x

75% of people globally want unbiased news (Pew Research) but are concerned they're not getting that.

Get balanced coverage with Symby. See how stories are covered across diverse outlets and spot when one side covers a story the other skips.

PODCAST

The Business of Games

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 Lia Ballentine, each episode blends strategic insight, cinematic storytelling, and candid conversations with the people driving the business of play. You’ll hear

business video games

All Episodes

34:31

The Loyalty Blueprint: How Games Are Redefining...

The Business of Games ·

2025/08/20

Loyalty is no longer a nice-to-have. It’s a business strategy. In this episode of The Business of Games: Extended Cut, Lia Ballentine sits down with Sarah Chafer, Xsolla’s Global Head of Ad Sales, and Travis Anderson, Head of Developer Partnerships, to explore how loyalty and rewards are evolving into a core growth engine for the games industry. From early experiments with Farmville and K-pop voting apps to modern systems that blend gamification, personalization, and brand integration, Sarah ...

en-us

19:02

The Impact of Loyalty & Rewards on the Business of Games

The Business of Games ·

2025/08/15

Welcome to The Business of Games podcast, brought to you by Xsolla. In today’s episode, Xsolla’s Chris Hewish and Lia Ballentine take a closer look at one of the most important and often misunderstood growth levers in modern gaming: loyalty. For years, loyalty programs were treated as add-ons. Cosmetic perks. Daily log-in bonuses. However, in a world where acquisition costs are high, players are fragmented across platforms, and the competition for engagement is constant, loyalty and rewards...

en-us

50:23

The Discovery Engine: Data, Platforms, and What Comes...

The Business of Games ·

2025/08/08

Discovery isn’t just a marketing challenge. It’s the foundation of the entire business of games. In our most expansive Xsolla Conversations episode yet, Brian Murphy, Head of Gaming and Go-To-Market at AppsFlyer, joins host Lia Ballentine to unpack how discovery has evolved in a post-IDFA, privacy-first world and why the smartest studios are treating it as a full-lifecycle strategy, not just a launch tactic. Brian shares: What broke with iOS 14 and how developers are adaptingHow creative te...

en-us

35:21

The Long Game: Discovery After the Download —...

The Business of Games ·

2025/08/01

Discovery used to be about visibility. Now it’s about architecture. In this episode of Xsolla Conversations, Chris Hewish talks with Ryan Goeden, Gaming Sales Director of RTB House, to break down what it takes to drive game discovery in today’s fragmented, post-platform world. Drawing on more than a decade in mobile advertising, Ryan shares a clear-eyed view of how developers can build scalable, full-funnel systems that drive re-engagement, extend player lifetime, and recapture revenue. The...

en-us

15:16

The Impact of Discovery on the Business of Games –...

The Business of Games ·

2025/07/25

Discovery isn’t just about being seen anymore — it’s about building systems that scale. In this episode of State of Play, we pull together insights from two leaders at the forefront of performance and post-platform marketing: Nic Ingham, VP of Performance Marketing at Xsolla, and Ryan Goeden, Gaming Sales Director at RTB House. Together, their perspectives paint a sharp, essential picture of how discovery strategies are evolving and what developers must do to stay in the game. Learn how stud...

en-us

36:08

The Impact of Discovery on the Business of Games –...

The Business of Games ·

2025/07/15

Welcome to Xsolla Conversations. In this episode, Xsolla’s Chris Hewish sits down with Nic Ingham to discuss one of the biggest shifts in the game business: discovery. For years, developers relied on platform-controlled visibility App Store placements, algorithm boosts, and pay-to-win UA to get noticed. But the rules have changed. With seismic shifts like the Digital Markets Act and the Epic v. Apple ruling, developers now face both a challenge and an opportunity: building discove...

en-us

31:19

WHAT’S THE FUTURE OF MOBILE GAME COMMERCE? FEATURING...

The Business of Games ·

2025/06/24

In today’s episode, Xsolla’s Chris Hewish talks with Artem Liubutov, VP of Monetization Products & Solutions at Xsolla. With over 15 years in the space, Artem shares how web shops evolved from a simple idea into a transformative model for mobile game monetization. They discuss what held developers back, what finally pushed adoption forward, and the real results games are seeing now, from revenue lift to retention insights unlocked by owning player data. If you’re a developer, product lead...

en-us

21:09

THE IMPACT OF WEB SHOPS ON THE BUSINESS OF GAMES –...

The Business of Games ·

2025/06/24

In this premiere episode, hosts Chris Hewish and Lia Ballentine explore one of the biggest shifts in the mobile gaming industry: the rise of web shops. Through cinematic storytelling, real-world examples, and conversations with Niantic CFO Jeff Shouger and Xsolla’s Artem Liubutov, we unpack how developers are reclaiming control over margins, data, and their connection to players. You’ll hear how studios are moving beyond the 30% platform tax, why conversion rates on web shops are exceeding ex...

en-us

28:00

WHY CFOS CAN’T IGNORE THE DIRECT-TO-PLAYER MODEL...

The Business of Games ·

2025/06/16

In today’s episode, Xsolla’s Chris Hewish sits down with Jeff Shouger, CFO at Niantic, the studio behind Pokémon GO, Peridot, and Monster Hunter Now. Jeff shares how Niantic approached the shift to web shops from a financial perspective, what convinced them to go direct-to-player, and the measurable impact they’ve seen since. If you're in the game industry and curious about how top studios navigate monetization, platform relationships, and the future of AR-driven commerce, this one’s for you....

en-us

13:41

Discover the Power of Community: Lessons from Deca Games

The Business of Games ·

2025/06/01

In today's episode, Xsolla's Developer Relations lead, AJ Sath sits down with Stephen Lee, VP of Business Development at Deca Games to talk about something every game developer should care about: player communities — specifically, best practices for establishing and growing them, and how to tie them into LTV. If you’re in the game industry and want to know more about how a thriving community can boost your game's metrics, this one’s for you. Now, let’s get into it! For more insights and...

en-us

30 results

Similar Podcasts

TaxTalent.com The Golden Rule Podcast

Adam Golden

TaxTalent.com Podcast

Tony Santiago

Handelsblatt Crime - spannende Streitfälle der deutschen Wirtschaft

Ina Karabasz, Solveig Gode, Sönke Iwersen

Deffner und Zschäpitz – Der Wirtschafts-Talk von WELT

WELT

Black Box - La scatola nera della finanza

Guido Brera e Gian Luca Comandini -...