This week we speak with accomplished engineering leader Caerie Houchins, who played a critical role in the initial global launch of VALORANT, the global smash tactical shooter from Riot Games. Caerie has now expanded her career from triple-A gaming to become a co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of an independent game studio, Wicked Fox Games, which just successfully funded their first Kickstarter. Caerie walks listeners through insights that are not just useful for game engineers, but for anyone who dream of building video games at global scale and complexity. Hear about wide-ranging topics from game engine technology, crunch culture, and cross-cultural collaboration through the use of artificial intelligence in video game development.

This episode also takes a frank look at one of the things that brought Caerie and host Cheryl Platz together - their layoff. Why are there so many layoffs in the video game industry? Why is it so hard for indie studios like Caerie's to get traction? To understand these things, we must look at the root of today's game industry instability, and that goes back to the gaming gold rush during the pandemic. Learn more about host Cheryl's take on what has brought the industry to this particular moment in time.

Enduring Play is a uniquely crafted, high production value podcast about the modern craft of video game development. The format is inspired by gaming itself, with a level structure and tutorials and asides that help listeners of all experience follow along. Season 1 of the Enduring Play podcast is drawn from interviews that informed Cheryl Platz's new book The Game Development Strategy Guide: Crafting Modern Video Games That Thrive, which is available worldwide as of September 16, 2025 and received a "Get It" recommendation from Kirkus Reviews. Show notes, including a full bio, episode outline, and links are available on the Enduring Play website.

Use code ENDURINGPLAYS1 at RosenfeldMedia.com to get 15% off your order - and all physical orders at Rosenfeld Media receive a free ebook. Podcast Season 1 discount offer expires November 30, 2025. Love the podcast or the book? Please spread the word with shares and reviews so we can change the industry together!

For readers of Cheryl Platz's book The Game Development Strategy Guide, Season 1 Episode 7 is a particularly great complement to Chapter 6, The Why of Multiplayer; Chapter 9, From Emergence to Prosocial Gaming; Chapter 12, Gaming Technology Platforms; and Chapter 13: The Good and Bad of Game Dev Processes.