S2 E12 Bonus Episode Title: Making Sense of a Chaotic 2026 in Game Dev
This double bonus episode cross-references insights from all 22 veterans from Seasons 1 and 2 against the most recent developments in 2026 to tell the story of how the games industry got here, and how the games industry might learn from the diamonds in the rough to find our way back to thriving.
Industry analysts underpredicted this year’s crop of video game layoffs, despite consumer spending in the US hitting the second highest ever level in 2025. What’s the solution? Well, it’s a little bit of everything we’ve been talking about for the past two seasons on Enduring Play. In this retrospective, host, creator, and game dev Cheryl Platz weaves together insights from 22 varied industry veterans to tell a story about how we got here, where we’re going, and what you, as a game developer who’s affected, can do about it. And as a bonus, get a peek at the start of Season 3, coming soon in a new biweekly format with an exciting lineup of guests across development, publishing, finance, community, and academia.
Topics include: games as a service platforms, user experience as a transformative force in games, the renewal of classic gaming aesthetics, reclaiming the “gamer” tag, the enduring power of prosocial play, the real state of the industry in 2026, supporting each other in crisis, creating immersive worlds using authentic representation, slowing down to speed up in production, the motivators of play, and reflections on finding a thriving path forward.
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Episode Transcript
Featured in this Episode
Featuring insights from all 22 Season 1 and Season 2 veterans from a variety of disciplines across the industry: Celia Hodent, PhD (UX Strategist), Carlos Figueiredo (Director, Trust and Safety), Amy Kalson (Executive Design Producer), David Ventura (Creative Director), Whitney Beltrán (Independent Narrative Designer), Eric Kabisch (Former VP of Design), Caerie Houchins (Chief Technology Officer), Joe “joemag” Magdalena (Senior Game Designer), Tamara Knoss (Senior Techical UI Artist), Yesenia Cisneros (Senior Producer), Joanie Kraut (CEO), Adanna Nedd (Independent Researcher), Steve Bromley (User Experience Researcher), Cristina Amaya (Events Manager), Tim Cullings (Executive Director), Amy White (Director of People), Jo Cronk (Technical Design Instructor), Timothy Staton-Davis (Technical Cultural Game Designer), Cory Tsang (Lead Producer), Desirée Rincón (Head of Brand Strategy), Lindsay Barnett (CEO), James Deighan (CEO) and a preview of a Season 3 interview with Christopher “Mav” Maverick, PhD (Assistant Teaching Professor).
Show Notes
Episode Outline
| Scene | Time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Podcast Start | 2:16 | Introduction |
| Demo level | 2:21 | Video games as an escape from the big game |
| Tutorial level | 7:28 | Defining live service |
| Level 1 | 10:42 | The big platforms in play |
| Level 2 | 14:52 | The transformative power of UX in games |
| Tutorial level | 15:31 | PvE vs PvP |
| Level 3 | 22:15 | The renewed relevance of classic gaming aesthetics |
| Tutorial level | 28:28 | PC data duplication |
| Level 4 | 29:53 | Reclaiming the gamer tag |
| Level 5 | 39:27 | The enduring power of prosocial play |
| Level 6 | 46:36 | The real state of the industry in 2026 |
| Tutorial level | 55:31 | Leveraged buyouts |
| Level 7 | 59:16 | Supporting each other in crisis |
| Level 8 | 1:04:28 | Creating immersive worlds using authentic representation |
| Level 9 | 1:12:03 | Slowing down to speed up |
| Level 10 | 1:21:30 | Drawing inspiration from the motivators of play |
| Boss Level | 1:28:19 | Finding the thriving path forward |
| Closing | 1:32:20 | Links and followup |
Supporting Links
Games Mentioned
Mentions are not an endorsement. Some games may be for mature audiences. Parental discretion is always advised when assessing new games.
The Game Development Strategy Guide
Enduring Play is the companion podcast to The Game Development Strategy Guide: Crafting Modern Video Games that Thrive. Season 1 features the interviews that inspired the book, and Season 2 expands our understanding of how to create sustainable gaming experiences. The book is available at all major online booksellers and at publisher Rosenfeld Media’s website.
Use code ENDURINGPLAYS2 at RosenfeldMedia.com to get 15% off your order – and all physical orders at Rosenfeld Media receive a free ebook. Podcast Bonus Episode offer expires December 15, 2026.
DISCOUNT CODE
ENDURINGPLAYS2026
