The Game Business Show

In this edition of The Game Business Show, we explore the idea that there may not be a video game industry at all! And we are joined by industry veteran, consultant, investor and developer (plus co-owner of Spilt Milk Studios) Nicholas Lovell to discuss the subject.In addition, we look at the latest cuts at Ubisoft, Larian’s shifting position on AI, and the drop in Battlefield 6 players. Enjoy! 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

In this engaging discussion, Josef Fares, game director and co-founder of Hazelight Studios, shares insights into his successful cooperative narrative games like A Way Out and It Takes Two, which have sold over 43 million copies. He emphasizes the importance of balancing creativity with business and fostering a supportive studio culture. Fares also discusses the roles of AI, the significance of both AA and AAA titles in the industry, and his dedication to maintaining Hazelight's unique co-op identity while pushing creative boundaries.

Keza MacDonald, a video games editor at The Guardian and a renowned Nintendo journalist, joins the conversation to discuss the Switch 2's rocky Christmas sales. She shares insights on her upcoming book about Nintendo's cultural history and reflects on the demand and media coverage surrounding the Switch 2. The duo also explores Nintendo's history of surprising hits, upcoming titles, and the impact of TV adaptations like Fallout on gaming engagement. Plus, they touch on the new indie publishing venture by the Phasmaphobia team.

In our first edition of The Game Business Show of 2026, we speak with video game acting legend Troy Baker. Chris and Troy chat Indiana Jones, the importance of trust in creating art, the AI future, indie games, the role of game actors in marketing, Kill Bill Fortnite, and Troy's ambition to make his own video game. A nice fun (hopefully inspirational) one to kick off the year. Enjoy! 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

To wrap up the year, we have gone back over our nearly 80 episodes and picked some of our favourite moments. Our first draft of this would have been at least five hours long. And we wouldn’t do that to you. So we’ve had to be brutal and select what we think were the more interesting or entertainment moments from the past nine months.Enjoy! 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

It is our last News and Analysis Show of 2025! This week, we dive into the big stories of the moment, we reveal who REALLY won The Game Awards 2025, and we look back at the year that was with Newzoo’s director of market intelligence Emmanuel Rosier.Plus, why the whole industry needs to be wary of Rockstar's on-going union row, and why Netflix and Warner Bros might be a good fit when it comes to video games after all.Enjoy! 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

In a bleak month for video game consoles, a surprising new competitor emerged in the form of Nex Playground. The sold-out family game console is the spiritual successor to Wii, and the company behind it has huge ambitions. In this episode of The Game Business Show, Chris speaks to Nex CEO David Lee to find out the story behind the platform, and what comes next. 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

In today's edition of The Game Business Show, Chris sits down with Bethesda's creative director and executive producer Todd Howard ahead of the release of the new TV show. Along with Samsung's head of gaming Kevin Beatty, the three discuss the ways in which Bethesda are looking to drive interest in the video games by capitalising on the TV show's immense popularity.They also discuss streaming, the important of games people being involved in the TV production, and keeping Elder Scrolls, Fallout and Starfield fans happy. 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

In today’s edition of The Game Business Show, we speak with Day 4 Night, the studio behind the upcoming Bradley The Badger, which received its debut at The Game Awards. The studio was formed by Davide Soliani (Mario + Rabbids) and Christian Cantamessa (Red Dead Redemption), and was one of the most distinctive games on show. It’s also a game that has received big investment from the likes of 1Up Ventures and Krafton. We spoke to Christian and Davide about securing funding during a challenging time for games, the importance of doing something a bit crazy, and trying to bring satire to the game space. Note: This week’s episode suffers from some audio issues, particularly in the second half. We apologise for the sound, and if you’d rather read the interview, you can at www.thegamebusiness.com.  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

In this conversation, Geoff Keighley, the creative force behind The Game Awards, dives into the complex orchestration of the event. He shares insights on the controlled chaos of show preparation and the balancing act between awards and world premieres. Geoff highlights how indie games find their moment to shine, while also discussing the innovation in game reveals and distribution changes, such as partnerships with Prime Video. He underscores the importance of live audiences and the unique challenges in acknowledging industry issues during such a celebratory occasion.