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 from top executives inside studios and strategic partners across the ecosystem who are uncovering the ideas, tactics, and trends shaping tomorrow’s opportunities.
Whether you’re launching your first game or scaling a global studio, you’ll find practical strategies, future-forward thinking, and real-world examples you can act on right away.
The Business of Games is brought to you by Xsolla, your strategic partner behind the scenes. We bring together “All the Things” to help you simplify operations, unlock new revenue, reach more players, and launch fast.
Visit xsolla.com to learn more, connect with our team, and access all the things you need to level up your business of play. Want to join the conversation? Follow and comment on our LinkedIn page at The Business of Games Podcast, 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 and colleagues who want to learn more about the business of games.
The Business of Games
A sustainable framework for Web3 games: insights from AppsFlyer’s Brian Murphy
Welcome to The Business of Games Podcast, brought to you by Xsolla.
In this Extended Cut, host Lia Ballentine talks with Brian Murphy, Head of Gaming and GTM at AppsFlyer, about how the first wave of Web3 games went from hype to hard lessons and what a more practical, sustainable future might look like.
A long-time gamer and early crypto adopter, Brian reflects on his journey from the early days of Ethereum to today’s more measured view of blockchain’s role in gaming. He explains how speculation and complexity slowed progress, and why the next generation of developers is focusing on making games fun first, with ownership and transparency built in.
Across the discussion, Brian and Lia explore:
- Why early Web3 games struggled to retain players
- How “Web 2.5” models combine traditional and blockchain economies
- Lessons from Upland and Mythical Games
- Why having an in-game economist matters
- The challenges of measuring engagement in a decentralized world
- How simpler systems and interoperability could speed adoption
- Why major publishers may acquire Web3 studios to expand their reach
Whether you’re curious about blockchain or already experimenting with it, this episode unpacks what’s real, what’s next, and how Web3 can find its footing in the business of 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.
