Best GamesIndustry Podcasts (2024)

1
GI Microcast | Solving the skills crisis, and Fallout's fame 33:53

1h ago33:53

33:53

Welcome to the weekly GI Microcast giving you the latest in video games news. Join James Batchelor and Chris Dring where they give you their take on the biggest stories in video games. Never miss an episode and subscribe to the GI Microcast on all Podcasting platforms and YouTube. Join them every Monday for more video games news. This week, James a…

1
GI Microcast | BAFTA Games Awards bring some much-needed positivity 23:59

3d ago23:59

23:59

Welcome to the weekly GI Microcast giving you the latest in video games news. Join James Batchelor and Chris Dring where they give you their take on the biggest stories in video games. Never miss an episode and subscribe to the GI Microcast on all Podcasting platforms and YouTube. Join them every Monday for more video games news. This week, Chris a…

1
GI Microcast | What next for Xbox, Gearbox and Relic? 27:26

21d ago27:26

27:26

Welcome to the weekly GI Microcast giving you the latest in video games news. Join James Batchelor and Chris Dring where they give you their take on the biggest stories in video games. Never miss an episode and subscribe to the GI Microcast on all podcasting platforms and YouTube. Join them every Monday for more video games news. This week, we disc…

1
Microcast: GDC 2024, PS5 Pro and more 29:51

24d ago29:51

29:51

The GamesIndustry.biz Microcast dives into the biggest stories across the business of video games from the past week. This week, Chris Dring returns from San Francisco to bring us a better sense of the mood at GDC and how it reflects what's happening in the industry, as well as some of the more interesting things he learned around the conference. S…

1
Microcast: Embracer sells Saber, Sony stumbles with PSVR 2 39:30

1M ago39:30

39:30

The GamesIndustry.biz Microcast takes a quick dive into the biggest stories from the business of video games over the past week. This week, editor-in-chief James Batchelor is joined by staff writer Jeffrey Rousseau, who makes his Microcast debut while regular co-host Chris Dring is attending GDC 2024. The discussion begins with a look at Embracer G…

1
Microsoft: Apple's losing battle against the EU 32:30

1M ago32:30

32:30

The GamesIndustry.biz Microcast is a weekly podcast with Chris Dring and James Batchelor offering a quick dive into the biggest stories from across the business of video games. This week, we discuss Apple's short-lived ban on Epic Games' developer account, which would have prevented both the return of Fortnite to iOS and the launch of Epic's app st…

1
Microcast: Remedy takes Control (of our podcast) 38:28

2M ago38:28

38:28

The GamesIndustry.biz Microcast offers a quick look at the biggest stories from the business of video games every Monday. This week, Chris Dring and James Batchelor are joined by Remedy communications director Thomas Puha, who talks to us about the studio reclaiming the publishing rights of Control, the success of Alan Wake 2, and the challenges of…

1
Microcast: Game announcements and data deficiencies 26:02

2M ago26:02

26:02

Welcome to the weekly GI Microcast giving you the latest in video games news. Join James Batchelor and Chris Dring where they give you their take on the biggest stories in video games. Never miss an episode and subscribe to the GI Microcast on all Podcasting platforms and YouTube. Join them every Monday for more video games news. This week, we disc…

1
Microcast: A tough week for games consoles 25:49

2M ago25:49

25:49

Chris Dring and James Batchelor take a look at the biggest stories from the business of video games in the last week. We start by discussing Xbox's announcement of four first-party titles coming to other platforms, as well as Microsoft's wider games strategy, before delving into PlayStation's latest financials, the challenges it faces and the revel…

1
Houdini in Action - 80 Level Podcast 25:45

2M ago25:45

25:45

Ian Smith, CG Supervisor at SideFX walks us through Project Pegasus (learning tech demo showcasing Houdini workflows with Unreal Engine 5). Explore non-destructive, procedural content generation in gamedev and how different tools can be used to create detailed open-world environments. Ian talks about software strengths and emphasizes how indie deve…

1
Microcast: Xbox games on PlayStation? 25:49

3M ago25:49

25:49

James Batchelor and Chris Dring discuss the biggest news from the past week. The main topic this week is the recent rumours that Microsoft may bring key first-party exclusives such as Starfield and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle to other platforms, including PlayStation 5. We talk about Microsoft's history of exploring 'rival' platforms, and wh…

1
Cooking Food in 3D - 80 Level Podcast 27:45

3M ago27:45

27:45

Designated digital chef Patrick Foley (PATRICK_4D) takes us to his kitchen. He shares interesting facts about a unique niche in digital art - photorealistic food renders, and delves into the importance of lighting, texture, and why choosing a specialty can supercharge your career. Patrick also discusses how he builds his brand with social media and…

1
Microcast: Apple's EU changes and Microsoft layoffs 28:53

3M ago28:53

28:53

GamesIndustry.biz's James Batchelor and Chris Dring discuss the biggest stories of the past week. First, we discuss the Eidos Montreal layoffs and the cancellation of a new Deus Ex title, as well as the implications for the future of this franchise - and many of the other franchises, such as fan favourite (and Chris favourite) TimeSplitters, whose …

1
Microcast: Up to two years of pain, and subscriptions vs ownership 29:05

3M ago29:05

29:05

Chris Dring and James Batchelor discuss some of the biggest stories about the business of video games from the past week. This week's Microcast kicks off with Chris' report on the industry bracing itself for further difficult times, with investors, publishers and developers expecting up to two years of closures, changes to the release schedule and …

1
Time Travel with VFX - 80 Level Podcast 26:50

3M ago26:50

26:50

Trent Claus, VFX supervisor from Lola Visual Effects joined our podcast. Learn about the complex process of creating realistic aging effects for characters in major films: from the challenges of preserving actors' unique features to the intricacies of the facial anatomy. Trent shares fascinating insights into the evolution of VFX and how AI is shap…

1
Microcast: AI voice acting and too many games 22:21

3M ago22:21

22:21

James Batchelor and Chris Dring once again discuss some of the biggest stories from the past week, including the divisive agreement between union SAG-AFTRA and AI voice tech firm Replica Studios to use AI voice acting in video games. The discussion inevitably extends to the broader implications of AI, including Steam's revised policies that will al…

1
Microcast: Layoffs and AI debates kick off 2024 21:58

3M ago21:58

21:58

Chris Dring and James Batchelor return with our weekly dive into the biggest news stories from the business of video games. 2024 has barely started and the ongoing trend of layoffs across the games industry continues. We discuss some of the wider factors that are driving this, and what else we can expect in the year ahead. We also discuss recent st…

1
Art vs. Technology? - 80 Level Podcast 30:51

4M ago30:51

30:51

Scott Eaton, multi-disciplinary artist & creative technologist, joins 80 Level Podcast. We discuss machine learning, its impact on human creativity, and the limitations & potentials of AI-generated content in gamedev. Scott shares his thoughts on future changes and possibilities for artists in the gaming world and tries to find a balance between ar…

1
Games of the Year 2023 1:14:18

4M ago1:14:18

1:14:18

For our final podcast of the year, The GamesIndustry.biz team gathers around their mics to discuss their favourite games of the past twelve months. You may well have read our extended thoughts in our Games of the Year articles, and this conversation wraps things up, as well as gives some nods to our honourable mentions. From the relaxing trials of …

1
2023 in review 1:03:55

4M ago1:03:55

1:03:55

The GamesIndustry.biz team gathers around their mics to reflect on the past year, as well as the biggest stories and trends we've covered. The discussion inevitably begins with the waves of layoffs we've seen throughout 2023, and what they say about both the state of the industry and what we can expect in 2024. We also discuss the debate around usi…

1
Microcast: GTA 6 reveal, The Game Awards 2023 27:23

4M ago27:23

27:23

Chris Dring and James Batchelor discuss the biggest stories of the past week, on (potentially) our final Microcast of 2023. Today's discussion begins with the reveal of Grand Theft Auto 6, from the changes at Rockstar since GTA 5 to the sales expectations and potential impact the game will have on 2024 and 2025, plus our own thoughts on this first …

1
Rules of Open World Game Design - 80 Level Podcast 47:05

5M ago47:05

47:05

Join 80 Level Podcast for a deep dive into game design with Jamie Smith, Principal Game Designer at People Can Fly. We discuss the core principles that make open world games stand out. Jamie shares how to design captivating gameplay mechanics, maintain player engagement, and balance form and function. If you're a game developer or simply fascinated…

1
Microcast: Game Pass on rival consoles, Microsoft's mobile store 25:05

5M ago25:05

25:05

Chris Dring and James Batchelor discuss the biggest stories of the past week, starting with the mixed messages over whether Xbox Game Pass is heading to Nintendo and PlayStation consoles. While Xbox CFO Tim Stuart said last week that this is part of the company's long-term strategy (echoing comments from Xbox boss Phil Spencer five years ago), Spen…

1
Mastering Unreal Engine with YouTube Tutorials - 80 Level Podcast 43:19

5M ago43:19

43:19

William Faucher, 3D Generalist & Unreal Engine Mentor joined 80 Level Podcast. We discuss all-things Unreal Engine and the best ways to master it. William talks about his career journey & YouTube experience, and gives valuable advice for aspiring 3D artists on honing skills, choosing the right software, and understanding the evolving gamedev landsc…

1
Microcast: Embracer restructure, the value of games, PlayStation Portal 27:04

5M ago27:04

27:04

On our latest Microcast, James Batchelor and Chris Dring discuss the fallout of Embracer Group's ongoing restructure, as revealed by its recent financial results that confirmed over 900 people were laid off in the space of three months. We discuss the strategy that led directly to Embracer's struggles, as well as whether these issues are a sign of …

1
Microcast: Grand Theft Auto 6 reveal dated, Modern Warfare 3 development woes? 21:24

5M ago21:24

21:24

The GamesIndustry.biz Microcast returns, bringing you a digestible dose of the biggest news and analysis from the business of video games. On this episode, James Batchelor and Christopher Dring discuss the upcoming reveal of Grand Theft Auto 6, and how the development team behind it has changed since the launch of the record-breaking Grand Theft Au…

1
Revolutionizing VFX - 80 Level Podcast 37:05

6M ago37:05

37:05

Nick Seavert, Founder & CEO of JangaFX Software joined 80 Level Podcast. Explore the art and science of visual effects in game development and learn how Nick turned his love for games into building software aimed at empowering game artists and making VFX easier. Stay tuned for an inside look at JangaFX's future plans, where they're venturing into r…

1
All about Gamedev Outsourcing - 80 Level Podcast 35:27

6M ago35:27

35:27

Join us for another episode of 80 Level Podcast. Anna Kozlova, CEO at Room 8 Group, shares her expertise on why outsourcing can be a game-changer, how to retain top talent, and the potential impact of AI on game development. Find out how studios handle workloads and strike a balance between creativity and efficiency. Room 8 website: https://room8st…

1
Mastering Blender for Epic 3D Modeling - 80 Level Podcast 36:30

7M ago36:30

36:30

Dive into the world of 3D modeling and video game development as we chat with Josh Gambrell from Blender Bros. Discover how he went from a beginner to an expert in Blender and how you can too. Learn how AI is shaking things up in the industry and how to embrace these changes for success. Check out Josh’s tutorials on YouTube: https://www.youtube.co…

1
Developer’s Journey to Japan and Elden Ring - 80 Level Podcast 41:22

7M ago41:22

41:22

Join us for an exciting peek behind the scenes of Japan's gamedev world with Ben Roach, ex-Level Designer at FromSoftware and now Founder of Upsurge Studios. Ben talks about his experience working on the Elden Ring. We also delve into the magic of Japanese game design, discuss the role of cultural influences, and reveal the secrets that make Japane…

1
Microcast: Xbox leak 21:39

7M ago21:39

21:39

James Batchelor and Chris Dring dive into the implications of this week's Xbox leak - and debate whether the industry truly learned anything of value. Among the revelations discussed are Microsoft targeting 2028 for its next Xbox console, full details of two mid-generation refreshes for Xbox Series X and S that are expected to launch next year, a h…

1
Microcast: Unity Runtime Fee 23:34

7M ago23:34

23:34

James Batchelor and Brendan Sinclair dive into the backlash around Unity's proposed Runtime Fee. As the industry waits for the engine provider's revised plan to charge developers for every install of their game (past certain thresholds), we look at how Unity could have handled both the announcement and the need for more revenue in a different way. …

1
The Art of Lighting - 80 Level Podcast 39:27

8M ago39:27

39:27

Jasmine Katatikarn, 3D Lighting Artist and CEO of the Academy of Animated Art joined 80 Level. Jasmine talks about learning lighting art, technologies, software, and storytelling through light in movies & games. She delves into the job opportunities for artists: what companies are looking for, and how to overcome the stigmatization of art careers a…

1
The battle for October 44:05

8M ago44:05

44:05

The GamesIndustry.biz team gather around their mics and discuss the biggest stories of the past week. We start with a recap of Gamescom Opening Night Live before looking forward to the high-profile hits due for release in the run-up to Christmas - particularly the crowded October slate. Which titles do we expect to do well? Which ones face stiffer …

1
Microcast: Ubisoft enters MS-ABK deal 23:27

8M ago23:27

23:27

On today's GI Microcast, Chris Dring and James Batchelor discuss the latest developments in the ongoing saga that is Microsoft's proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard. This morning it was announced the CMA has fully blocked the original deal, but a modified deal is now undergoing a phase one investigation with the aim to have a final decision…

1
The future of AI | Playable Futures 45:28

8M ago45:28

45:28

In the final episode of this series of the Playable Futures Podcast, Will Freeman chats to Mitu Khandaker, CEO and Co-Founder of mobile studio Glow Up Games, about the impact of AI on games and what they mean for the future of play. The Playable Futures Podcast accompanies Playable Futures, a collection of insights, interviews and articles from glo…

1
Microcast: Xbox Enforcement System, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 24:11

8M ago24:11

24:11

In today's Microcast, we discuss two of the biggest stories of the week. First, we debate Microsoft's newly announced Xbox enforcement system, which will issue 'strikes' to players for violations of its code of conduct ranging from cheating and profanity to harassment and hate speech. Eight strikes earns a one-year suspension, but is the system too…

1
The Power of Music in Games. Unlocking the Secrets of Sound Design - 80 Level Podcast 1:07:06

8M ago1:07:06

1:07:06

Elliot Callighan (CEO and Composer at Unlock Audio) and Krzysztof Chodkiewiczd (Sound Designer and Music Producer at TSHASK) joined 80 Level podcast. Discover why sound design is a crucial element in gaming, enhancing immersion and gameplay satisfaction. Gain insights into the process of creating unique sounds, overcoming challenges, and tailoring …

1
Jo Twist on the power of play | Playable Futures 32:52

9M ago32:52

32:52

After eleven and a half years at UKIE, Jo’s imminent move to the music industry, where she will be serving as CEO of the British Phonographic Industry, felt like an appropriate opportunity to pause and reflect on her tenure and the importance of play. Speaking with us at Develop in Brighton, she explained that play has always encompassed more than …

1
Abbie Willett (Game Designer / Sumo Digital) 1:05:07

9M ago1:05:07

1:05:07

Making the shift from Animation to Game Design This episode, Abbie Willett, a game designer at Sumo Digital, joins us to talk about her experience working on popular titles such as Hitman 2 and Sackboy Adventures. In this episode we discuss: Abbie’s transition into game design from animation Navigating the pressure of working on games with establis…

1
Inside Atari's VR Journey: Nostalgia Meets Innovation - 80 Level Podcast 23:37

9M ago23:37

23:37

In this podcast episode, we join Ethan Stearns (Head of Publishing at Atari) and Ana Ribeiro (Creator of Pixel Ripped), as they delve into the world of VR gaming and their exciting collaboration on Pixel Ripped. Discover the behind-the-scenes insights into Pixel Ripped development, Atari’s partnership with VR creators, and their vision for bringing…

1
Microcast: MS-ABK nears completion 23:19

9M ago23:19

23:19

James Batchelor and Christopher Dring discuss a busy week in the ongoing saga that is Microsoft's proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard. Following the denial of the FTC's preliminary injunction, the denial of its request for an extension to the temporary restraining order, and the denial of its appeal, there is seemingly nothing to stop Micro…

1
Evolve Accreditation Program - Code Coven Special Episode 26:33

9M ago26:33

26:33

Evolving Studios’ Accountability Through DEI Accreditation Today we have the wonderful initiative Code Coven on the show to talk about their new DEI accreditation program, Evolve, which is designed to accredit studios and give them ratings based off of how closely they follow DEI policies and implement them in their work. On the show I have the CEO…

1
From Passion Project to Hit Game: Lessons Learned from Darkest Dungeon - 80 Level Podcast 47:35

10M ago47:35

47:35

In this podcast, Tyler Sigman and Chris Bourassa, Сo-founders of Red Hook Studios, talk about their experience building the sequel to the popular Darkest Dungeon game, and the success behind it. Guests dive into the process of creating DD2, communicating with team members and players, navigating the challenges of crowdfunding & early access, and ma…

1
Playable Futures: The future of mobile 35:02

10M ago35:02

35:02

The latest episode of Playable Futures features a conversation with Deborah Mensah-Bonsu, who is the founder of dmb crew. Her flagship initiative is Games for Good, which focuses on helping studios and the wider industry harness games for social impact. Will and Deborah discuss the opportunity presented by the proliferation of games on mobile to un…

1
Microcast: FTC vs Microsoft 22:45

10M ago22:45

22:45

The GamesIndustry.biz Microcast is back. In today's episode, James Batchelor and Chris Dring reflect on the revelations so far from the court hearing between the Federal Trade Commission and Microsoft over the latter's proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard. As you can tell from our ongoing roundup, it's hard to gauge whether any progress is a…

1
Building a Strong Brand for Indie Games - 80 Level Podcast 39:38

10M ago39:38

39:38

80 Level talked with Alx Preston, Founder and Director of Heart Machine studio (does “Hyper Light Breaker” ring any bells?). Alx talks about games, shares his experience running an indie game studio, and offers insights on community-building efforts, staying true to the core values, and the practical nature of entrepreneurship. He also gives practi…

1
Alyx Jones (Studio Founder / Post Production Lead) 1:00:21

10M ago1:00:21

1:00:21

This episode we sit down with UK-based Game Audio Professional and Silver Script Games Studio Founder, Alyx Jones, known for her work on AAA titles like Elden Ring and Final Fantasy VII Remake. Alyx talks about her journey into games audio, her inspirations for composing, and the challenges of working on a game of Elden Ring's size. She also shares…

1
The highs and lows of Summer Game Fest 2023 42:12

10M ago42:12

42:12

The GamesIndustry.biz team gather around their mics to reflect on this year's cavalcade of video game showcases. We've already shared our favourite indie titles from the likes of Summer Game Fest, Xbox Games Showcase, Day of the Devs, Wholesome Direct and more, while Chris Dring reviewed his experience of the first physical Summer Game Fest event. …

1
Playables Futures: The Future of Women in Games 42:21

10M ago42:21

42:21

Shawne Benson, Global Head of Third Party Portfolio & Acquisitions at Sony Interactive Entertainment and Laila Shabirm, Founder & CEO of Girls Make Games speak to Will Freeman for the latest instalment of our Playable Futures Series. Our eighth outing sees us tackling what continues to be a prominent talking point within the industry - women in gam…

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