The Business of Games

Xsolla
  • 5.0 (4)
  • BUSINESS

The Business of Games: A podcast for developers, publishers, and executives navigating the ever-changing game industry.From monetization models to player behavior, from platform shifts to emerging markets, The Business of Games is your guide to all the things transforming how games are built, marketed, and scaled.Hosted by Chris Hewish and Lia Ballentine, each episode blends strategic insight, cinematic storytelling, and candid conversations with the people driving the business of play. You’ll hear from top executives inside studios and strategic partners across the ecosystem who are uncovering the ideas, tactics, and trends shaping tomorrow’s opportunities.Whether you’re launching your first game or scaling a global studio, you’ll find practical strategies, future-forward thinking, and real-world examples you can act on right away.The Business of Games is brought to you by Xsolla, your strategic partner behind the scenes. We bring together “All the Things” to help you simplify operations, unlock new revenue, reach more players, and launch fast.Visit xsolla.com to learn more, connect with our team, and access all the things you need to level up your business of play. Want to join the conversation? Follow and comment on our LinkedIn page at The Business of Games Podcast, where we’ll be sharing updates, highlights, and continuing the discussion. And don’t forget to subscribe, rate, review, and share the podcast with friends and colleagues who want to learn more about the business of games.

  1. From platforms to players: 2025 reflections, 2026 predictions

    6D AGO

    From platforms to players: 2025 reflections, 2026 predictions

    Welcome to The Business of Games Podcast, brought to you by Xsolla. In this episode, hosts Chris Hewish and Lia Ballentine close out the year with a special look back at 2025 and a forward look at the trends that will define 2026. Instead of a single topic, this one pulls together voices from across the games ecosystem, from studios to platforms to service partners: Arron Goolsbey (COO, Mythical Games)David Kim (Publishing & Marketing Leader, Web3 Advisor)Jenny Xu (Founder & CEO, Talofa Games)Lauren Baca (Global VP of Marketing, Xsolla)Mark Long (CEO, Villain Studios)Olivier Perbet (Chief Marketing & Revenue Officer, IO Interactive)Travis Anderson (Global Head of Business Development, Xsolla Ads)Together, they help map out how the business of games is changing, from regulation and revenue models to AI workflows, creator ecosystems, and the emotional realities of building games through another turbulent year. We start with 2025 in review: platform rules shifting after Epic v. Google, the surprising rise of younger creators, the erosion of AAA’s monopoly, and the pressure facing studios as layoffs and pivots ripple through the industry. From there, we turn to five key predictions for 2026: How regulation and open ecosystems could finally rebalance power between platforms and developersWhy mobile is becoming the entry point to cross-device, transmedia game universesHow AI will quietly become the creative “engine room” behind smaller, faster, more focused teamsWhy web shops will evolve from off-platform checkout pages into full player hubs and loyalty layersHow the line between player and creator will dissolve as communities help shape both development and business modelsFinally, we close with the human side of change: candid reflections on mental health, resilience, imposter syndrome, and gratitude for the careers and communities that make all of this possible. By the end, you’ll have a clear snapshot of what 2025 actually changed and a practical sense of where to focus as 2026 begins. Let’s get into it. For more insights and resources, visit xsolla.com/podcast. Want to join the conversation? Follow and comment on our LinkedIn page at The Business of Games Podcast. That’s where we’ll be sharing updates, highlights, and continuing the discussion. And don’t forget to subscribe, rate, review, and share the podcast with friends who want to learn more about the business of games.

    31 min
  2. Web3 & Games Part 3: Building What Comes Next

    DEC 5

    Web3 & Games Part 3: Building What Comes Next

    Welcome to The Business of Games Podcast, brought to you by Xsolla. In this episode, hosts Chris Hewish and Lia Ballentine close out our three-part series on Web3 in games. Part 1 explored the promise. Part 2 confronted the chaos. Now, in Part 3, we look ahead and ask what happens if the industry finally gets Web3 right. Joining us are Brian Murphy, Head of Gaming and GTM at AppsFlyer, and Arron Goolsbey, COO at Mythical Games, who are two leaders shaping Web3’s second act. Together, they unpack how the next generation of blockchain games is being rebuilt: more scalable, more seamless, and more player-first. From invisible infrastructure to better onboarding, we explore how developers can make ownership meaningful, reduce friction, and rebuild trust after the hype. You’ll hear why scalability and adoption were the “two boss fights” that broke early Web3, how invisible systems can make blockchain feel as natural as multiplayer or cloud saves, and what happens when interoperability finally lets digital items, and player progress, travel freely between worlds. By the end, we lay out the roadmap for a smarter, more sustainable Web3: one where players don’t think about the tech at all. They just play. What you’ll learn: Why scalability and adoption are Web3’s biggest hurdlesHow early Web3 models confused speculation with participationWhat “invisible infrastructure” really means for game designHow ownership and interoperability can boost player loyaltyWhy Web3’s future depends on fairness, not decentralizationLet’s get into it. For more insights and resources, visit xsolla.com/podcast. Want to join the conversation? Follow and comment on our LinkedIn page at The Business of Games Podcast. That’s where we’ll be sharing updates, highlights, and continuing the discussion. And don’t forget to subscribe, rate, review, and share the podcast with friends who want to learn more about the business of games.

    17 min
  3. Building the open garden: Web3 insights from Mythical Games’ Arron Goolsbey

    NOV 28

    Building the open garden: Web3 insights from Mythical Games’ Arron Goolsbey

    Welcome to The Business of Games Podcast, brought to you by Xsolla. In this Extended Cut, host Lia Ballentine talks with Arron Goolsbey, Chief Operating Officer at Mythical Games, about how the next generation of Web3 games is moving beyond labels to focus on fun, fairness, and lasting player value. A 25-year veteran of the industry, Arron has led global publishing and technology efforts at Activision Blizzard, Meta, and Hasbro. Now at Mythical, he’s helping bridge traditional game development and blockchain innovation and creating ecosystems where players truly own and shape their digital worlds. Arron shares how Mythical is blending proven free-to-play design with player ownership, why “Web3” should become invisible to players, and how openness and interoperability will define gaming’s next chapter. Across the discussion, Arron and Lia explore: Why Web3 should be an invisible technology, not a marketing labelHow Mythical Games is blending studio development with an open digital-economy platformWhat an “open garden” model looks like: safe, curated, but freeHow early Web3 games confused speculation with participationWhy rebuilding trust starts with fun and fairnessThe role of ownership and interoperability in long-term engagementHow AI and new tools are collapsing the gap between players and creatorsWhat the “next version of the internet” means for developers big and smallWhether you’re a developer, publisher, or just curious about the evolution of digital ownership, this conversation unpacks how Web3 can move from buzzword to backbone and shape a more open, player-driven future for games. For more insights and resources, visit xsolla.com/podcast. Want to join the conversation? Follow and comment on our LinkedIn page at The Business of Games Podcast. That’s where we’ll be sharing updates, highlights, and continuing the discussion. And don’t forget to subscribe, rate, review, and share the podcast with friends who want to learn more about the business of games.

    30 min
  4. A sustainable framework for Web3 games: insights from AppsFlyer’s Brian Murphy

    NOV 21

    A sustainable framework for Web3 games: insights from AppsFlyer’s Brian Murphy

    Welcome to The Business of Games Podcast, brought to you by Xsolla. In this Extended Cut, host Lia Ballentine talks with Brian Murphy, Head of Gaming and GTM at AppsFlyer, about how the first wave of Web3 games went from hype to hard lessons and what a more practical, sustainable future might look like. A long-time gamer and early crypto adopter, Brian reflects on his journey from the early days of Ethereum to today’s more measured view of blockchain’s role in gaming. He explains how speculation and complexity slowed progress, and why the next generation of developers is focusing on making games fun first, with ownership and transparency built in. Across the discussion, Brian and Lia explore: Why early Web3 games struggled to retain playersHow “Web 2.5” models combine traditional and blockchain economiesLessons from Upland and Mythical GamesWhy having an in-game economist mattersThe challenges of measuring engagement in a decentralized worldHow simpler systems and interoperability could speed adoptionWhy major publishers may acquire Web3 studios to expand their reachWhether you’re curious about blockchain or already experimenting with it, this episode unpacks what’s real, what’s next, and how Web3 can find its footing in the business of games. For more insights and resources, visit xsolla.com/podcast. Want to join the conversation? Follow and comment on our LinkedIn page at The Business of Games Podcast. That’s where we’ll be sharing updates, highlights, and continuing the discussion. And don’t forget to subscribe, rate, review, and share the podcast with friends who want to learn more about the business of games.

    32 min
  5. Invisible Web3, smarter launches: a playbook for indies with Mark Long, CEO of Villain Studios

    NOV 7

    Invisible Web3, smarter launches: a playbook for indies with Mark Long, CEO of Villain Studios

    Welcome to The Business of Games Podcast, brought to you by Xsolla. In this Extended Cut, host Lia Ballentine talks with Mark Long, veteran producer, investor, and CEO of Villain Studios, about how indie developers can thrive in an increasingly crowded market and why the future of Web3 depends on making it invisible. With experience at HBO, Microsoft, and as former CEO of Shrapnel, Mark shares a modern indie playbook built around ownership, community, and smart planning. He explains why developers should control their launch strategies, focus on meaningful player connections, and treat blockchain as background infrastructure rather than the story itself. Across the discussion, Mark shares insights on: Building direct-to-player funnels and owning your launchFocusing on wishlist quality, not just quantitySequencing storefronts to build lasting momentumUsing Web3 as invisible infrastructure to enhance player trustApplying AI responsibly while keeping creative work humanWhether you're launching your first game or exploring new technologies, this episode offers practical guidance for building games and communities that last. For more insights and resources, visit xsolla.com/podcast. Want to join the conversation? Follow and comment on our LinkedIn page at The Business of Games Podcast. That’s where we’ll be sharing updates, highlights, and continuing the discussion. And don’t forget to subscribe, rate, review, and share the podcast with friends who want to learn more about the business of games.

    28 min
  6. Web3 & Games Part 2: The Ongoing Experiment

    OCT 31

    Web3 & Games Part 2: The Ongoing Experiment

    Welcome to The Business of Games Podcast, brought to you by Xsolla. In this episode, hosts Chris Hewish and Lia Ballentine move from definitions to deployment. Part 1 explained what Web3 is. Part 2 asks how it’s actually being used in games today and explores what’s working, what’s failing, and why. Joining us are two returning guests on the front lines. David Kim, a publishing and marketing leader who’s advised studios on blockchain and Web3 strategy, and Mark Long, CEO of Villain Studios and former CEO of Shrapnel, one of the first AAA Web3 game studios. Together, they help unpack the messy middle between promise and practice. From Axie Infinity’s boom and bust to CS2, Roblox, and Fortnite as proof that digital ownership already drives real economies, we explore what early Web3 experiments got right and wrong. You’ll hear how smart contracts could unlock new revenue through secondary sales, how player governance and community tokens are reshaping engagement, and how Web3 can open funding doors for indies. But we’ll also confront the friction that’s holding it all back: wallet UX, gas fees, trust deficits, and player skepticism after the hype. By the end, we set up what’s next. If this is Web3’s reality, still rough around the edges but inching forward, what happens when the tech fades into the background and the games come first? What you’ll learn: What early Web3 games taught us about hype vs. sustainabilityHow digital ownership parallels existing in-game economiesWhere studios can capture value through smart-contract royalties and community co-creationWhy wallets, UX, and trust remain the biggest blockersHow “invisible” Web3 design could finally make it mainstream Let’s get into it. For more insights and resources, visit xsolla.com/podcast. Want to join the conversation? Follow and comment on our LinkedIn page at The Business of Games Podcast. That’s where we’ll be sharing updates, highlights, and continuing the discussion. And don’t forget to subscribe, rate, review, and share the podcast with friends who want to learn more about the business of games.

    17 min
  7. Web3 and games: beyond the hype with David Kim

    OCT 24

    Web3 and games: beyond the hype with David Kim

    Welcome to The Business of Games Podcast, brought to you by Xsolla. In this Extended Cut episode, host Lia Ballentine sits down with David Kim, a publishing and marketing leader and advisor in the Web3 space, for a deep-dive conversation about the realities of blockchain, digital ownership, and the economics shaping the next phase of gaming. Web3 has been called everything from the future of player ownership to a passing fad. But beneath the hype is a real question: how can this technology actually make games and game businesses better? David argues that the most meaningful innovations aren’t technical, but legal and economic. By moving ownership records from proprietary servers to public ledgers, studios can avoid becoming middlemen, legitimize gray-market trading, and open new models of trust between players and developers. Across the discussion, David breaks down: The evolution from proof-of-work to proof-of-stake and why that shift finally made blockchain viable for gamesHow NFTs and public ledgers can serve as verifiable receipts, solving long-standing issues of fraud, resale, and player rightsWhy Web3 isn’t a product but a toolkit and how studios can use it to build better economies and communities, not just speculationThe pitfalls of “gamified DeFi” and what early failures teach us about designing sustainable play-to-own systemsHow regulation and clarity, from initiatives like the Clarity Act, could unlock mainstream adoption by reducing legal friction for both players and studiosWhether you’re a developer curious about tokenized economies or a marketer exploring new player engagement tools, this conversation demystifies what’s next for digital ownership and how to approach it without losing sight of what matters most: great games. For more insights and resources, visit xsolla.com/podcast. Want to join the conversation? Follow and comment on our LinkedIn page at The Business of Games Podcast. That’s where we’ll be sharing updates, highlights, and continuing the discussion. And don’t forget to subscribe, rate, review, and share the podcast with friends who want to learn more about the business of games.

    36 min
  8. Web3 and Games Part 1: The What, Why, and Why Not (Yet)

    OCT 17

    Web3 and Games Part 1: The What, Why, and Why Not (Yet)

    Welcome to The Business of Games Podcast, brought to you by Xsolla. In today’s episode, Xsolla’s Chris Hewish and Lia Ballentine kick off a three-part series on Web3 and gaming, cutting through hype and backlash to explain what the tech actually does for players and studios. For decades, digital items lived inside walled gardens. Players acted like owners anyway by trading, reselling, and modding in gray markets that created value but invited fraud and frustration. Web3 introduces tools that could legitimize those behaviors: blockchains for transparent ownership, NFTs as verifiable receipts, tokens as programmable currencies, wallets that travel with players, and smart contracts that automate royalties and rules. Joining us are two guests on the front lines. David Kim, a publishing and marketing leader and Web3 advisor, explains that the real unlock is legal and economic clarity, preventing studios from being forced into being middlemen. And Mark Long, CEO of Villain Studios and former CEO of SHRAPNEL, argues that Web3 should be invisible “plumbing” with no wallet friction, no jargon. Just secure provenance behind fun-first games. Together, we explore why early projects stumbled (speculation-first design, clunky onboarding, rug pulls, and environmental concerns), what regulations like the Clarity Act could change, and how a shared-economy model might reward developers, creators, and players without compromising the game. From defining core concepts to separating signal from noise, this episode lays the groundwork for understanding Web3’s real potential in the business of games and what needs to improve before it earns players’ trust. Whether you’re a studio founder, product lead, or marketer, you’ll leave with a clear vocabulary, cautionary lessons from P2E and “metaverse land,” and practical criteria for evaluating Web3 features that actually enhance gameplay. Let’s get into it. For more insights and resources, visit xsolla.com/podcast. Want to join the conversation? Follow and comment on our LinkedIn page at The Business of Games Podcast. That’s where we’ll be sharing updates, highlights, and continuing the discussion. And don’t forget to subscribe, rate, review, and share the podcast with friends who want to learn more about the business of games.

    30 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

The Business of Games: A podcast for developers, publishers, and executives navigating the ever-changing game industry.From monetization models to player behavior, from platform shifts to emerging markets, The Business of Games is your guide to all the things transforming how games are built, marketed, and scaled.Hosted by Chris Hewish and Lia Ballentine, each episode blends strategic insight, cinematic storytelling, and candid conversations with the people driving the business of play. You’ll hear from top executives inside studios and strategic partners across the ecosystem who are uncovering the ideas, tactics, and trends shaping tomorrow’s opportunities.Whether you’re launching your first game or scaling a global studio, you’ll find practical strategies, future-forward thinking, and real-world examples you can act on right away.The Business of Games is brought to you by Xsolla, your strategic partner behind the scenes. We bring together “All the Things” to help you simplify operations, unlock new revenue, reach more players, and launch fast.Visit xsolla.com to learn more, connect with our team, and access all the things you need to level up your business of play. Want to join the conversation? Follow and comment on our LinkedIn page at The Business of Games Podcast, where we’ll be sharing updates, highlights, and continuing the discussion. And don’t forget to subscribe, rate, review, and share the podcast with friends and colleagues who want to learn more about the business of games.

Information

  • Creator
    Xsolla
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    25
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Xsolla
  • Show Website
    The Business of Games