From Far Cry to Indie Games: the Future of Game Development | Phil O'Connor
ABOUT Phil:
Phil O'Connor is a veteran game designer with nearly 30 years of experience creating some of the industry's best-known titles, including Far Cry 3, Rainbow Six Siege, Dying Light, and numerous other AAA games. Today, he's the co-founder of Big Dumb Games, where he's helping build the next generation of indie games through original projects like Starship Bloopers, combining decades of experience with a passion for creative independence.
Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:
Why Phil left AAA development to co-found Big Dumb Games
The biggest differences between AAA and indie game development
Why so many veteran developers are starting independent studios
The hidden realities behind massive AAA budgets
What today's game publishers misunderstand about creative risk
Why authenticity matters more than ever in game design
Building Starship Bloopers from concept to prototype
The importance of community building before launching a game
The future of Steam, indie publishing, and game discovery
The opportunities and challenges facing modern game developers
Phil's perspective on AI, creativity, and the future of interactive entertainment
Advice for aspiring game designers entering today's industry
In This Episode…
Carl sits down with Phil O'Connor, veteran game designer, co-founder of Big Dumb Games, and designer behind titles including Far Cry 3, Rainbow Six Siege, and Dying Light. After nearly three decades in AAA game development, Phil shares why he's betting on indie development, what today's gaming industry gets wrong, and why creativity, authenticity, and smaller teams may shape the future of games.
Together they explore the collapse of traditional AAA development models, why independent studios are thriving, how creativity and business intersect in modern game development, and what it really takes to launch a successful game today. They also discuss AI in creative industries, the realities of game funding, building communities before products, and why passion remains the most valuable asset any creator can have.
Resources Mentioned in this episode:
📕The Craft and Science of Game Design: A Video Game Designer's Manual
Sponsor for this episode...
This episode is brought to you by Epic Made.
Epic Made creates entertainment-quality animation, digital art, and graphic design to elevate brands and build fandom.
We are a collective of senior-level artists across multiple disciplines, producing trailers, key art, social campaigns, branded storytelling, and motion systems for entertainment, gaming, and pop culture brands. Our work has supported major networks and studios, including SYFY and Nickelodeon.
To learn more, visit www.epicmade.net or email hey@getepicmade.com.
If this episode resonated with you, share it with someone who would find value in the conversation