepares to release State of Decay 3 next year.We discuss the studio's new independence, why it didn't find a buyer, whether it has enough to finish the upcoming horror game, the business rea
Games media crisis deepens, Bloober hunts weird horror titles, and New York Games Week soft launches
Games media crisis deepens, Bloober hunts weird horror titles, and New York Games Week soft launches Oct 1, 2026 3151 In today's bumper edition of the Show, we discuss the layoffs in the games media, plus we have two interviews. The first is with the leaders of Bloober Team and Broken Mirror Games about finding weird horror titles akin to Backrooms in the film world. Plus, we chat to New York Games Week's Guy Blomberg about the surprise soft launch of the event next week. This is a public episode. If you'd like t
As a Battlefield studio, is Criterion Games really still Criterion?
As a Battlefield studio, is Criterion Games really still Criterion? Sep 30, 2026 2337 We chat with four leaders from EA's Criterion studio about how it made Battlefield with three other international studios, and whether the studio is still the same one that made those Need for Speed and Burnout games. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thegamebusiness.com/subscribe
Tencent’s bid to create the next FromSoftware and Larian
Tencent’s bid to create the next FromSoftware and Larian Sep 29, 2026 1504 In today's The Game Business Show, Chris speaks with Tencent’s Yong-yi Zhu at Gamescom. The two discuss Tencent's bid to find the next Larian or FromSoftware, the success of Chinese-made games in the West, the company's ambitions for Hollywood, and the advice he gives Tencent's huge army of studios. Enjoy. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access
Is Xbox making the right decisions? Plus, how AI is (and isn’t) transforming game localization
Is Xbox making the right decisions? Plus, how AI is (and isn’t) transforming game localization Sep 24, 2026 2626 In today's edition, Chris dives into the changes at Xbox and why the cuts - although brutal - are necessary and sensible. Plus, two leading localization experts chat about the challenges in releasing games in other markets, and the impact of AI on the translation sector. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thegam
“We’ve been baptized in fire” – the new Rainbow Six boss on losing staff, Tencent, GTA and… Moana
“We’ve been baptized in fire” – the new Rainbow Six boss on losing staff, Tencent, GTA and… Moana Sep 22, 2026 2180 We speak to the head of Rainbow Six: Siege Joshua Mills about the challenges that followed last year's major X update, the hack that took out the game over Christmas, life under new Tencent ownership, how to handle GTA 6, younger vs older players, and, erm, Moana. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thegamebusine
Five things we’ve learned about Japan’s games industry, plus how GTA 6 influenced Valor Mortis’ $40 price point
Five things we’ve learned about Japan’s games industry, plus how GTA 6 influenced Valor Mortis’ $40 price point Sep 17, 2026 3281 This week, we're joined by Japanese video game industry expert Dr Serkan Toto, and we talk about the state of the Japanese video game industry, the dominance of Nintendo, impact of China, the rise of PC and lots more.We then welcome Lyrical Games' Blake Rochkind to discuss the $40 price point of Valor Mortis, and why the publisher felt they had to go low during a hyper competitive moment for the v
Beyond Balatro and taking risks: Why Playstack doesn’t want a 100% hit rate
Beyond Balatro and taking risks: Why Playstack doesn’t want a 100% hit rate Sep 16, 2026 2627 In this bonus edition of The Game Business Show, Chris talks to Balatro publisher PlayStack about how the hit poker game has transformed the company, why it's not looking for a 100% hit rate, and what it expects from its new owners. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thegamebusiness.com/subscribe
The shooter that Tencent abandoned: Wardogs hits 2m sales in one weekend
The shooter that Tencent abandoned: Wardogs hits 2m sales in one weekend Sep 15, 2026 2428 We speak to Joe Brammer, CEO of Bulkhead, which has just launched the smash hit 100-player first person tactical shooter Wardogs.Just nine months ago, the studio was under threat from going under after Tencent no-longer wanted the team. Now, it’s had one of the surprise hits of the year, with two million games sold in Early Access after just one weekend.In this interview, Brammer discusses the sho
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and GTA 6: The video game industry’s Barbenheimer moment
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and GTA 6: The video game industry’s Barbenheimer moment Sep 10, 2026 2565 This week, Chris looks at the potential of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time in the month GTA 6 launches, Ubisoft talks about its Player Council, Geoff launches a foundation, and Kojima gets closer to Xbox. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thegamebusiness.com/subscribe

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