Send us a text

In Episode 71 of the DMG Gaming Podcast, Grant Roland and Ed Phillips take a hard look at the state of Western game development in 2025. Once home to genre-defining studios like BioWare, Bethesda, and Blizzard, Western devs are now facing major challenges—studio closures, failed launches, and a loss of creative identity. So what went wrong?

We compare the rise of Eastern studios like FromSoftware and Capcom, explore the impact of publisher pressure, and ask if Western developers can bounce back from years of missed expectations and homogenized design.

🎮 Topics Covered:

• Decline of iconic Western studios
• EA, Activision, and Ubisoft's shifting priorities
• Creative stagnation vs. indie innovation
• How Japan and South Korea are leading in design and polish
• Can the West recover—or has the torch been passed?

⏱️ Timestamps:

1:30 – The fall of Western studios: what triggered it
10:15 – BioWare, Blizzard, and the creative collapse
17:45 – Rise of Japanese devs: FromSoft, Atlus, Capcom
25:20 – The indie rebellion and hope for the future
32:00 – Final thoughts and audience shoutouts

💬 Join the Conversation:

Are Western devs out of touch—or just in transition? Let us know what you think at DMGGamingPodcast.com or on Twitter @DMGGamingPodcast.

🔗 Connect With Us:

🌐 Website: DMGGamingPodcast.com
🐦 Twitter/X: @DMGGamingPodcast