Anjali Bhimani | Good Game Club Live Recording: The power of storytelling in crafting positive communities

Brian Ward | How Games Build Skills, Communities and Careers

In this episode of the Good Game Club Podcast, we sit down with Brian Ward, CEO of Savvy Games Group, to explore how Saudi Arabia is reshaping the future of gaming through Vision 2030. Drawing on three decades of leadership across Electronic Arts, Xbox, Activision and now Savvy, Brian shares insights into building one of the world's most ambitious gaming ecosystems, the rise of esports, the power of gaming communities, and why games are becoming one of the most important platforms for education, economic development and social impact. From Play-to-Learn programmes reaching hundreds of thousands of students to the future of responsible leadership in gaming, this conversation offers a fascinating perspective on where the industry is heading. 00:00 – Welcome & Introducing Brian Ward Brian's background across EA, Xbox, Activision and his move to Savvy Games Group. 01:26 – Vision 2030 & Building Saudi Arabia's Gaming Ecosystem How Savvy fits into Saudi Arabia's national transformation strategy and its ambition to become a global gaming hub. 03:50 – Why Savvy Invested in Esports First The acquisition of ESL FACEIT Group and the role esports plays in building community and engagement. 05:20 – The Rise of Community-Driven Games What Monopoly GO! and live-service games reveal about player behaviour, friendships and long-term engagement. 07:49 – Why Humans Need Play Gaming as a fundamental part of learning, social development and human connection. 10:28 – Demystifying Esports Why professional gaming requires elite skill, and what esports can learn from Formula 1's storytelling. 14:56 – Creating Gaming's Next Generation of Celebrities Why esports players deserve the same recognition as athletes and entertainers. 17:11 – Female Esports Growth in Saudi Arabia Why Saudi Arabia now has one of the highest rates of female professional esports participation. 19:35 – What Parents & Policymakers Need to Understand About Gaming Why modern gaming is fundamentally social, educational and increasingly career-focused. 22:12 – Play to Learn: 700,000 Students Sign Up How game design education is inspiring the next generation of STEM talent. 24:00 – Supporting Indie Developers & The Role of AI Why independent studios remain vital and how AI may help democratise game development. 26:20 – Responsible Leadership in Gaming Building healthy ecosystems, empowering studios and creating long-term industry impact. 30:00 – Games as Career Development How gaming develops transferable skills and why ecosystem-building is Brian's lasting legacy. 33:06 – Favourite Games & Lessons from Space Invaders From Need for Speed to TriPeaks Solitaire—and late-night arcade sessions that lasted until sunrise. 36:06 – The Meaning of Life... Through Games Brian's question for the next Good Game Club guest and reflections on the future of gaming in the Middle East.

George Osborn | Power Play: How Games Shape Culture, Politics and Society

In this episode of the Good Game Club Podcast, journalist, consultant, and Power Play author George Osborn explores the growing intersection between video games, politics, policy, and society. Drawing on his experience advising governments, regulators, and NGOs, George explains why games should no longer be viewed simply as entertainment products but as powerful digital communities, cultural spaces, and communication networks. The conversation covers everything from government engagement with games and election polling through in-game advertising to digital third spaces, online influence, and how the games industry can better protect play for future generations. Power Play is published by Wildfire on the 18th June in hardback, ebook and audio. Copies are available in all bookshops and online retailers. 00:00 – Protecting Play in a Political World Why the games industry must become more assertive in defending the positive value of play. 00:51 – Meet George Osborn & Introducing Power Play George shares his background in games journalism, policy, and consulting, and introduces the central theme of his book. 02:20 – When Governments Started Seeing Games Differently How the pandemic accelerated government interest in games as communication channels. 03:10 – The Ukraine War and a Defining Moment The request that convinced George games had become part of the geopolitical information landscape. 04:20 – Why Some Governments Understand Games Better Than Others Comparing attitudes in Western democracies with countries such as Saudi Arabia. 08:33 – How Games Became a Global Communication Force The four major developments that transformed games from products into social ecosystems. 11:12 – Climate Change, UNDP and Reaching Invisible Audiences How games enabled policymakers to hear from communities that traditional channels could not reach. 13:01 – The 2024 US Election and In-Game Polling Why one polling firm successfully predicted the election by reaching voters through mobile games. 15:44 – Bellingcat, World of Warcraft and Community Intelligence How gaming community management principles helped build one of the world's most influential investigative networks. 17:22 – Influence Operations, Streamers and State Actors Examining how gaming communities can be leveraged for political influence and propaganda. 23:42 – Global Attitudes Towards Games and Regulation How different regions approach gaming culture, regulation, and national strategy. 31:00 – When Politics Uses Gaming Culture The challenges of political entities using gaming memes, imagery, and community language. 34:01 – Games as Digital Third Spaces Why games function as modern social environments and what sociology can teach us about their importance. 37:29 – Building Healthier Gaming Communities Lessons from football culture, community safety, and designing welcoming digital spaces. 42:16 – Football Manager, Cultural Impact & Final Takeaways George reflects on his favourite game and shares advice for people who still underestimate the importance of games. Key Data Points & External References 1. Fortnite Humanitarian Fundraising George notes that Epic Games' Fortnite fundraising campaign for humanitarian relief generated more support than some nation-state contributions.Reference: Epic Games and Direct Relief fundraising campaign (2022), which raised over $144 million for humanitarian aid in Ukraine. 2. 2024 US Election Polling Through GamesPolling firm J.L. Partners reportedly used in-game advertising to reach underrepresented voter groups and correctly forecast Trump's Electoral College outcome.Reference: J.L. Partners election polling methodology and post-election analysis. 3. Saudi Arabia's National Gaming Strategy

Berkley Egenes | Gaming is for Everyone: Xsolla, SpecialEffect & the Next Era of Gaming

The latest episode of the Good Game Club Podcast dives into the power of gaming ecosystems, accessibility, and community impact with Berkley Egenes from Xsolla. Recorded during London Games Festival, the conversation explores how the games industry can create opportunities far beyond entertainment - from helping indie developers access global funding to supporting inclusive gaming through partnerships with organisations like SpecialEffect. Berkley shares how gaming connects people across borders, generations, and abilities, and why the future of the industry depends on doing more good together. Find out more about the work that Xsolla does here: https://xsolla.com Further information can be found below: https://xsolla.com/funding https://xsolla.com/blog/xsolla-stevenage-fc-specialeffect-charity-campaign https://xsolla.com/newsroom/xsolla-brings-accessibility-social-impact-and-entertainment-ip-licensing-with-xsolla-agency-to-london-games-festival-2026 00:00 – Welcome Back from London Games Festival Reflections on London Games Festival, live podcasting, and Games for Change arriving in London. 01:08 – Introducing Berkley Egenes & Xsolla How Xsolla supports developers through funding, monetisation, distribution, and payments across 200+ regions. 03:15 – “All the Things” — Xsolla’s New Vision The meaning behind Xsolla’s new tagline and how they simplify the business side of games for creators. 04:34 – Gaming Is for Everyone Why accessibility, inclusivity, and breaking barriers are core to Xsolla’s mission. 06:13 – Partnering with SpecialEffect & Stevenage FC How a football sponsorship evolved into a powerful accessibility initiative supporting adaptive gaming controllers. 10:59 – Meeting Rodney & the Emotional Impact of Accessible Gaming The story behind the campaign shoot and how adaptive controllers change lives through play. 12:48 – Gaming as a Social Connector Why gaming is far from antisocial — and how games build friendships, relationships, and communities worldwide. 15:02 – The Ripple Effect of Gaming for Good How partnerships like SpecialEffect inspire employees, strengthen culture, and create global community impact. 19:49 – Supporting Developers Beyond Funding Inside Xsolla Funding Club and how developers are connected with investors, publishers, and growth opportunities. 22:32 – Bringing 45 Developers to GDC The scholarship initiative that helped indie studios from around the world attend GDC and connect with investors. 25:48 – Why Ecosystems Matter More Than Competition How developers collaborate, share opportunities, and support one another rather than compete. 29:31 – Why Gaming for Good Must Become the Industry Standard The importance of diversity, representation, and creating opportunities for people from all backgrounds. 32:52 – The Next 5–10 Years of Gaming Why the future of games will be more global, hyper-local, mobile-first, and policy-driven. 36:08 – Industry Layoffs, Reinvention & New Studios How post-pandemic restructuring may create opportunities for new creative studios and indie innovation. 38:38 – Favourite Games & Personal Impact Why Mario Kart and Minecraft hold special meaning through family connection, creativity, and learning. 42:05 – The Golden Thread Question What music track would belong in the next great game experience?

Live from GamesBeat 2026 | Dubai Films & Games Commission x Good Game Club

The Good Game Club Podcast heads to Dubai as the Dubai Film and Games Commission officially announces a new partnership to make Dubai the home of the podcast. Recorded live at the GamesBeat Summit 2026, this panel explores how games are shaping a more inclusive, connected and positive future — from sustainability and accessibility to education, mental health and global storytelling. Featuring Jude Ower, Mathias Gredal Nørvig, Faisal Kazim and Susanna Pollack, the conversation dives into why games are far more than entertainment, and why the industry has a responsibility to lead meaningful change. 00:00 – Welcome to the Panel Susanna Pollack opens the session and introduces the panel focused on games as a force for good. 00:00:46 – Introducing the Good Game Club Jude Ower shares the mission behind the podcast and her work driving sustainability and positive impact in games. 00:01:25 – Subway Surfers and Responsibility at Scale Mathias Gredal Nørvig explains how SYBO integrates sustainability, diversity and kindness into one of the world’s biggest games. 00:02:03 – Dubai’s Vision for Gaming Faisal Kazim outlines why Dubai sees gaming as a platform for cultural exchange and positive social impact. 00:03:19 – Why the Good Game Club Podcast Exists Jude explains the inspiration behind the podcast and the need to shift the conversation away from negative gaming stereotypes. 00:05:34 – Creating a Global Archive of Good Stories Mathias discusses the podcast’s ambition to become a global platform for meaningful conversations around games and impact. 00:08:34 – Gaming as the World’s Most Inclusive Space Faisal shares how games connect families and communities across borders, including his own family playing Fortnite together across continents. 00:12:15 – Powerful Examples of Gaming for Good Jude highlights impact-driven initiatives including the Call of Duty Endowment and games supporting veterans, dementia care and peace-building. 00:16:23 – How Games Teach Real-World Skills The panel explores how games develop critical thinking, teamwork and employability skills. 00:20:03 – Designing Games Around Inclusion and Wellbeing Mathias explains how inclusive design, representation and positive messaging are built into Subway Surfers. 00:22:29 – Community Safety and Healthy Game Ecosystems The discussion shifts to player wellbeing, moderation, community management and building healthier online spaces. 00:23:53 – Dubai Becomes the Home of the Good Game Club Podcast Faisal officially announces the partnership between Dubai Film and Games Commission and the Good Game Club. 00:26:15 – Why Dubai Was the Right Fit Jude explains why Dubai’s energy, ambition and global connectivity made it a natural home for the podcast. 00:28:15 – What Success Looks Like for the Partnership The panel shares their vision for growing global awareness of gaming’s positive impact. 00:31:42 – Closing Remarks and Strategic Partners Final reflections on driving positive change through games and acknowledgment of Dubai Film and Games Commission and Tencent as partners.

Dan Goldenberg | Helping Veterans Build New Futures Through the Call of Duty Endowment

The Good Game Club heads to Los Angeles to speak with Dan Goldenberg, Executive Director of the Call of Duty Endowment, about how one of gaming’s biggest franchises has helped place more than 169,000 veterans into high-quality jobs. Dan explains why focus, accountability and long-term commitment matter in social impact, and how games can mobilise players, employees and communities around measurable change. To celebrate Military Appreciation Month, the Call of Duty Endowment has launched an in-game pack in Call of Duty. 100% of Activision net proceeds from the sale of the pack go to the Call of Duty Endowment. Details can be found here - https://www.callofduty.com/blog/2026/05/call-of-duty-endowment-2026-military-appreciation-month-usaa.html [https://www.callofduty.com/blog/2026/05/call-of-duty-endowment-2026-military-appreciation-month-usaa.html]  Veterans get in touch - https://www.callofdutyendowment.org/veteran_support [https://www.callofdutyendowment.org/veteran_support] 00:00 – Welcome from Los Angeles Setting up the West Coast focus on doing good through games. 01:12 – Introducing Dan Goldenberg and the Call of Duty Endowment How Activision’s military community connection became a veteran employment mission. 03:30 – The Seal of Distinction Model How a performance-led approach transformed the Endowment’s impact. 04:21 – Why Veteran Employment? Why jobs are the number one requested service for transitioning service members. 05:38 – Accountability Over “Fire and Forget” Philanthropy Why quarterly data, focus and honest conversations drive better outcomes. 08:27 – The Human Stories Behind 169,000 Placements From wounded veterans to esports viewers finding career support. 11:41 – Why Focus Beats Cause-Hopping Dan’s case for choosing one issue, understanding it deeply and staying committed. 15:03 – What Does Leadership Really Want From Impact? The difference between PR, engagement and genuine social change. 17:02 – How Call of Duty Players Respond Why transparency matters when players fund impact through in-game items. 19:02 – Making Impact Visible How the Endowment shares individual veteran stories, not just big numbers. 21:14 – A Small Team Powered by Activision Volunteers How hundreds of employees contribute expertise, time and passion. 25:27 – Strategy on One Page Dan’s ODSP framework for setting objectives, goals, strategy and plans. 30:54 – Building an Internal Movement How Veterans Day of Service helped embed the mission inside Activision. 34:44 – What Non-Gaming Companies Can Learn Using community, cadence and proof to build trust around social impact. 41:40 – The 2030 Goal The Endowment’s ambition to place 200,000 veterans in jobs across the US and UK. 44:07 – Favourite Game and Final Reflections Atari 2600, Candy Crush, empathy and Dan’s question for future guests.