October 19, 2025 • 17 mins
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The games industry is booming on paper, yet the people who build and play the games feel the strain. We unpack why record revenues can coexist with layoffs, crunch, and predatory monetization—and make the case that empathy is not just moral, it’s an edge. This conversation is a candid roadmap for leaders who want sustainable studios, loyal communities, and creative work they’re proud to ship.
We start by naming the problem: late-game capitalism turns teams and players into resources to extract, breeding short-termism, homogenized portfolios, and fragile studios. From there, we shift to solutions you can act on today. We redefine success beyond quarters with metrics like retention, psychological safety, and player trust. We show how transparent communication—open Q&As, public roadmaps, honest delay notes—builds credibility inside and out. We probe monetization through an ethical lens, outlining models that respect time, avoid pay-to-win traps, and create clear value that grows lifetime loyalty rather than resentment.
We also go deep on inclusion, mental health, and shared decision-making. Bringing developers into planning reduces thrash and risk; supporting well-being turns teams into reliable inventors, not exhausted fire-fighters. We discuss long-term strategy—pacing releases, investing in training, letting IP mature—and why resisting over-consolidation keeps creative diversity alive. When pivots or layoffs are unavoidable, we detail humane practices that protect dignity and relationships. The payoff is real: better retention, stronger communities, bolder innovation, steadier revenue, and reputations that attract both talent and capital.
If you lead a team, manage a product, or care about the future of games, this is your blueprint for people-first leadership that still wins on the scoreboard. Subscribe, share with a colleague who needs it, and leave a review with the one change you’ll champion next.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
SPEAKER_00 (00:20):
Hey there, Press Starters, and welcome to the
Press Start Leadership Podcast,the podcast about game-changing
leadership, teaching you how toget the most out of your product
and development team and becomethe leader you were meant to be.
Leadership coaching and trainingfor the international game
industry professional.
(00:41):
Now, let me introduce you toyour host, The Man, the Myth,
the Legend, ChristopherMiffstude.
SPEAKER_01 (00:49):
Hey there, Press Starters, and welcome back to
another awesome edition of thePress Start Leadership Podcast.
On this week's episode, we'll bediscussing what the game
industry needs now.
More empathy and less late gamecapitalism.
Why video game industry leadersmust embrace empathy, reject
exploitive late game capitalism,and build sustainable studios
(01:13):
through people first practices.
The video game industry hasnever been bigger.
It generates billions of dollarsin revenue, commands global
cultural influence, and shapeshow millions of people spend
their free time.
Yet, beneath the flashy numbers,record launches, and live
service strategies lies apainful truth.
The industry has prioritizedlate game capitalism over
(01:36):
empathy.
Profit has become the North Starwhile the human beings who
create the games are often leftstruggling.
Studios close suddenly afterrecord earnings.
Teams are overworked untilburnout becomes inevitable.
Players are seen as wallets tobe drained rather than
communities to be nurtured.
The game industry is now at acrossroads.
(01:56):
Do we continue on the path ofhyper-exploitation, or do we
rebuild an industry rooted inempathy, fairness, and long-term
sustainability?
This podcast argues for thelatter.
We need a lot more empathy and alot less late-game capitalism.
Leaders, entrepreneurs, andexecutives in the video game
industry must realign prioritiestowards people, not just
(02:19):
profits.
To follow, we explore whyempathy is essential, how
late-stage capitalism isdamaging the industry, and most
importantly, what actionablesteps leaders can take to create
healthier, more resilientstudios and communities.
The current reality of late gamecapitalism in the game industry.
When people talk about late gamecapitalism, they mean an
(02:42):
economic system that has becomeso obsessed with profit
extraction that it sacrificeslong-term stability, ethics, and
humanity for short-termfinancial gain.
The video game industry reflectsthis perfectly.
Considered the followingpatterns.
Record-breaking layoffs.
In 2023 and 2024 alone, tens ofthousands of game developers
(03:04):
were laid off even as companiesreported strong profits.
Workers were cut not becauseprojects failed, but because
executives wanted to maximizeshareholder returns.
Crunch culture is standardpractice.
Despite years of outcry, Crunchremains normalized.
Studios routinely expect teamsto work 60 to 80 hour weeks near
deadlines, sacrificing health,relationships, and creativity.
(03:28):
Exploitative monetization.
Loot boxes, predatorymicrotransactions, and
aggressive live service modelshave become staples.
Player experience often takes aback seat to aggressive
monetization strategies.
Consolidation andhomogenization.
Mega corporations buy up studiosand IP at alarming rates,
limiting creative diversity andcentralizing power in fewer
(03:49):
hands.
Short-termism.
Leaders prioritize quarterlyfinancial reports over long-term
player trust or developerwell-being.
This is late-game capitalism atwork.
It extracts everything it canfrom both workers and players
with little regard forsustainability.
Why empathy is the antidote.
(04:10):
If late game capitalism reducespeople to numbers, empathy
restores humanity to the centerof the game industry.
Empathy in leadership meansprioritizing the well-being of
teams, respecting the trust ofplayers, and acknowledging the
impact that games have onculture.
Here are three key reasons whyempathy is essential.
Empathy builds healthierstudios.
(04:31):
Leaders who cultivate empathyrecognize that teams are not
endless resources.
They acknowledge burnout,respect boundaries, and create
environments where people feelsafe to take risks and be
creative.
This results in lower turnover,higher morale, and more
innovative projects.
Empathy strengthens playercommunities.
Players are not just customers,they are communities.
(04:54):
Empathetic studios listen toplayer feedback, avoid
exploitative monetization, anddesign experiences that respect
players' time and investment.
This builds long-term trust andloyalty.
Empathy ensures long-termsustainability.
Empathy-driven leadershipfocuses on the long game.
Instead of squeezing out maximumprofits in the short term,
empathetic leaders ask, how dowe ensure our teams and
(05:17):
communities thrive five or tenyears from now?
Sustainable studios outlastextractive ones.
The human cost of ignoringempathy.
It is easy to think of empathyas soft or secondary to hard
business realities.
Yet the absence of empathycarries serious costs for the
video game industry.
Burnout and Nutrition.
The average career length forvideo game developer is
(05:39):
significantly shorter than anyother tech industry.
Talented developers leavebecause studios prioritize
profit over well-being.
Loss of trust from players.
Aggressive monetizationstrategies may drive short-term
profits but often alienateplayers.
Franchises lose loyal fans,damaging long-term growth.
Creativity suffers.
(06:00):
Crunch, fear, and instabilitystifle innovation.
When developers are exhausted orfearful of layoffs, they take
fewer risks.
The result is formalaic gamesinstead of bold new experiences.
Instability in studios.
Constant layoffs, mergers, andexecutive driven pivots create
fragile ecosystems.
Studios collapse even afterproducing successful games.
(06:24):
The cost of ignoring empathy isnot theoretical.
It shows up in declining trust,damaged brands, and an exodus of
talent.
Actual step number one.
Redefine success beyondquarterly profits.
Leaders must expand theirdefinition of success.
Instead of focusing solely onshareholder returns, consider
additional metrics.
(06:45):
Employee retention andsatisfaction.
Work-life balance indicators.
Player trust and communityengagement.
Long-term revenue stabilityrather than short-term spikes.
By reframing success, leaderssend a clear message that
empathy matters as much asearnings.
Actionable step number two.
Normalize sustainable workpractices.
(07:06):
The first step to breaking freefrom late game capitalism is
rejecting the normalization ofcrunch.
Empathetic leaders commit tosustainable work practices.
Set realistic productiontimelines.
Hire adequate staff for projectdemands.
Respect boundaries aroundworking hours.
Encourage use of vacation dayswithout stigma.
A healthy team is a creativeteam.
(07:27):
Sustainable practices protectboth people and projects.
Actionable step number three.
Build transparent communication.
Empathy thrives in transparency.
Leaders should share challengeshonestly with their teams and
engage players openly.
Transparency builds trust andprevents the alienation caused
by corporate spin or secrecy.
Examples of empathetictransparency include holding
(07:50):
regular all hands meetings withan open QA, publishing
development roadmaps forplayers, acknowledging mistakes
publicly and committing toimprovement.
Transparency does not solveevery problem, but it
demonstrates respect for thoseaffected by decisions.
Actionable step number four.
Rethink monetization throughempathy.
Monetization strategies areoften where late game capitalism
(08:11):
shows its ugliest base.
Empathetic leaders should ask,does this model respect players
or exploit them?
Sustainable monetizationpractices include avoiding
pay-to-win mechanics, offeringclear value for purchases,
respecting players' time byavoiding manipulative designs,
prioritizing content and qualityover aggressive monetization
cycles.
(08:32):
When studios treat players withempathy, they build long-term
loyalty rather than resentment.
Actionable step number five.
Prioritize diversity, equity,and inclusion.
Empathy also means recognizingwho is often excluded or
marginalized in the video gameindustry.
Studios must take steps tocreate inclusive environments,
and this includes diverse hiringpractices, safe workplace
(08:55):
policies, listening tomarginalized voices in both
teams and player communities,ensuring representation in games
themselves.
Empathy without inclusion isincomplete.
The diverse, inclusive studio isstronger and more innovative.
The role of leaders in changingthe culture.
Change begins at the top.
Studio leaders, executives, andentrepreneurs in the game
(09:15):
industry must model empatheticleadership.
This means listening beforemaking decisions, protecting
teams from harmful demands,balancing financial goals with
human well-being, celebratingpeople, not just products.
Empathy-driven leadership is notabout rejecting capitalism
altogether.
It is about creating balance.
Profit and empathy can coexist,but only if leaders prioritize
(09:37):
humanity as much as growth.
Actional step number six.
Involve developers in decisionmaking.
One of the reasons late gamecapitalism thrives in the gaming
industry is because decisionsare made exclusively in
boardrooms, detached from therealities of development.
Empathy-driven leadership flipsthis model by actively involving
developers and major decisions.
This can look like creatingcross-functional planning
(10:00):
committees for large projects,involving senior developers in
conversations about timelinesand budgets, allowing teams to
flag unrealistic expectationsbefore they spiral in a crisis.
When developers have a voice,they feel ownership.
Empathy means valuing theirexpertise rather than treating
them as cogs in a corporatemachine.
Actionable step number seven,invest in mental health and
(10:21):
well-being.
Empathy is not just aboutavoiding harm, it's about
actively supporting people'swell-being.
Game development is demanding,but empathetic leaders make sure
their teams have the supportthey need.
Practical steps includeproviding access to mental
health resources and counseling,offering flexible work
arrangements such as remote orhybrid options, training
managers to recognize burnoutand respond with compassion.
(10:44):
Building a culture where askingfor help is seen as strength,
not weakness.
An empathetic studioacknowledges that human beings
are not endlessly resilient andneed support systems to thrive.
Step number eight.
Embrace long-term thinking.
Late game capitalism thrives onshort-term gains, but empathy
thrives on patience.
Leaders in the video gameindustry must adopt long-term
(11:06):
thinking when building studiosand franchises.
Examples of long-termempathy-driven strategy.
Building communities aroundgames rather than treating them
as one-time purchases.
Investing in training andprofessional development for
staff.
Allowing an IP to groworganically instead of flooding
the market with rush equals.
Patience requires courage.
It is tempting to chaseimmediate profits, but true
(11:27):
sustainability comes fromlong-term trust and stability.
Actionable step number nine.
Redefine leadership success.
Empathy requires leaders tomeasure success differently.
Instead of defining leadershipby revenue milestones alone,
empathetic leaders ask, did myteam feel supported?
Did we maintain healthy workpractices?
Did we deliver value to playerswithout exploiting them?
(11:49):
Did we build trust rather thanerode it?
Redefining success reshapespriorities.
It encourages leaders to seeempathy as core performance
metric, not a sideconsideration.
Actual step number 10.
Strengthen player relationships.
Empathy is not limited tointernal teams.
It extends to the relationshipbetween studios and players.
(12:11):
Players are not just consumers.
They are communities of peoplewho care deeply about the games
they play.
Ways to show empathy towardsplayers.
Avoid manipulative mechanicslike loot boxes designed to
exploit addiction.
Respect player time by avoidinggrind force mechanics.
Listen to community feedback andimplement meaningful changes.
Communicate delays honestlyrather than pushing teams into
(12:33):
destructive crunch.
When studios treat players withempathy, they earn long-term
loyalty.
Respect builds communities andcommunity-sustained franchises.
Actual step number 11.
Resist the pressure ofover-consolidation.
Consolidations have become ahallmark of late game capitalism
in the video game industry.
Large corporations buy upsmaller studios, cutting costs
and maximizing control.
(12:53):
While this may look profitableon paper, it often erodes
diversity and creativity.
Empathetic leaders resist thetemptation to homogenize
everything.
They recognize the value ofsmall studios, independent
voices, and creative risk.
Empathy means protectingcreative diversity rather than
absorbing it into corporatesameness.
Actual step number 12.
Build resilience throughempathy.
(13:14):
Resilience is often framed astoughness.
In reality, resilience in thegame industry comes from
empathy.
Teams that feel supportedrecover faster from setbacks.
Players who feel respected stayloyal even after missteps.
Studios that build empathy intotheir DNA can weather financial
storms more effectively thanthose built purely on
extraction.
Resilience comes fromrelationships.
(13:36):
The stronger the bonds betweenleaders, teams, and players, the
more durable the studio becomes.
Actual step number 13.
Lead with transparency inlayoffs and pivots.
Sometimes layoffs or pivots areunavoidable, but empathy shapes
how these changes are handled.
Instead of sudden firingsdelivered by email, empathetic
leaders communicate challengesopenly before decisions are
(13:58):
final.
Provide severance and jobplacement support.
Offer emotional acknowledgementrather than corporate
detachment.
Empathy cannot erase hardrealities, but it can ensure
that people are treated withdignity and respect.
Actionable step number 14.
Advocate for industry-widestandards.
No single studio can dismantlelate-game capitalism alone.
(14:19):
Leaders must work collectivelyto advocate for industry-wide
standards that prioritizeempathy.
This may include supportingunions and worker advocacy
groups, pushing for legislationthat protects against exploited
practices.
Encourage publishers andinvestors to adopt sustainable
funding models.
Empathy is both an individualpractice and a collective
responsibility.
(14:39):
Leaders must not only changetheir own studios but also push
for systemic reform.
The long-term benefits ofempathy-driven leadership.
Shifting the game industry awayfrom late game capitalism and
towards empathy offers tangiblelong-term benefits.
Talent retention.
Developers stay longer and bringtheir best creativity when they
feel respected.
(15:00):
Player trust.
Franchises grow when playersfeel valued instead of
exploited.
Innovation.
Healthy, supportive teams takemore creative risks, leading to
breakthrough titles.
Stability.
Studios rooted in empathyweather market fluctuations more
effectively.
Reputation.
Empathetic studios buildpositive reputations that
(15:20):
attract both talent andinvestment.
Empathy is not charity, it'ssmart leadership.
Final thoughts.
Reimagining the future of thegame industry.
Video game industry is at atipping point.
We can continue down the road oflate game capitalism,
prioritizing extraction andprofit at the expense of people.
Or we can choose empathy.
(15:41):
We can build studios thatrespect developers, honor
players, and create sustainableecosystems that thrive for
decades.
What the game industry needs nowis clear, a lot more empathy,
and a lot less late-gamecapitalism.
Leaders hold the power to makethe shift real.
By redefining success,prioritizing well-being,
involving developers indecisions, and respecting
(16:02):
players, leaders can chart a newcourse.
A healthier, more sustainableindustry is possible, but only
if empathy becomes the guidingprinciple.
The future of the game industryis not just about technology or
markets.
It's about people, and peopledeserve better.
Alright, and that's this week'sepisode of the Press Start
Leadership Podcast.
(16:22):
Thanks for listening, and asalways, thanks for being
awesome.
Hey there, Press Starters, and welcome to the
Press Start Leadership Podcast,the podcast about game-changing
leadership, teaching you how toget the most out of your product
and development team and becomethe leader you were meant to be.
Leadership coaching and trainingfor the international game
industry professional.
(00:41):
Now, let me introduce you toyour host, The Man, the Myth,
the Legend, ChristopherMiffstude.
SPEAKER_01 (00:49):
Hey there, Press Starters, and welcome back to
another awesome edition of thePress Start Leadership Podcast.
On this week's episode, we'll bediscussing what the game
industry needs now.
More empathy and less late gamecapitalism.
Why video game industry leadersmust embrace empathy, reject
exploitive late game capitalism,and build sustainable studios
(01:13):
through people first practices.
The video game industry hasnever been bigger.
It generates billions of dollarsin revenue, commands global
cultural influence, and shapeshow millions of people spend
their free time.
Yet, beneath the flashy numbers,record launches, and live
service strategies lies apainful truth.
The industry has prioritizedlate game capitalism over
(01:36):
empathy.
Profit has become the North Starwhile the human beings who
create the games are often leftstruggling.
Studios close suddenly afterrecord earnings.
Teams are overworked untilburnout becomes inevitable.
Players are seen as wallets tobe drained rather than
communities to be nurtured.
The game industry is now at acrossroads.
(01:56):
Do we continue on the path ofhyper-exploitation, or do we
rebuild an industry rooted inempathy, fairness, and long-term
sustainability?
This podcast argues for thelatter.
We need a lot more empathy and alot less late-game capitalism.
Leaders, entrepreneurs, andexecutives in the video game
industry must realign prioritiestowards people, not just
(02:19):
profits.
To follow, we explore whyempathy is essential, how
late-stage capitalism isdamaging the industry, and most
importantly, what actionablesteps leaders can take to create
healthier, more resilientstudios and communities.
The current reality of late gamecapitalism in the game industry.
When people talk about late gamecapitalism, they mean an
(02:42):
economic system that has becomeso obsessed with profit
extraction that it sacrificeslong-term stability, ethics, and
humanity for short-termfinancial gain.
The video game industry reflectsthis perfectly.
Considered the followingpatterns.
Record-breaking layoffs.
In 2023 and 2024 alone, tens ofthousands of game developers
(03:04):
were laid off even as companiesreported strong profits.
Workers were cut not becauseprojects failed, but because
executives wanted to maximizeshareholder returns.
Crunch culture is standardpractice.
Despite years of outcry, Crunchremains normalized.
Studios routinely expect teamsto work 60 to 80 hour weeks near
deadlines, sacrificing health,relationships, and creativity.
(03:28):
Exploitative monetization.
Loot boxes, predatorymicrotransactions, and
aggressive live service modelshave become staples.
Player experience often takes aback seat to aggressive
monetization strategies.
Consolidation andhomogenization.
Mega corporations buy up studiosand IP at alarming rates,
limiting creative diversity andcentralizing power in fewer
(03:49):
hands.
Short-termism.
Leaders prioritize quarterlyfinancial reports over long-term
player trust or developerwell-being.
This is late-game capitalism atwork.
It extracts everything it canfrom both workers and players
with little regard forsustainability.
Why empathy is the antidote.
(04:10):
If late game capitalism reducespeople to numbers, empathy
restores humanity to the centerof the game industry.
Empathy in leadership meansprioritizing the well-being of
teams, respecting the trust ofplayers, and acknowledging the
impact that games have onculture.
Here are three key reasons whyempathy is essential.
Empathy builds healthierstudios.
(04:31):
Leaders who cultivate empathyrecognize that teams are not
endless resources.
They acknowledge burnout,respect boundaries, and create
environments where people feelsafe to take risks and be
creative.
This results in lower turnover,higher morale, and more
innovative projects.
Empathy strengthens playercommunities.
Players are not just customers,they are communities.
(04:54):
Empathetic studios listen toplayer feedback, avoid
exploitative monetization, anddesign experiences that respect
players' time and investment.
This builds long-term trust andloyalty.
Empathy ensures long-termsustainability.
Empathy-driven leadershipfocuses on the long game.
Instead of squeezing out maximumprofits in the short term,
empathetic leaders ask, how dowe ensure our teams and
(05:17):
communities thrive five or tenyears from now?
Sustainable studios outlastextractive ones.
The human cost of ignoringempathy.
It is easy to think of empathyas soft or secondary to hard
business realities.
Yet the absence of empathycarries serious costs for the
video game industry.
Burnout and Nutrition.
The average career length forvideo game developer is
(05:39):
significantly shorter than anyother tech industry.
Talented developers leavebecause studios prioritize
profit over well-being.
Loss of trust from players.
Aggressive monetizationstrategies may drive short-term
profits but often alienateplayers.
Franchises lose loyal fans,damaging long-term growth.
Creativity suffers.
(06:00):
Crunch, fear, and instabilitystifle innovation.
When developers are exhausted orfearful of layoffs, they take
fewer risks.
The result is formalaic gamesinstead of bold new experiences.
Instability in studios.
Constant layoffs, mergers, andexecutive driven pivots create
fragile ecosystems.
Studios collapse even afterproducing successful games.
(06:24):
The cost of ignoring empathy isnot theoretical.
It shows up in declining trust,damaged brands, and an exodus of
talent.
Actual step number one.
Redefine success beyondquarterly profits.
Leaders must expand theirdefinition of success.
Instead of focusing solely onshareholder returns, consider
additional metrics.
(06:45):
Employee retention andsatisfaction.
Work-life balance indicators.
Player trust and communityengagement.
Long-term revenue stabilityrather than short-term spikes.
By reframing success, leaderssend a clear message that
empathy matters as much asearnings.
Actionable step number two.
Normalize sustainable workpractices.
(07:06):
The first step to breaking freefrom late game capitalism is
rejecting the normalization ofcrunch.
Empathetic leaders commit tosustainable work practices.
Set realistic productiontimelines.
Hire adequate staff for projectdemands.
Respect boundaries aroundworking hours.
Encourage use of vacation dayswithout stigma.
A healthy team is a creativeteam.
(07:27):
Sustainable practices protectboth people and projects.
Actionable step number three.
Build transparent communication.
Empathy thrives in transparency.
Leaders should share challengeshonestly with their teams and
engage players openly.
Transparency builds trust andprevents the alienation caused
by corporate spin or secrecy.
Examples of empathetictransparency include holding
(07:50):
regular all hands meetings withan open QA, publishing
development roadmaps forplayers, acknowledging mistakes
publicly and committing toimprovement.
Transparency does not solveevery problem, but it
demonstrates respect for thoseaffected by decisions.
Actionable step number four.
Rethink monetization throughempathy.
Monetization strategies areoften where late game capitalism
(08:11):
shows its ugliest base.
Empathetic leaders should ask,does this model respect players
or exploit them?
Sustainable monetizationpractices include avoiding
pay-to-win mechanics, offeringclear value for purchases,
respecting players' time byavoiding manipulative designs,
prioritizing content and qualityover aggressive monetization
cycles.
(08:32):
When studios treat players withempathy, they build long-term
loyalty rather than resentment.
Actionable step number five.
Prioritize diversity, equity,and inclusion.
Empathy also means recognizingwho is often excluded or
marginalized in the video gameindustry.
Studios must take steps tocreate inclusive environments,
and this includes diverse hiringpractices, safe workplace
(08:55):
policies, listening tomarginalized voices in both
teams and player communities,ensuring representation in games
themselves.
Empathy without inclusion isincomplete.
The diverse, inclusive studio isstronger and more innovative.
The role of leaders in changingthe culture.
Change begins at the top.
Studio leaders, executives, andentrepreneurs in the game
(09:15):
industry must model empatheticleadership.
This means listening beforemaking decisions, protecting
teams from harmful demands,balancing financial goals with
human well-being, celebratingpeople, not just products.
Empathy-driven leadership is notabout rejecting capitalism
altogether.
It is about creating balance.
Profit and empathy can coexist,but only if leaders prioritize
(09:37):
humanity as much as growth.
Actional step number six.
Involve developers in decisionmaking.
One of the reasons late gamecapitalism thrives in the gaming
industry is because decisionsare made exclusively in
boardrooms, detached from therealities of development.
Empathy-driven leadership flipsthis model by actively involving
developers and major decisions.
This can look like creatingcross-functional planning
(10:00):
committees for large projects,involving senior developers in
conversations about timelinesand budgets, allowing teams to
flag unrealistic expectationsbefore they spiral in a crisis.
When developers have a voice,they feel ownership.
Empathy means valuing theirexpertise rather than treating
them as cogs in a corporatemachine.
Actionable step number seven,invest in mental health and
(10:21):
well-being.
Empathy is not just aboutavoiding harm, it's about
actively supporting people'swell-being.
Game development is demanding,but empathetic leaders make sure
their teams have the supportthey need.
Practical steps includeproviding access to mental
health resources and counseling,offering flexible work
arrangements such as remote orhybrid options, training
managers to recognize burnoutand respond with compassion.
(10:44):
Building a culture where askingfor help is seen as strength,
not weakness.
An empathetic studioacknowledges that human beings
are not endlessly resilient andneed support systems to thrive.
Step number eight.
Embrace long-term thinking.
Late game capitalism thrives onshort-term gains, but empathy
thrives on patience.
Leaders in the video gameindustry must adopt long-term
(11:06):
thinking when building studiosand franchises.
Examples of long-termempathy-driven strategy.
Building communities aroundgames rather than treating them
as one-time purchases.
Investing in training andprofessional development for
staff.
Allowing an IP to groworganically instead of flooding
the market with rush equals.
Patience requires courage.
It is tempting to chaseimmediate profits, but true
(11:27):
sustainability comes fromlong-term trust and stability.
Actionable step number nine.
Redefine leadership success.
Empathy requires leaders tomeasure success differently.
Instead of defining leadershipby revenue milestones alone,
empathetic leaders ask, did myteam feel supported?
Did we maintain healthy workpractices?
Did we deliver value to playerswithout exploiting them?
(11:49):
Did we build trust rather thanerode it?
Redefining success reshapespriorities.
It encourages leaders to seeempathy as core performance
metric, not a sideconsideration.
Actual step number 10.
Strengthen player relationships.
Empathy is not limited tointernal teams.
It extends to the relationshipbetween studios and players.
(12:11):
Players are not just consumers.
They are communities of peoplewho care deeply about the games
they play.
Ways to show empathy towardsplayers.
Avoid manipulative mechanicslike loot boxes designed to
exploit addiction.
Respect player time by avoidinggrind force mechanics.
Listen to community feedback andimplement meaningful changes.
Communicate delays honestlyrather than pushing teams into
(12:33):
destructive crunch.
When studios treat players withempathy, they earn long-term
loyalty.
Respect builds communities andcommunity-sustained franchises.
Actual step number 11.
Resist the pressure ofover-consolidation.
Consolidations have become ahallmark of late game capitalism
in the video game industry.
Large corporations buy upsmaller studios, cutting costs
and maximizing control.
(12:53):
While this may look profitableon paper, it often erodes
diversity and creativity.
Empathetic leaders resist thetemptation to homogenize
everything.
They recognize the value ofsmall studios, independent
voices, and creative risk.
Empathy means protectingcreative diversity rather than
absorbing it into corporatesameness.
Actual step number 12.
Build resilience throughempathy.
(13:14):
Resilience is often framed astoughness.
In reality, resilience in thegame industry comes from
empathy.
Teams that feel supportedrecover faster from setbacks.
Players who feel respected stayloyal even after missteps.
Studios that build empathy intotheir DNA can weather financial
storms more effectively thanthose built purely on
extraction.
Resilience comes fromrelationships.
(13:36):
The stronger the bonds betweenleaders, teams, and players, the
more durable the studio becomes.
Actual step number 13.
Lead with transparency inlayoffs and pivots.
Sometimes layoffs or pivots areunavoidable, but empathy shapes
how these changes are handled.
Instead of sudden firingsdelivered by email, empathetic
leaders communicate challengesopenly before decisions are
(13:58):
final.
Provide severance and jobplacement support.
Offer emotional acknowledgementrather than corporate
detachment.
Empathy cannot erase hardrealities, but it can ensure
that people are treated withdignity and respect.
Actionable step number 14.
Advocate for industry-widestandards.
No single studio can dismantlelate-game capitalism alone.
(14:19):
Leaders must work collectivelyto advocate for industry-wide
standards that prioritizeempathy.
This may include supportingunions and worker advocacy
groups, pushing for legislationthat protects against exploited
practices.
Encourage publishers andinvestors to adopt sustainable
funding models.
Empathy is both an individualpractice and a collective
responsibility.
(14:39):
Leaders must not only changetheir own studios but also push
for systemic reform.
The long-term benefits ofempathy-driven leadership.
Shifting the game industry awayfrom late game capitalism and
towards empathy offers tangiblelong-term benefits.
Talent retention.
Developers stay longer and bringtheir best creativity when they
feel respected.
(15:00):
Player trust.
Franchises grow when playersfeel valued instead of
exploited.
Innovation.
Healthy, supportive teams takemore creative risks, leading to
breakthrough titles.
Stability.
Studios rooted in empathyweather market fluctuations more
effectively.
Reputation.
Empathetic studios buildpositive reputations that
(15:20):
attract both talent andinvestment.
Empathy is not charity, it'ssmart leadership.
Final thoughts.
Reimagining the future of thegame industry.
Video game industry is at atipping point.
We can continue down the road oflate game capitalism,
prioritizing extraction andprofit at the expense of people.
Or we can choose empathy.
(15:41):
We can build studios thatrespect developers, honor
players, and create sustainableecosystems that thrive for
decades.
What the game industry needs nowis clear, a lot more empathy,
and a lot less late-gamecapitalism.
Leaders hold the power to makethe shift real.
By redefining success,prioritizing well-being,
involving developers indecisions, and respecting
(16:02):
players, leaders can chart a newcourse.
A healthier, more sustainableindustry is possible, but only
if empathy becomes the guidingprinciple.
The future of the game industryis not just about technology or
markets.
It's about people, and peopledeserve better.
Alright, and that's this week'sepisode of the Press Start
Leadership Podcast.
(16:22):
Thanks for listening, and asalways, thanks for being
awesome.
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