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
Web3 & Games Part 3: Building What Comes Next
Welcome to The Business of Games Podcast, brought to you by Xsolla.
In this episode, hosts Chris Hewish and Lia Ballentine close out our three-part series on Web3 in games. Part 1 explored the promise. Part 2 confronted the chaos. Now, in Part 3, we look ahead and ask what happens if the industry finally gets Web3 right.
Joining us are Brian Murphy, Head of Gaming and GTM at AppsFlyer, and Arron Goolsbey, COO at Mythical Games, who are two leaders shaping Web3’s second act.
Together, they unpack how the next generation of blockchain games is being rebuilt: more scalable, more seamless, and more player-first. From invisible infrastructure to better onboarding, we explore how developers can make ownership meaningful, reduce friction, and rebuild trust after the hype.
You’ll hear why scalability and adoption were the “two boss fights” that broke early Web3, how invisible systems can make blockchain feel as natural as multiplayer or cloud saves, and what happens when interoperability finally lets digital items, and player progress, travel freely between worlds.
By the end, we lay out the roadmap for a smarter, more sustainable Web3: one where players don’t think about the tech at all. They just play.
What you’ll learn:
- Why scalability and adoption are Web3’s biggest hurdles
- How early Web3 models confused speculation with participation
- What “invisible infrastructure” really means for game design
- How ownership and interoperability can boost player loyalty
- Why Web3’s future depends on fairness, not decentralization
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.
