The Business of Games: Strategy, Web3, and Success | Chris Hewish
ABOUT Chris:
Chris Hewish is a gaming industry executive, strategist, and business leader with more than two decades of experience spanning game development, publishing, technology, and global business operations. Throughout his career, he has worked with organizations including Games Workshop, Activision, DreamWorks, and Xsolla, helping companies connect creativity with commercial success while building products and platforms that serve millions of players worldwide.
Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:
How Chris landed his first job in gaming
Why passion can outweigh experience
Transitioning from tabletop games to video games
The difference between game development and publishing
Building a career on the business side of gaming
Why direct player relationships matter
The future of game commerce and digital ownership
What Xsolla does for game developers
Why great games still fail
The realities of Web3 and blockchain gaming
Balancing creativity with business strategy
Advice for aspiring game industry professionals
In This Episode…
Carl sits down with Chris Hewish, gaming industry executive, strategist, and business leader whose career spans companies including Games Workshop, Activision, DreamWorks, and Xsolla. From starting in the mailroom at Games Workshop with an unforgettable Warhammer-inspired application letter to helping shape global game publishing, monetization, and platform strategies, Chris shares a unique perspective on how creativity and commerce work together to build successful games.
Together, they explore the evolving business of gaming, direct-to-consumer strategies, player engagement, game publishing, Web3, blockchain technology, and why the industry is entering one of its most transformative periods. Chris breaks down how developers can build stronger relationships with players, why ownership of customer relationships matters, and how emerging technologies may reshape game economies in the years ahead.
The conversation also dives into entrepreneurship, creative leadership, passion-driven careers, and the importance of balancing art and business. Along the way, Chris shares lessons learned from decades in gaming and offers insights for developers, creators, and business leaders looking to navigate the future of interactive entertainment.
Whether you're a game developer, entrepreneur, publisher, marketer, investor, or lifelong gamer, this episode provides valuable perspective on where the industry has been and where it's heading next.
Resources Mentioned in this episode:
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