Best Gamedevelopment Podcasts (2025)

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0365: Roundtable News | AI, Remote Work and Industry Layoffs 1:18:56

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6h ago1:18:56

1:18:56

In this episode, we discuss the recent layoffs in the game industry and the economic challenges faced by game studios, focusing on the long development cycles and mismanagement in AAA studios like Cloud Chamber's BioShock project. We examine the role of AI in game development, highlighting its potential to assist with asset creation and coding whil…

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E98: Why Most Game Launches Flop (And How to Avoid It) 1:41:08

6h ago1:41:08

1:41:08

Is there a way to predict whether a game will hit or flop? In this episode, Ben is joined by Colan Neese, who has spent a lot of time looking at how audiences relate to products at companies like Twitch and Nielsen. Colan's work at Mind Game Data is focused on "puzzling through the problem of anticipating which games are likely to take off at launc…

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Mor Loushy: Director of "American Manhunt: Osama bin Laden" 38:33

6h ago38:33

38:33

In this episode of Bonfire Conversations, I sit down with award-winning filmmaker Mor Loushy, director of Netflix’s powerful three-part documentary series American Manhunt: The Osama Bin Laden Mission.With the remembrance of September 11 approaching, this story carries an even deeper weight. The series takes us inside one of the most dramatic manhu…

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Ep 418 - Why You’re Not Attracting the Right Teammates with Tim Wood 1:04:09

5h ago1:04:09

1:04:09

Finding the right teammates isn’t about checking boxes or broadcasting open roles. It’s about creating the kind of opportunity people want to be part of. Today, we’re digging into what actually draws people to a project by looking at how we communicate it, which is often in subtle ways we don’t even notice. We’ll explore how aligning your message w…

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Ep 418 - Why You’re Not Attracting the Right Teammates with Tim Wood 1:04:09

7h ago1:04:09

1:04:09

Finding the right teammates isn’t about checking boxes or broadcasting open roles. It’s about creating the kind of opportunity people want to be part of. Today, we’re digging into what actually draws people to a project by looking at how we communicate it, which is often in subtle ways we don’t even notice. We’ll explore how aligning your message w…

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0364: The Challenges of Finishing a Game with Drew Smith 1:03:58

6d ago1:03:58

1:03:58

In this episode we sit down with longtime friend and industry veteran Drew Smith for a candid conversation about the evolving landscape of game development. Drew shares his journey from hustling his way into Take-Two, producing at 2K, and working on iconic titles like Bioshock and Destiny, to navigating the challenges of remote work, starting his o…

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E97: The 3 Tools Your Team Needs To Deliver Great Games 31:16

7d ago31:16

31:16

🎮 There are tons of “game dev tools” out there promising to fix your problems… but too often, teams end up serving the tool instead of the tools serving them. In this video, I’ll break down a simple, practical guide to streamline your process. You’ll learn not just what you need, but why it matters whether you’re running a team, starting a game stu…

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Ep 417 - Should Indies Care About Web3? with Jyro Blade 55:40

7d ago55:40

55:40

Web3 in games is loud, controversial, and often feels far removed from indie realities or vision, but is it possible that there are lessons from this space worth paying attention to? So today, we're going to explore what Web3 really means for indie developers: how accessible (or inaccessible) the tech actually is, the unique player dynamics it intr…

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Ep 417 - Should Indies Care About Web3? with Jyro Blade 55:40

7d ago55:40

55:40

Web3 in games is loud, controversial, and often feels far removed from indie realities or vision, but is it possible that there are lessons from this space worth paying attention to? So today, we're going to explore what Web3 really means for indie developers: how accessible (or inaccessible) the tech actually is, the unique player dynamics it intr…

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Escape From Tarkov and the Creation of Extraction Shooters with Nikita Buyanov 1:26:09

8d ago1:26:09

1:26:09

Log in to your account at www.escapefromtarkov.com and redeem the code NIKITAONGMNPODCAST to receive a special gift from Battlestate Games. Trent Kusters chats with Nikita Buyanov, the COO, Founder, and Game Director at Battlestate Games, creators of Escape From Tarkov. Together they discuss his journey in games to the founding of Battlestate Games…

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From Disney’s “Where’s My Water?” to Solo Indie Dev Success: How Creativity and Persistence Built a Game Career, with Tim “Walaber” FitzRandolph 1:21:34

14d ago1:21:34

1:21:34

In this episode, we dive deep into Tim’s creative journey behind Disney’s hit mobile game Where’s My Water? and what it really takes to break into and succeed in the game industry. From starting out in QA testing to leading creative teams at Disney, and later becoming a successful solo indie developer, Tim’s conversation is packed with insights, st…

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The Future of Voice Acting: AI, Games & Talent Representation | Emma Harvey Interview 29:26

13d ago29:26

29:26

In this episode of Bonfire Conversations, I sit down with Emma Harvey, founder of Harvey Voices, one of the UK’s leading voice talent agencies.Emma shares her journey from drama school to building a powerhouse agency representing some of the industry’s most recognized voices. We discuss:- How Harvey Voices began and grew into one of the UK’s top ag…

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E96: Setting Goals: It’s Not Just About Shipping A Game, with Melissa Phillips 59:12

14d ago59:12

59:12

Setting goals is harder than you think. In this episode, Ben Carcich is joined by Melissa Phillips, founder of Games Leadership, to dive deep into a topic that leaders often approach with little understanding: goal setting. From a professional perspective, goal setting is about helping people find fulfillment in what they are doing. Melissa discuss…

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Ep 416 - The Secrets to Seamless Game Localization with Alexander Murauski 53:11

14d ago53:11

53:11

Global success in games requires more than just translating text. It demands building localization into the DNA of development. But too often, devs wait until the last minute, only to find that the process is more involved than they anticipated. So in this episode, we’ll explore effective strategies for planning localization early, how to avoid com…

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Ep 416 - The Secrets to Seamless Game Localization with Alexander Murauski 53:11

14d ago53:11

53:11

Global success in games requires more than just translating text. It demands building localization into the DNA of development. But too often, devs wait until the last minute, only to find that the process is more involved than they anticipated. So in this episode, we’ll explore effective strategies for planning localization early, how to avoid com…

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Creating a Modern but Retro Immersive Sim in Skin Deep 1:44:01

15d ago1:44:01

1:44:01

Trent Kusters chats with Brendon Chung, Tynan Wales, and Suzanne Will about their immersive first-person shooter, Skin Deep. Together they discuss the inspiration for Skin Deep and how it evolved from it's original design; their desire to create an accessible entry point for the immersive sim genre; their ideas around level design and player guidan…

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GmanLives on Life, Games, Fatherhood, Humor and Success Story 1:02:17

23d ago1:02:17

1:02:17

On this episode of Bonfire Conversations, I sit down with GmanLives — the Australian critic and YouTuber known for his sharp takes, dry humor, and love for first-person shooters.We talk about his journey from childhood gaming memories to becoming one of the most recognizable voices in video game criticism. Along the way, we dive into:The origins an…

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Ep 415 - Why Marketing Is Your First Funding Strategy with Oscar Clark 1:04:12

21d ago1:04:12

1:04:12

You can have a great game idea, but if no one knows about it… who’s going to care? When it comes to funding, most devs focus on the pitch deck, but often ignore what matters just as much. How they're building traction with their marketing. In this episode, we’re going to explore how early-stage marketing builds confidence, community and momentum th…

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Ep 415 - Why Marketing Is Your First Funding Strategy with Oscar Clark 1:04:12

25d ago1:04:12

1:04:12

You can have a great game idea, but if no one knows about it… who’s going to care? When it comes to funding, most devs focus on the pitch deck, but often ignore what matters just as much. How they're building traction with their marketing. In this episode, we’re going to explore how early-stage marketing builds confidence, community and momentum th…

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The Many Roles of Actor Alex Jordan on The Alters 1:17:36

22d ago1:17:36

1:17:36

Alexa Ray Corriea chats with actor Alex Jordan who most recently starred in the sci-fi survival game, The Alters. Together they discuss his journey as an actor and his work in video games; the unique opportunity The Alters provided due to it's premise revolving around clones; how he worked with the development team to find a distinct voice for each…

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E95: The Challenge Of Live Service Games And How To Win with Ryan Scott 1:27:57

28d ago1:27:57

1:27:57

Are live service games truly dying, or are we just seeing a new era of evolution? In this episode, we sit down with game designer and product thinker Ryan Scott to unpack the difficult world of live service titles. Ryan brings a wealth of knowledge from his time working on major titles, sharing his unique insights on what makes a live service game …

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Ep 414 - The Secret to Supercharging Indie Teams with Irena Pereira 54:39

28d ago54:39

54:39

Indie studios face tight budgets, small teams, and pressure to deliver big ideas with limited resources. Meanwhile, AI in game development sparks fears of job loss and soulless design. How can small teams stay human-centered while competing at scale? In this episode, we’ll explore how generative AI can be an ally instead of a threat by discussing p…

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Ep 414 - The Secret to Supercharging Indie Teams with Irena Pereira 54:39

28d ago54:39

54:39

Indie studios face tight budgets, small teams, and pressure to deliver big ideas with limited resources. Meanwhile, AI in game development sparks fears of job loss and soulless design. How can small teams stay human-centered while competing at scale? In this episode, we’ll explore how generative AI can be an ally instead of a threat by discussing p…

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Creating the Music for Doom: The Dark Ages with Composer Duo, Finishing Move 2:10:04

29d ago2:10:04

2:10:04

Austin Wintory chats with Brian Trifon and Brian Lee White from the award winning music composition and sound design team, Finishing Move Inc. Together they discuss their history in music and what led them to games; why they began collaborating on game scores and the advantages that brings; how they tackled a massive franchise with set audience exp…

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Ep 413 - Bridging the Gap Between Developers and Artists with Rick Williams & Rodrigo Alonzo 50:30

1M ago50:30

50:30

Bringing a game to life means more than writing great code or creating stunning art, it requires harmony between both. But technical collaboration between developers and artists often hits snags, from miscommunication to mismatched expectations. In this episode our guest explores how to build workflows that support both sides of the pipeline, drawi…

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Ep 413 - Bridging the Gap Between Developers and Artists with Rick Williams & Rodrigo Alonzo 50:30

1M ago50:30

50:30

Bringing a game to life means more than writing great code or creating stunning art, it requires harmony between both. But technical collaboration between developers and artists often hits snags, from miscommunication to mismatched expectations. In this episode our guest explores how to build workflows that support both sides of the pipeline, drawi…

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How Ray Chase went from Actor to Game Developer with Date Everything 1:28:46

1M ago1:28:46

1:28:46

Alexa Ray Corriea chats with actor Ray Chase about his first project as a game developer, Date Everything. Together they discuss his memorable work as the voice behind many of our favorite characters and why he decided to try his hand at development; where the idea to date household objects came from; how they managed to write dialogue for 100+ dat…

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E94: Why You Should Think About Publishing More In Game Dev with Elizabeth Howard 1:09:45

1M ago1:09:45

1:09:45

Do you need game publishing to ship your game successfully? What does a leader in a publishing organization truly do? Join us for a conversation with Elizabeth Howard, an industry veteran with over 20 years of experience across Aspyr, 2K, and Bungie, where she led publishing and production. Elizabeth views game development and publishing as two par…

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Ep 412 - How to Keep Players Coming Back with Sergei Vasiuk 54:20

1M ago54:20

54:20

If you ever had issues or concerns about why your players leave, well... it's not because your game is bad, they leave because you stop giving them reasons to stay. So today, we tackle how effective Live Ops strategy builds real player loyalty, exploring event design, personalization, and content cadence that turn casual players into regulars. The …

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Ep 412 - How to Keep Players Coming Back with Sergei Vasiuk 54:20

1M ago54:20

54:20

If you ever had issues or concerns about why your players leave, well... it's not because your game is bad, they leave because you stop giving them reasons to stay. So today, we tackle how effective Live Ops strategy builds real player loyalty, exploring event design, personalization, and content cadence that turn casual players into regulars. The …

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How Moonhood Handcrafted The Midnight Walk with Real Claymation 2:07:42

1M ago2:07:42

2:07:42

Trent Kusters chats Klaus Lyngeled and Olov Redmalm from Moonhood, who recently released the handcrafted cozy horror game, The Midnight Walk. Together they discuss their early careers and how they found themselves working together and eventually co-founding their own studio; their previous work on titles such as Fe and Lost and Random and how that …

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Ep 411 - The Overlooked Key to Game Dev Productivity with Gilad Levanon 1:04:40

2M ago1:04:40

1:04:40

Indie devs juggle tons of different task and responsibilites, and in that chaos do everything they can to maintain productivity. However, regardless of their effort to stay efficient and on task, most don't realize they're ignoring one of the most powerful tools for clarity, creativity, and decision-making: sleep. That’s why today we’re going to go…

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Ep 411 - The Overlooked Key to Game Dev Productivity with Gilad Levanon 1:04:40

2M ago1:04:40

1:04:40

Indie devs juggle tons of different task and responsibilites, and in that chaos do everything they can to maintain productivity. However, regardless of their effort to stay efficient and on task, most don't realize they're ignoring one of the most powerful tools for clarity, creativity, and decision-making: sleep. That’s why today we’re going to go…

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How Two Studios Brought LEGO Horizon Adventures to Life 1:43:54

2M ago1:43:54

1:43:54

Trent Kusters chats with Stéphane Varrault from Guerrilla Games and Xu Xiaojun from Studio Gobo about their collaborative work on LEGO® Horizon Adventures. Together they discuss how their two studios worked together on bringing Aloy's adventures to the LEGO® universe; what it takes to appeal to a younger audience; how they designed the game to focu…

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How Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Was Written – Jennifer Svedberg-Yen on Life, Characters & Story 1:01:07

2M ago1:01:07

1:01:07

In this heartfelt and revealing episode of Bonfire Conversations, I sit down with Jennifer Svedberg-Yen, the lead writer of the critically acclaimed Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. We dive deep into her creative process, her unique path from finance to storytelling, and the emotional, philosophical, and human layers that make Expedition 33 such a prof…

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E93: The Collapse of the Games Industry with Trent Kusters 1:35:17

2M ago1:35:17

1:35:17

How will the game industry adapt? Are we hurtling towards a gig economy? In this powerful conversation, we sit down with Trent Kusters, co-founder and studio head of League of Geeks, to talk about the future of our industry. Trent takes us on a deep, honest exploration of the game industry’s current state, from platform power struggles and algorith…