Welcome to The Business of Games Podcast, brought to you by Xsolla.

In this Extended Cut, host Lia Ballentine talks with Mark Long, veteran producer, investor, and CEO of Villain Studios, about how indie developers can thrive in an increasingly crowded market and why the future of Web3 depends on making it invisible.

With experience at HBO, Microsoft, and as former CEO of Shrapnel, Mark shares a modern indie playbook built around ownership, community, and smart planning. He explains why developers should control their launch strategies, focus on meaningful player connections, and treat blockchain as background infrastructure rather than the story itself.

Across the discussion, Mark shares insights on:

• Building direct-to-player funnels and owning your launch
• Focusing on wishlist quality, not just quantity
• Sequencing storefronts to build lasting momentum
• Using Web3 as invisible infrastructure to enhance player trust
• Applying AI responsibly while keeping creative work human

Whether you're launching your first game or exploring new technologies, this episode offers practical guidance for building games and communities that last.

For more insights and resources, visit xsolla.com/podcast. Want to join the conversation? Follow and comment on our LinkedIn page at The Business of Games Podcast. That’s where we’ll be sharing updates, highlights, and continuing the discussion. And don’t forget to subscribe, rate, review, and share the podcast with friends who want to learn more about the business of games.

Welcome to The Business of Games Podcast, brought to you by Xsolla.

In this episode, hosts Chris Hewish and Lia Ballentine move from definitions to deployment. Part 1 explained what Web3 is. Part 2 asks how it’s actually being used in games today and explores what’s working, what’s failing, and why.

Joining us are two returning guests on the front lines. David Kim, a publishing and marketing leader who’s advised studios on blockchain and Web3 strategy, and Mark Long, CEO of Villain Studios and former CEO of Shrapnel, one of the first AAA Web3 game studios.

Together, they help unpack the messy middle between promise and practice. From Axie Infinity’s boom and bust to CS2, Roblox, and Fortnite as proof that digital ownership already drives real economies, we explore what early Web3 experiments got right and wrong.

You’ll hear how smart contracts could unlock new revenue through secondary sales, how player governance and community tokens are reshaping engagement, and how Web3 can open funding doors for indies. But we’ll also confront the friction that’s holding it all back: wallet UX, gas fees, trust deficits, and player skepticism after the hype.

By the end, we set up what’s next. If this is Web3’s reality, still rough around the edges but inching forward, what happens when the tech fades into the background and the games come first?

What you’ll learn:

• What early Web3 games taught us about hype vs. sustainability
• How digital ownership parallels existing in-game economies
• Where studios can capture value through smart-contract royalties and community co-creation
• Why wallets, UX, and trust remain the biggest blockers
• How “invisible” Web3 design could finally make it mainstream

Let’s get into it.

For more insights and resources, visit xsolla.com/podcast. Want to join the conversation? Follow and comment on our LinkedIn page at The Business of Games Podcast. That’s where we’ll be sharing updates, highlights, and continuing the discussion. And don’t forget to subscribe, rate, review, and share the podcast with friends who want to learn more about the business of games.

Welcome to The Business of Games Podcast, brought to you by Xsolla.

In this Extended Cut episode, host Lia Ballentine sits down with David Kim, a publishing and marketing leader and advisor in the Web3 space, for a deep-dive conversation about the realities of blockchain, digital ownership, and the economics shaping the next phase of gaming.

Web3 has been called everything from the future of player ownership to a passing fad. But beneath the hype is a real question: how can this technology actually make games and game businesses better?

David argues that the most meaningful innovations aren’t technical, but legal and economic. By moving ownership records from proprietary servers to public ledgers, studios can avoid becoming middlemen, legitimize gray-market trading, and open new models of trust between players and developers.

Across the discussion, David breaks down:

• The evolution from proof-of-work to proof-of-stake and why that shift finally made blockchain viable for games
• How NFTs and public ledgers can serve as verifiable receipts, solving long-standing issues of fraud, resale, and player rights
• Why Web3 isn’t a product but a toolkit and how studios can use it to build better economies and communities, not just speculation
• The pitfalls of “gamified DeFi” and what early failures teach us about designing sustainable play-to-own systems
• How regulation and clarity, from initiatives like the Clarity Act, could unlock mainstream adoption by reducing legal friction for both players and studios

Whether you’re a developer curious about tokenized economies or a marketer exploring new player engagement tools, this conversation demystifies what’s next for digital ownership and how to approach it without losing sight of what matters most: great games.

For more insights and resources, visit xsolla.com/podcast. Want to join the conversation? Follow and comment on our LinkedIn page at The Business of Games Podcast. That’s where we’ll be sharing updates, highlights, and continuing the discussion. And don’t forget to subscribe, rate, review, and share the podcast with friends who want to learn more about the business of games.

Welcome to The Business of Games Podcast, brought to you by Xsolla.

In today’s episode, Xsolla’s Chris Hewish and Lia Ballentine kick off a three-part series on Web3 and gaming, cutting through hype and backlash to explain what the tech actually does for players and studios.

For decades, digital items lived inside walled gardens. Players acted like owners anyway by trading, reselling, and modding in gray markets that created value but invited fraud and frustration. Web3 introduces tools that could legitimize those behaviors: blockchains for transparent ownership, NFTs as verifiable receipts, tokens as programmable currencies, wallets that travel with players, and smart contracts that automate royalties and rules.

Joining us are two guests on the front lines. David Kim, a publishing and marketing leader and Web3 advisor, explains that the real unlock is legal and economic clarity, preventing studios from being forced into being middlemen. And Mark Long, CEO of Villain Studios and former CEO of SHRAPNEL, argues that Web3 should be invisible “plumbing” with no wallet friction, no jargon. Just secure provenance behind fun-first games.

Together, we explore why early projects stumbled (speculation-first design, clunky onboarding, rug pulls, and environmental concerns), what regulations like the Clarity Act could change, and how a shared-economy model might reward developers, creators, and players without compromising the game.

From defining core concepts to separating signal from noise, this episode lays the groundwork for understanding Web3’s real potential in the business of games and what needs to improve before it earns players’ trust.

Whether you’re a studio founder, product lead, or marketer, you’ll leave with a clear vocabulary, cautionary lessons from P2E and “metaverse land,” and practical criteria for evaluating Web3 features that actually enhance gameplay.

Let’s get into it.

For more insights and resources, visit xsolla.com/podcast. Want to join the conversation? Follow and comment on our LinkedIn page at The Business of Games Podcast. That’s where we’ll be sharing updates, highlights, and continuing the discussion. And don’t forget to subscribe, rate, review, and share the podcast with friends who want to learn more about the business of games.

Welcome to The Business of Games Podcast, brought to you by Xsolla.

In this extended cut, host Chris Hewish sits down with Olivier Perbet, Chief Marketing and Revenue Officer at IO Interactive (IOI), to explore how LiveOps transformed Hitman from a boxed release into a living platform and what that means for the future of AAA publishing.

From his early career at Disney and Warner Bros. to guiding IOI through independence, Olivier shares how storytelling, player connection, and rapid iteration have shaped both his path and the studio’s evolution. He reflects on why ownership of IP like Hitman mattered, how IOI is preparing to bring 007: First Light to a new generation of players, and why not every game needs to chase live service to succeed.

We dive into:

• Olivier’s journey from licensing at Disney to leading marketing and revenue at IO Interactive
• How IOI used LiveOps to sustain engagement between Hitman titles and build toward a trilogy
• Why designing for rapid iteration is the key to successful LiveOps
• The impact of celebrity collaborations and cultural partnerships in expanding audiences
• Why independence gave IOI the agility to experiment and how that shaped their approach to 007: First Light
• The balance between engaging Gen Z and Gen Alpha without alienating longtime fans
• Why LiveOps should be a pillar, not an afterthought, and how studios can decide if it’s right for them

Whether you’re an indie founder, a AAA leader, or simply fascinated by the business shifts redefining games, this conversation offers a candid look at the lessons and strategies behind one of the industry’s most iconic stealth franchises.

Let’s get into it.

For more insights and resources, visit xsolla.com/podcast. Want to join the conversation? Follow and comment on our LinkedIn page at The Business of Games Podcast. That’s where we’ll be sharing updates, highlights, and continuing the discussion. And don’t forget to subscribe, rate, review, and share the podcast with friends who want to learn more about the business of games.

Welcome to The Business of Games Podcast, brought to you by Xsolla.

In this extended cut, host Lia Ballentine sits down with Jenny Xu, founder and CEO of Talofa Games, for a wide-ranging conversation about designing for Gen Z, turning fitness into fun, and why building in public matters more than chasing polish.

Jenny’s story is one of creativity, resilience, and rethinking the rules. From drawing Neopets fan art on DeviantArt as a kid, to pitching VCs after teaching a virtual fitness class, to launching Run Legends and Monster Walk, Jenny has forged her own path in games. Along the way, she’s had to navigate skepticism, imposter syndrome, and investor pressure, while staying true to her vision of games as systems that improve lives.

We dive into:

• Jenny’s journey from anime fan and Pokémon collector to Forbes 30 Under 30 game founder
• How Talofa prototyped five different fitness games then let community feedback decide which to build
• The balance between delighting “power users” and welcoming new players
• Why Gen Z values authenticity, scrappy iteration, and community-first design
• How success is measured not just in revenue, but in steps walked, habits formed, and lives changed
• The role of LiveOps in keeping Monster Walk fresh, from simulated Discord events to real-time tuning

Whether you’re a founder, a product lead, or simply curious about where the next generation of games is headed, you’ll come away with a deeper understanding of how Gen Z thinks about play and how Jenny Xu is building games that move both hearts and bodies.

Let’s get into it.

For more insights and resources, visit xsolla.com/podcast. Want to join the conversation? Follow and comment on our LinkedIn page at The Business of Games Podcast. That’s where we’ll be sharing updates, highlights, and continuing the discussion. And don’t forget to subscribe, rate, review, and share the podcast with friends who want to learn more about the business of games.

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 the generation reshaping how games are made, marketed, and monetized: Gen Z.

For decades, the industry operated on a one-way model: studios built games, players bought them, and marketing ran through TV spots and conventions. But Gen Z grew up in a different reality. For them, games are living social platforms, and the line between player and creator has all but disappeared.

Joining us is Jenny Xu, founder and CEO of Talofa Games, who shares first-hand insights into designing for a generation that values authenticity over polish, community over campaigns, and participation over passive play. Plus, Xsolla’s Joe Pierpont brings data-driven perspective, with stats on how Gen Z is discovering games through creators instead of ads, spending more on cosmetics than older players, and prioritizing identity, creativity, and community over competition.

Together, we explore how Gen Z’s cultural touchstones, from Neopets to Pokémon to Undertale, are shaping the next wave of game design, and why traditional strategies may no longer cut it.

From building games in public and co-creating with communities to rethinking monetization around self-expression, this episode examines how studios can win Gen Z’s loyalty in an era of endless choice.

Whether you’re a marketer, product lead, or studio founder, you’ll come away with practical insights into what it really takes to build for this generation and why understanding them may be the most important move you can make in the business of games.

Let’s get into it.

For more insights and resources, visit xsolla.com/podcast. Want to join the conversation? Follow and comment on our LinkedIn page at The Business of Games Podcast. That’s where we’ll be sharing updates, highlights, and continuing the discussion. And don’t forget to subscribe, rate, review, and share the podcast with friends who want to learn more about the business of games.

LiveOps is no longer a backstage scramble. It’s a growth strategy.

In this episode of The Business of Games: Extended Cut, host Chris Hewish sits down with Tim Kravchenko, veteran LiveOps producer and product manager at Xsolla, to explore how LiveOps has transformed into the heartbeat of modern games.

From Guinness World Record concurrency attempts to AI-driven campaign orchestration, Tim shares lessons from more than a decade of running global LiveOps, highlighting what works, what doesn’t, and what’s next.

You’ll hear about:

• How LiveOps evolved from a support function to a core business driver
• Why emotion and “the right moment” matter more than perfect pricing
• The pitfalls of spreadsheet-driven LiveOps (and how new tools solve them)
• How localization and cultural nuance shape global campaigns
• Why the future of LiveOps lies in player-created quests and streaming integrations

If you’re a studio lead, product manager, or monetization strategist, this conversation offers tactical insights for building LiveOps systems that scale and drive real business results.

For more insights and resources, visit xsolla.com/podcast. Want to join the conversation? Follow and comment on our LinkedIn page at The Business of Games Podcast. That’s where we’ll be sharing updates, highlights, and continuing the discussion. And don’t forget to subscribe, rate, review, and share the podcast with friends who want to learn more about the business of games.

Welcome to The Business of Games podcast, brought to you by Xsolla.

In this special episode, host Lia Ballentine sits down with Chris Hewish, President of Xsolla, who has just returned from the world’s biggest gaming event: Gamescom. This time, Chris takes the guest chair to share his firsthand takeaways from the show floor, giving us a unique insider’s perspective on the industry’s most important trends.

From direct-to-player monetization and AI breakthroughs, to the balancing act between indie creativity and blockbuster spectacle, Gamescom 2025 offered a front-row seat to the future of gaming. Along the way, you’ll hear live soundbites from the industry voices Chris spoke with on the ground and get a true pulse check on where the business of games is headed next.

Whether you’re a studio founder, platform strategist, or simply curious about what Gamescom signals for the year ahead, this episode delivers your executive summary of the winners, risks, and next bets shaping the business of games.

Let’s get into it.

For more insights and resources, visit xsolla.com/podcast. Want to join the conversation? Follow and comment on our LinkedIn page at The Business of Games Podcast. That’s where we’ll be sharing updates, highlights, and continuing the discussion. And don’t forget to subscribe, rate, review, and share the podcast with friends who want to learn more about the business of games.

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 the engine that keeps modern games alive long after launch: LiveOps.

Once dismissed as duct-taped events and last-minute patches, LiveOps has become one of the most powerful growth drivers in the industry, fueling player retention, personalization, and revenue. As acquisition costs climb and competition intensifies, studios are realizing that sustainable success depends on more than content drops. It requires orchestration, strategy, and systems that scale.

Joining us are two leaders shaping the future of LiveOps: Tim Kravchenko, Xsolla’s expert in monetization and campaign design, and Jenny Xu, CEO of Talofa Games, whose titles like Run Legends and Monster Walk turn real-world activity into in-game power. Together, they share lessons on balancing first-time players and power users, moving beyond spreadsheets, and building LiveOps that drive both outcomes and impact.

From AI-driven segmentation and churn prevention to the creative challenge of designing meaningful, player-first experiences, this episode explores what happens when LiveOps stops being reactive and starts being strategic.

Plus, gain quick insights into the metrics and tactics that prove how much the right LiveOps stack can drive results for modern studios.

Whether you’re a product lead, monetization strategist, or studio founder, this episode will give you real-world examples, insights, and tactical advice for turning LiveOps into a true growth engine.

Let’s get into it.

For more insights and resources, visit xsolla.com/podcast. Want to join the conversation? Follow and comment on our LinkedIn page at The Business of Games Podcast. That’s where we’ll be sharing updates, highlights, and continuing the discussion. And don’t forget to subscribe, rate, review, and share the podcast with friends who want to learn more about the business of games.