Best We Are Not Game Devs Podcasts (2025)

1
Andrej Karpathy: Software Is Changing (Again) 39:31

28m ago39:31

39:31

Andrej Karpathy's keynote at AI Startup School in San Francisco.Drawing on his work at Stanford, OpenAI, and Tesla, Andrej sees a shift underway. Software is changing, again. We’ve entered the era of “Software 3.0,” where natural language becomes the new programming interface and models do the rest.He explores what this shift means for developers, …

1
E91: How to Stop Compromising and Make the Studio You Actually Want with Critical Path Games 1:42:10

2d ago1:42:10

1:42:10

Game production lives and dies on planning—but most teams are still building like it’s 2010. In this episode, Ben is joined by Jeanne-Marie Owens and Jesse Houston of Critical Path to reveal better ways a studio can function based on decades of experience. From the myth of the “critical path” to the illusion that things will magically come together…

1
Summer Game Fest Wrap Party - Easy Allies Podcast - June 13, 2025 3:20:07

4d ago3:20:07

3:20:07

Ep 479 - We look over our highlights from the Xbox and PC Gaming Shows as well as wrapping up our thoughts on this year's SGF overall. Plus, Switch 2 is the fastest selling console ever, and we check out Mina the Hollower from the team behind Shovel Knight.Get the extended cut: https://www.patreon.com/posts/extended-summer-131386496(0:00) - Intro(2…

1
SGF 2025 Hands-On Previews - Day Two - Dying Light, Xbox Handheld, and More 2:44:34

8d ago2:44:34

2:44:34

Our impressions on over 20 more games that we saw and played at the show. (Streamed June 10, 2025)(0:00) - Intro(0:48) - Shadow Labyrinth(7:15) - Ambrosia Sky(14:03) - End of Abyss(24:16) - Sleep Awake(32:10) - Grave Seasons(38:10) - Gears of War Reloaded and Xbox Handheld(48:19) - Petal Runner(56:13) - Dark Pictures - Directive 8020(1:01:27) - Son…

1
Cursor CEO: Going Beyond Code, Superintelligent AI Agents And Why Taste Still Matters 37:28

8d ago37:28

37:28

Michael Truell, co-founder and CEO of Anysphere, the company behind Cursor, joins Garry to talk about building one of the fastest-growing startups of all time—and why he's betting on a future beyond code. He walks through the early insights that led his team to leave a promising AI-powered CAD project and instead chase a bigger dream: reinventing h…

1
SGF 2025 Hands-On Previews w/ Shuhei Yoshida - Day One 2:23:00

11d ago2:23:00

2:23:00

We're back from the Summer Game Fest show floor, and Shuhei Yoshida hitched a ride. It's time to talk about over 20 games we checked out on Saturday. (Streamed June 8, 2025) (0:00) - Intro (1:05) - Reach (7:38) - Ratatan (10:40) - Sword of the Sea (19:08) - Mixtape (28:28) - Relooted (30:32) - Yooka-Replayee (36:28) - ChromaGun 2: Dye Hard (39:08) …

1
Summer Game Fest and Switch 2 - Easy Allies Podcast - June 6, 2025 4:03:16

12d ago4:03:16

4:03:16

Ep 478 - Summer Game Fest is here with loads of game announcements, and we've got four showcases to plow through. And oh yeah, Nintendo launched the Switch 2 this week, too!Watch the extended cut: https://www.patreon.com/posts/extended-summer-130915873(0:00) - Intro(2:18) - State of Play(1:08:03) - Summer Game Fest(2:52:58) - A Word From Our Sponso…

1
Fusion Energy Is Tech's Next Big Unlock 8:07

13d ago8:07

8:07

Fusion may still sound like science fiction— but it might not be for much longer. With AI pushing demand for clean power to new highs, a breakthrough may finally be close. For Decoded, YC General Partner Gustaf Alstromer traces the history of fusion, the physics behind it, and the engineering challenges that stalled it for nearly a century. He also…

1
E90: The Engineering Talent Pipeline is Broken: Juniors, AI & the Future of Game Dev w/ Carly Taylor 1:18:25

16d ago1:18:25

1:18:25

Hiring only senior engineers might feel like a smart move, but is it breaking game development? In this episode, Ben sits down with Carly Taylor (an engineer and data scientist formerly on Call of Duty, now at Databricks) to tackle one of the most pressing and misunderstood issues in game development today: the crumbling pipeline of engineering tal…

1
Nightreign and To a T w/ Elyse Willems - Easy Allies Podcast - May 30, 2025 2:45:10

18d ago2:45:10

2:45:10

Ep 477 - Elyse Willems joins us on the desk to chat about what she's been playing including To a T and Doom: The Dark Ages. Elden Ring Nightreign keeps us running back for more, and EA has slashed another talented studio, cancelling their Black Panther game. Check out Answer for It podcast with Elyse! https://www.youtube.com/@answerforIt (0:00) - I…

1
Hell is Us Interview - Creating Language to Envision Something New 22:57

20d ago22:57

22:57

We chat with Creative Director Jonathan Jacques-Belletête about his transition from Eidos Montreal to Rogue Factor, and the creative decisions behind not just Hell is Us, but how they're rethinking better ways to work on video games. Also be sure to check out our hands-on preview for Hell is Us: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3T58VnYMkg0 Learn mor…

1
Behind the Scenes Games Biz Stories w/ Chris Kramer - Easy Allies Podcast - May 23, 2025 3:02:00

25d ago3:02:00

3:02:00

Ep 476 - Industry veteran Chris Kramer shares how they kept Resident Evil from being too easy, why they made the Mega Man 9 box art intentionally bad, and other inside stories from 30 years in the games business. Plus it's a stacked week of games with Deadzone Rogue, Onimusha 2, Deliver At All Costs, and more. Get the extended cut: https://www.patr…

1
AI Apps Are Broken — Here's How To Fix Them 30:07

27d ago30:07

30:07

In this episode of The Breakdown, Tom and Dave are joined by fellow YC General Partner Pete Koomen to lay out a new vision for how AI should actually work: not as a chatbot bolted onto legacy software, but as a customizable tool that helps people offload the work they don't want to do. From editable system prompts to agents that act more like colla…

1
The Alters Interview - Bringing Personal Connections to a Survival Game 16:57

28d ago16:57

16:57

While I was in Poland last week, I had a chance to speak with Game Director, Tomasz Kisilewicz, to discuss the changes that have been made in the past year. My appointment came up pretty early in my play session, but we got to talk about changes in character movement and updates to take the pressure off players so they can explore and interact with…

1
E89: The Cost of Power: Leadership, Burnout & Survival in Game Dev with Melissa Phillips 1:00:32

30d ago1:00:32

1:00:32

Building a game is hard. Leading the team to do it well without losing yourself along the way? That’s even harder. In this episode, Ben sits down with Melissa Phillips, founder of Games Leadership and a former Head of Studio, to talk about the messy, emotional, and deeply human side of game leadership. From BAFTA boardrooms to indie trenches, Melis…

1
20 Years of iam8bit w/ Jon Gibson - Easy Allies Podcast - May 16, 2025 2:58:33

1M ago2:58:33

2:58:33

Ep 475 - In 20 years, iam8bit has gone from putting together small art galleries to becoming a driving force behind industry events like Summer Game Fest. Founder Jon Gibson stops in to talk about the company's history and the times we've crossed paths along the way. Also, Giant Bomb is back and Isla's Croc talk! Get the extended cut: https://www.p…

1
GTA VI Disappoints and Delights - Easy Allies Podcast - May 9, 2025 2:22:16

1M ago2:22:16

2:22:16

Ep 474 - Grand Theft Auto VI is hitting us with double headlines by delaying until next year then dropping a new trailer. We get our first solid look at Mafia: The Old Country, and remasters are on the way for Gears of War and Ecco the Dolphin. Get the extended cut: https://www.patreon.com/posts/extended-gta-vi-128517640 (0:00) - Intro (4:56) - GTA…

1
How AI Coding Agents Will Change Your Job 19:11

1M ago19:11

19:11

Coding agents are no longer a distant idea—they're already starting to reshape how we work. YC's Tom Blomfield and David Lieb discuss how AI coding tools are transforming software development, why small, high-agency teams will be able to do what once took armies of engineers, and why there's never been a better time to start something new. They exp…

1
E88: Why Eastern Game Dev Might Be The Future with Rob Wynne and Clark Kosene 1:16:08

1M ago1:16:08

1:16:08

What if the next great game studio doesn’t come from the West? In this episode, Ben chats with Rob Wynne and Clark Kosene from Rising Tide Studios—an unannounced AAA-inspired indie team taking a bold leap: building a game that truly bridges Eastern and Western audiences. We dive deep into why the moat of Western AAA game development is disappearing…

1
Skin Deep, Days Gone, and A Lotta Mess - Easy Allies Podcast - May 2, 2025 2:43:56

2M ago2:43:56

2:43:56

Ep 473 - It's a rough news week on multiple fronts, but we try to take some solace in flushing some pirates' heads down the toilet and going for another ride on Deacon's motorcycle. *Days Gone Remastered Provided by PlayStation Get the extended cut: https://www.patreon.com/posts/extended-skin-2-127974581 (0:00) - Intro (5:18) - Shout Out to Polygon…

1
Oblivion and Expedition 33 RPG Feast - Easy Allies Podcast - Apr 25, 2025 3:00:32

2M ago3:00:32

3:00:32

Ep 472 - It's a big week for RPGs as Bethesda drops a major overhaul of Oblivion, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 hooks us with its fun combat system and gorgeous world, and Sunderfolk brings a polished twist on tabletop-style campaigns. Get the extended cut: https://www.patreon.com/posts/extended-and-33-127436982 (0:00) - Intro (3:08) - Corrections!? …

1
How To Get The Most Out Of Vibe Coding | Startup School 16:39

2M ago16:39

16:39

AI can't yet one-shot an entire product—but with the rise of vibe coding, it's getting close. YC's Tom Blomfield has spent the last month building side projects with tools like Claude Code, Windsurf, and Aqua, seeing just how far you can push modern LLMs. From writing full-stack apps to debugging with a single paste of an error message, AI is becom…

1
E87: Toxic Culture in Game Development: The Real Metrics That Matter with Charlie Sull 48:06

2M ago48:06

48:06

How would you know if your studio’s culture is toxic—before it’s too late? In this exclusive conversation, we talk with Charlie Sull, co-founder of CultureX and researcher with MIT, about how to spot, measure, and fix toxic workplace culture—especially in the high-stakes world of game development. Forget ping pong tables and free snacks. Culture is…

1
Marathon, Mandragora, and Tetris w/ Henk Rogers - Easy Allies Podcast - Apr 18, 2025 3:09:52

2M ago3:09:52

3:09:52

Ep 471 - This week we're joined by special guest Henk Rogers to talk about his history with Tetris and introducing RPGs to Japan. We catch up with Marathon and Mario Kart, and Huber is obsessed with Mandragora. Get the extended cut: https://www.patreon.com/posts/extended-and-w-126917617 (0:00) - Intro (5:00) - Marathon Revealed (32:51) - Mario Kart…

1
How Zepto Became India’s Fastest Growing Startup 38:23

2M ago38:23

38:23

Imagine ordering groceries and having them show up at your doorstep in just 10 minutes. That’s the promise of Zepto, the fastest-growing e-commerce company in India. In this episode of How To Build The Future, Garry sits down with Aadit Palicha, the co-founder and CEO of Zepto, to discuss how they got started in a Whatsapp group, what it’s like goi…

1
Shuhei Yoshida on Switch 2, Blue Prince, and More - Easy Allies Podcast - Apr 11, 2025 2:34:31

2M ago2:34:31

2:34:31

Ep 470 - Shuhei Yoshida spent over 30 years leading teams at PlayStation. Now he's helping indies on his own, and he's here to talk about Switch 2, Blue Prince, Promise Mascot Agency, and whatever else we can come up with. Get the extended cut: https://www.patreon.com/posts/extended-shuhei-126419845 (0:00) - Intro (2:28) - Catching Up With Shu (8:2…

1
E86: Why User Acquisition Isn't Just For Mobile Anymore with Matej Lančarič 1:09:46

2M ago1:09:46

1:09:46

Building a great game is hard—but getting players to actually discover and play it? That’s often harder. In this episode of Building Better Games, Ben sits down with user acquisition expert Matej Lančarič, whose decade of experience spans mobile, PC, Steam, and cross-platform launches. Together, they dive deep into the realities of user acquisition…

1
We Played Switch 2! - Easy Allies Podcast - Apr 4, 2025 3:50:49

3M ago3:50:49

3:50:49

Ep 469 - Bloodworth played 10 Switch 2 games, including Mario Kart World, Donkey Kong Bananza, and Metroid Prime 4. He's here to tell us how they play as we wrap up our thoughts on the Direct and talk about prices and tech. Plus, our thoughts on South of Midnight. Get the extended cut: https://www.patreon.com/posts/extended-we-2-4-125901838 (0:00) …

1
Why America Stopped Innovating - And How We Can Start Again 34:12

3M ago34:12

34:12

Not long ago, America led the world in building and innovation. But over the past 50 years, bureaucracy and red tape have made it nearly impossible to get big things done. Still, there’s a growing movement to turn that around — to build faster, smarter, and better than ever before. In this episode of The Main Function, Garry sits down with Atlantic…

1
Khazan, Atomfall, Nintendo Direct, and GDC - Easy Allies Podcast - Mar 28, 2025 3:40:55

3M ago3:40:55

3:40:55

Ep 468 - Why not have one more Nintendo Direct right before the big Switch 2 reveal party? We check out The First Berserker: Khazan and Atomfall, and Blood's back with tales to tell from GDC. Get the extended cut: https://www.patreon.com/posts/extended-khazan-125359898 (0:00) - Intro (5:59) - One More Nintendo Direct for Switch 1 (1:18:24) - The Fi…

1
What Founders Can Do To Improve Their Design Game 20:43

3M ago20:43

20:43

In this special episode of Design Review, Aaron sits down with Raphael Schaad, the Head of Calendar at Notion to discuss his leap from designer to founder, why illustration is an important first step when building a new product, and what ultimately makes designers uniquely qualified to start a company today.…

1
How to Build the Future: Tony Xu 31:32

3M ago31:32

31:32

12 years after starting DoorDash, co-founder & CEO Tony Xu and his employees still do deliveries every year, staying true to their core value: customer obsession. Today, DoorDash is the largest food delivery platform in the US. In this episode of How to Build the Future, Tony explains how their unwavering long-term vision won — helping create a new…

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E85: Why Your Game Vision Sucks (And Why You're Not Alone!) with Graham McAllister 1:31:13

3M ago1:31:13

1:31:13

In this episode, we welcome back organizational psychologist Graham McAllister for part 3 of our deep dive into one of the most critical challenges in game development—game vision. If you're a game developer, leader, or aspiring leader, this is an essential conversation that exposes why studios struggle to align on vision and how that misalignment …

1
Assassin's Creed Shadows Should Be Better - Easy Allies Podcast - Mar 21, 2025 2:51:42

3M ago2:51:42

2:51:42

Ep 467 - Assassin's Creed Shadows is finally here, and Huber and Gabby have lots of mixed feelings about it. We talk about highlights from the Future Games Show. Huber played 33 Immortals, and we've got the February sales report. (0:00) - Intro (2:41) - Future Games Show Highlights (58:24) - Assassin's Creed Shadows Impressions (1:38:38) - 33 Immor…

1
Customer Obsession Made Gusto A $9.6 Billion Company 24:58

3M ago24:58

24:58

Gusto (https://gusto.com) made payroll and HR painless for small businesses, growing into a $9.6B company along the way. Co-founder & CEO Josh Reeves joined YC's Harj Taggar to share how they built a payroll company from scratch and their customer-first approach to product design and culture.

1
Split Fiction, Silent Hill, and Xbox Handhelds - Easy Allies Podcast - Mar 14, 2025 2:18:21

3M ago2:18:21

2:18:21

Ep 466 - There are new reports about what Xbox has cooking for next-gen as well as a new handheld this year. Konami showed off a bit more of a Silent Hill f. Meanwhile, we check out Split Fiction, Mandragora, and Keep Driving. (0:00) - Intro (3:01) - Xbox Handheld This Year, Next-Gen in 2027 (22:46) - Sony and AMD Join Forces for FSR 4 (30:44) - Sp…

1
The Future Of Design With Figma's Dylan Field 37:41

3M ago37:41

37:41

Design isn’t just about making things work—it’s about how they work, says Dylan Field, the co-founder & CEO of Figma. As AI transforms tech, he believes a designer's judgment, taste, and agency will matter more than ever. Dylan sat down with YC's Garry Tan to discuss the evolving world of design in the age of AI, the challenging early days at Figma…

1
E84: The Real Cost Of Founding A Game Startup with Joseph Kim 1:06:33

3M ago1:06:33

1:06:33

The gaming industry is changing rapidly, and the global landscape is shifting in ways many studios aren’t prepared for. Are Western game studios becoming too complacent? What role will international development play in the future of game creation? In this episode, Joseph Kim, CEO of Lila Games, shares hard-earned lessons about building a game studi…

1
Tony Hawk is Back! - Easy Allies Podcast - Mar 7, 2025 2:25:42

3M ago2:25:42

2:25:42

Ep 465 - Tony Hawk is returning with the best of the best along with something new. More of the team have gotten their claws on Monster Hunter. Isla shares why Suikoden is so great, and The Last of Us might be over. (0:00) - Intro (3:19) - Huber's Adventures in London (8:05) - Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3+4 Announced (17:09) - More Monster Hunter Wilds…

1
Going Wild for Monster Hunter Wilds w/ Sofia Hariz - Easy Allies Podcast - Feb 28, 2025 2:50:19

4M ago2:50:19

2:50:19

Ep 464 - Sofia Hariz joins us as we chat about the Wonder Woman cancellation, Two Point Museum, and a pile of fresh indies. Meanwhile, Isla finished the Monster Hunter Wilds campaign and she's ready to share her thoughts on the adventure. (0:00) - Intro (3:40) - Catch Up with Sofia (13:30) - ID@Xbox and Annapurna Shows (41:48) - Monster Hunter Wild…

1
E83: 3 Steps To Leading Well In Game Development 42:59

4M ago42:59

42:59

What does it take to lead effectively in the gaming industry? Many leaders in game development step into their roles without formal training—learning through trial and error. In this episode, we break down what real leadership looks like, how to avoid common pitfalls, and how to drive meaningful change without falling into the trap of just "managin…

1
Pirate Yakuza, Nightreign, and Behemoth - Easy Allies Podcast - Feb 21, 2025 2:50:21

4M ago2:50:21

2:50:21

Ep 463 - Majima's here take Huber on a pirate adventure. Bloodworth brings back stories from DICE, and somehow, even the explosive success of Marvel Rivals can't dodge the industry layoffs. (0:00) - Intro (3:20) - Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii Impressions (33:00) - Blood's Stories from DICE (59:24) - Skydance's Behemoth Impressions (1:15:44) - Ys Memoire…

1
How To Build The Future: Aravind Srinivas 34:38

4M ago34:38

34:38

YC General Partner David Lieb sits down with Aravind Srinivas, the co-founder and CEO of Perplexity, to discuss his origins in Silicon Valley, what it's like to compete with Google, and what the future of search could look like. Apply to Y Combinator: https://ycombinator.com/apply

1
Avowed, Kingdom Come 2, and State of Play - Easy Allies Podcast - Feb 14, 2025 2:43:40

4M ago2:43:40

2:43:40

Ep 462 - It's time for some killer first-person RPGs, whether you're more into fantasy or history. PlayStation shows off a new slate of games, and Don checks out a demo for Lou's Lagoon. (0:00) - Intro (4:28) - State of Play (1:26:04) - Lou's Lagoon Impressions (1:33:16) - Avowed Impressions (1:51:52) - Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 Impressions (2:06…

1
Building A Supersonic Plane Company From The Ground Up 13:45

4M ago13:45

13:45

Imagine flying from NY to London in just a few hours. That’s the future that Blake Scholl and his team at Boom Supersonic are working towards. Blake started as a software engineer and pivoted mid-career to aviation. Now, he’s at the forefront of trying to bring back supersonic travel for all of us. In this episode of Hard Tech, YC’s Jared Friedman …

1
The Right (And Wrong) Way To Spend Money At Your Startup 29:06

4M ago29:06

29:06

Many startups fail because they run out of money. So how should you think about how to spend the money you raise? In this episode of Office Hours, YC General Partners Brad Flora, Pete Koomen, Nicolas Dessaigne, and Gustaf Alströmer discuss how to spend responsibly at each stage of a startup— including advice on when to hire, whether to invest in ma…

1
E82: The Art & Science of Game Prototyping with Leif Johansen 1:21:55

4M ago1:21:55

1:21:55

What if everything you thought about prototyping was wrong? Many teams rush to validate an idea too soon, but what if the real secret to success is building a studio that learns better? In this episode, Leif Johansen breaks down the myths of prototyping and how studios can create a structured approach to experimenting with game ideas. Key Takeaways…

1
While Waiting for Soul-Sucking Action - Easy Allies Podcast - Feb 7, 2025 2:43:34

4M ago2:43:34

2:43:34

Ep 461 - Capcom spills a few more details on the new Onimusha, as well as revealing an Onimusha 2 remaster. Plus, we give our thoughts on Citizen Sleeper 2, While Waiting, and Tails of Iron II. (0:00) - Intro (2:54) - Capcom Spotlight (38:34) - Citizen Sleeper 2 Impressions (52:25) - While Waiting Impressions (1:03:50) - Tails of Iron II Impression…

1
Xbox for All and BioWare in Trouble - Easy Allies Podcast - Jan 31, 2025 2:31:26

5M ago2:31:26

2:31:26

Ep 460 - Forza Horizon 5 coming to PlayStation has us examining Phil Spencer's recent comments. BioWare tries to paint a sunny picture as they part ways with much of their team. Plus, our thoughts on Eternal Strands and Hello Kitty: Island Adventure. (0:00) - Intro (4:25) - Xbox Digs Deeper Into Multiplatform Plans (38:59) - BioWare Restructuring a…

1
How To Build The AGI Future: Bob McGrew 30:44

5M ago30:44

30:44

According to OpenAI's former Chief Research Officer Bob McGrew, reasoning and test-time compute will unlock more reliable and capable AI agents— and a path to scale to AGI. In this episode of How to Build the Future, YC's @garrytan sits down with Bob to discuss the lessons learned from his time at OpenAI, scaling laws, his advice for startups, and …

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