The Business of Games

Xsolla

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 Ed Lin, 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. New thinking, real results: Wes Morton on Gen Z, AI-powered marketing, and building Creative Company

    3d ago

    New thinking, real results: Wes Morton on Gen Z, AI-powered marketing, and building Creative Company

    Welcome to Coffee.Press.Play., brought to you by The Business of Games Podcast, powered by Xsolla. Recorded live at GDC 2026 inside the Xsolla Clubhouse, this series puts a twist on the traditional interview format: guests play a round of a classic video game against our Xsolla host and the outcome determines whether they face an easy question or a hard one. In this episode, host Ed Lin sits down with Wes Morton, CEO and co-founder of Creative Company — a marketing technology firm serving media, entertainment, and tech brands across three practice areas: brand PR, digital products, and consumer insights. When we asked Wes who has influenced his decision-making most, he pointed to his own team — specifically the Gen Z employees who are bringing new technologies, new campaign strategies, and an entirely different relationship with work to the table every day. For a founder building a company from the ground up, that kind of bottom-up influence isn't just refreshing. It's structural. The conversation gets specific fast. Wes shares how one of his youngest employees, with no formal technical background, coded a fully functional front-end interface for EA client work using Vercel's AI tools — then handed it to the CTO, who said they could use all of it. That moment kicked off a company-wide conversation about AI coding tools, enterprise licensing, and what it means when non-technical people can ship technical work. What you'll hear: Why Wes looks to his Gen Z team — not industry veterans — as his primary source of influenceHow Creative Company is using large language models to reinvent consumer research in an industry that hasn't fundamentally changed since the 1940sWhat a single Vercel-powered prototype from a junior employee revealed about the future of technical workWhy staying culture-forward matters as much in marketing technology as it does in the games themselvesLet's get into it. Coffee.Press.Play. is an ongoing mini-series, and more conversations with our GDC guests are on the way. Listen on your favorite podcast platform or watch full episodes on our YouTube channel. Missed us at GDC 2026? Stay tuned to our LinkedIn page for announcements on where we'll be next. And catch up on recent episodes at xsolla.com/podcast. 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.

    6 min
  2. Legacy, LiveOps, and the long game: Takaya Segawa on how Sega is building for a global future

    Jun 12

    Legacy, LiveOps, and the long game: Takaya Segawa on how Sega is building for a global future

    Welcome to The Business of Games Podcast, powered by Xsolla. Few companies in gaming carry more history than Sega. But in this special episode, the conversation isn't about the past — it's about what comes next. In this extended cut, Xsolla President Chris Hewish sits down with Takaya Segawa, Sega’s Executive Vice President and Head of JA Studios 2nd Business Unit. The conversation is a rare look inside a company that has shaped the games industry for generations — and is now writing one of its most consequential chapters yet. Sega's legacy speaks for itself. But what Segawa-san shares here is something less often discussed: the operational philosophy, the cultural conviction, and the business decisions that have allowed Sega to keep players engaged — in some cases, for over two decades — while building toward a more direct, data-driven relationship with a global audience. From the development of SegaCon, Sega's emerging direct-to-consumer marketing platform, to a portfolio that spans Persona, Phantasy Star Online 2, Puyo Puyo Quest, and Project Sekai, Segawa-san walks through what it means to build for longevity in live services — and why the next frontier for Sega runs through esports, global commerce infrastructure, and a deeper connection with players worldwide. We dive into: How Sega is approaching direct-to-consumer — and what's being built to support itWhat decades of live service titles reveal about Sega's long-term engagement philosophyWhat developers often get wrong about regional and cultural differencesWhy Japanese cultural identity can be a global asset, not a barrierHow esports fits into Sega's broader growth strategyWhat it actually takes to operate direct-to-consumer at a global scaleThis is a conversation that doesn't come along often — an honest, substantive dialogue with a leader who has been at the heart of one of gaming's most enduring companies. 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
  3. From floppy disks to the AI era: Garry Edwards on the industry's biggest shift yet

    Jun 5

    From floppy disks to the AI era: Garry Edwards on the industry's biggest shift yet

    Welcome to Coffee.Press.Play., brought to you by The Business of Games Podcast, powered by Xsolla. Recorded live at GDC 2026 inside the Xsolla Clubhouse, this series puts a twist on the traditional interview format: guests play a round of a classic video game against our Xsolla host and the outcome determines whether they face an easy question or a hard one. In this episode, host Ed Lin sits down with Garry Edwards, Head of Business Development at Mindera — a global software services company helping game studios build back-end infrastructure, pipelines, and live ops without overloading their internal teams. Garry has been in the industry for more than 20 years, with stops at Electronic Arts, TT Games, and Warner Bros., where he spent nearly a decade running business development. He's seen the industry transform from floppy disks to streaming and cloud — and he makes the case that what's happening right now, the convergence of AI, consolidation, and a fractured mid-tier, is the biggest transitional shift the business has ever seen. What you'll hear: Why the current moment — AI, industry consolidation, and the shrinking mid-tier — is unlike anything Gary has seen in 20+ yearsHow Mindera helps studios of all sizes build infrastructure without expanding headcountWhy the democratization of game development shifted the challenge from creation to discoverabilityWhat Garry learned from his boss at EA about negotiating deals and leading without egoWhat it looks like to build an entirely new gaming vertical from the ground upLet's get into it. Coffee.Press.Play. is an ongoing mini-series, and more conversations with our GDC guests are on the way. Listen on your favorite podcast platform or watch full episodes on our YouTube channel. Missed us at GDC 2026? Stay tuned to our LinkedIn page for announcements on where we'll be next. And catch up on recent episodes at xsolla.com/podcast. 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.

    7 min
  4. What we learned: the business of going direct

    May 29

    What we learned: the business of going direct

    Welcome to The Business of Games Podcast, powered by Xsolla. Over the past few months, hosts Chris Hewish and Lia Ballentine have been testing a single idea against the real world: that direct-to-consumer isn't a channel or a tactic — it's a commitment to building a business around the player relationship. In this season finale, Chris and Lia come back to where it all started — five pillars, five guests, three episodes — and ask the question: did the framework hold up? You'll hear how the marketing episode reframed what it means to own a player relationship, why channels don't equal connection, and how going direct changes the weight of every message a studio sends. How the infrastructure episode revealed that the stack underneath the strategy is more complex than most teams realize, and why the order of decisions matters enormously. And how the monetization episode made the case that the best direct-to-consumer model isn't the most aggressive one. It's the most earned. If you've been following along all season, this one's for you. And if you're just tuning in, consider this your invitation to go back to the beginning. 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
  5. From the Air Force to infinite worlds: Jan Roessner on stoicism, interoperability, and the future of game assets

    May 22

    From the Air Force to infinite worlds: Jan Roessner on stoicism, interoperability, and the future of game assets

    Welcome to Coffee.Press.Play., brought to you by The Business of Games Podcast, powered by Xsolla. Recorded live at GDC 2026 inside the Xsolla Clubhouse, this series puts a twist on the traditional interview format: guests play a round of a classic video game against our Xsolla host and the outcome determines whether they face an easy question or a hard one. In this episode, host Ed Lin sits down with Jan Roessner, CEO and co-founder of One Earth Rising — a company building cross-platform infrastructure to make game assets interoperable and bring real-world brand and IP engagement into the digital world of games. Jan's path into the industry runs through 13 years as an Air Force officer, and the leadership philosophy he built there still drives how he builds teams and sets goals today. Now he's applying that same clarity of purpose to one of the more ambitious ideas in the games business: a future where achievements travel between titles, where watching a TV show can unlock in-game content, and where the boundaries between game worlds start to disappear. What you'll hear: How military service shaped Jan's approach to leadership and decision-makingWhy the technology foundation for true asset interoperability is finally hereWhat a future built on cross-platform, cross-media game engagement could look likeLet's get into it. Coffee.Press.Play. is an ongoing mini-series, and more conversations with our GDC guests are on the way. Listen on your favorite podcast platform or watch full episodes on our YouTube channel. Missed us at GDC 2026? Stay tuned to our LinkedIn page for announcements on where we'll be next. And catch up on recent episodes at xsolla.com/podcast. 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.

    4 min
  6. From “Link” to director: Alex Reed on 25 years in games and the winding road that got him there

    May 15

    From “Link” to director: Alex Reed on 25 years in games and the winding road that got him there

    Welcome to Coffee.Press.Play., brought to you by The Business of Games Podcast, powered by Xsolla. Recorded live at GDC 2026 inside the Xsolla Clubhouse, this series puts a twist on the traditional interview format: guests play a round of a classic video game against our Xsolla host and the outcome determines whether they face an easy question or a hard one. In this episode, host Ed Lin sits down with Alex Reed, Director of Production at House of How for a candid, personal reflection on a career that defies the standard trajectory. Alex’s mother was a Disney animator. He grew up wanting to be like Bruce Lee and spent his childhood going on solo adventures — the kind that made him feel like he'd been born to play Zelda. He started in television and film before arriving at Electronic Arts in 2000. Since then, he's spent 25 years in games, and 36 years total in the entertainment industry. The throughline? Never following the linear path. Just asking what's around the next corner. What you'll hear: Why Alex describes his entire career through the lens of The Legend of ZeldaHow growing up as a loner shaped his relationship with games and storytellingWhat makes video games different from TV and film — and why that difference matters to himHow 36 years in entertainment led him to where he is today at House of HowLet's get into it.Coffee.Press.Play. is an ongoing mini-series, and more conversations with our GDC guests are on the way. Listen on your favorite podcast platform or watch full episodes on our YouTube channel. Missed us at GDC 2026? Stay tuned to our LinkedIn page for announcements on where we'll be next. And catch up on recent episodes at xsolla.com/podcast. 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.

    4 min
  7. Skin in the game: Derek Rathbun on real money gameplay as the next frontier of direct-to-consumer monetization

    May 8

    Skin in the game: Derek Rathbun on real money gameplay as the next frontier of direct-to-consumer monetization

    Welcome to The Business of Games Podcast, powered by Xsolla. Direct-to-consumer monetization is usually a conversation about where players spend: web shops, platform margins, owned storefronts. But what if the more interesting question is what they spend on — and what changes when real money is actually on the line? In this extended cut, host Lia Ballentine sits down with Derek Rathbun, Co-Founder and CEO of Gamers.bet, to explore a monetization layer most studios haven't seriously reckoned with yet: native real money wagering built directly into the game itself. Derek's path here runs through automotive technology, a front-row seat to the legalization of sports betting in 2018, and a series of conversations with retired industry veterans who confirmed the category was wide open. When Disney reversed course and launched ESPN Bet in late 2023, the cultural shift became hard to ignore — and the question of who would move first in games became a lot more urgent. We dive into: Why real money gameplay is already happening at scale, and what it costs publishers who don't control the experienceHow native wagering opens up a new design surface, not just a new revenue lineWhy this monetization layer is most powerful when it's considered at the conceptualization stageHow peer-to-peer wagering reaches players that traditional DTC models — cosmetics, battle passes — simply don't convertWhy cross-border settlement required a new approach to payments infrastructure entirelyHow responsible gaming and age compliance can be enforced without disrupting the core experienceIf the broader context of direct-to-consumer monetization is something you want to go deeper on, check out our episode, “Direct-to-consumer: making money without the middleman,” where Lia and Chris Hewish explore this territory alongside Derek and Arron Goolsbey of Mythical Games. Whether you're a studio founder thinking about your next investment pitch, a product lead exploring new revenue models, or just someone watching the business of games evolve in real time, this conversation offers a clear-eyed look at where monetization is headed next. 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.

    53 min
  8. Earned, not extracted: how direct-to-consumer changes monetization design

    May 1

    Earned, not extracted: how direct-to-consumer changes monetization design

    Welcome to The Business of Games Podcast, powered by Xsolla. In this episode, hosts Chris Hewish and Lia Ballentine get into the part of the direct-to-consumer conversation that most studios either rush past or get wrong entirely: monetization. The default framing is simple: cut out the platform, keep more margin. But the studios actually building direct-to-consumer monetization well aren't running a web shop as a side channel. They're rethinking how value gets created, how offers get structured, and how a purchase fits into a longer relationship with the player. To explore what that looks like in practice, Chris and Lia are joined by two leaders operating at very different frontiers: Derek Rathbun, Co-Founder and CEO of Gamers.bet, who navigates what it means to give publishers control over real-money player engagement in a space where ignoring direct monetization has visible, immediate consequences; and Arron Goolsbey, Chief Operating Officer of Mythical Games, where direct-to-consumer isn't a feature that was added — it's the foundation the entire business was built on. Together, they make the case that the barrier to going direct is lower than most teams assume, the cost of waiting is higher than it appears, and the best monetization in a direct-to-player model isn't the most aggressive — it's the most earned. You'll hear why ceding the player relationship, even passively, costs more than it shows up on any balance sheet; why direct-to-consumer is really about owning identity, payments, and inventory as a unified system rather than a checkout flow; how data becomes a decision engine rather than a reporting function when those foundations are in place; and why designing monetization around what players earn, rather than what they're willing to pay, is what separates durable businesses from ones that plateau. What you'll learn: Why ignoring direct monetization is a cost, not just a missed opportunity What the foundational tech stack for direct-to-consumer actually requires and what studios shouldn't build themselvesHow to treat data as a decision system, not a dashboardWhy the best monetization design starts at the moment of install, not at the web shopHow emerging models like player-to-player economies are expanding who can participate and howLet'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.

    28 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 Ed Lin, 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
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    50
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Xsolla
  • Show Website
    The Business of Games