Surviving the Games Industry: Layoffs, Studio Closures and Future Predictions

From Half-Life 2 Mods to Bloodlines 2 w/ Dan Pinchbeck

Dan Pinchbeck is the co-founder of The Chinese Room, the award-winning studio behind many wonderful games including Dear Esther, Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs, Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture, Little Orpheus, Still Wakes The Deep and most recently Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2. In this episode, we talk through Dan’s incredible journey with the studio. From its early days making Half-Life 2 mods to becoming one of the UK’s most distinctive storytelling studios. Dan opens up about the highs and lows of running a team and what really happened behind the scenes. He gives an honest insight into how he navigated creative burnout and what led him to leave the studio before Bloodlines 2 shipped. We also get into some big industry topics: the AI hype sweeping game dev, what’s broken in the games industry and what gives him hope for the future of smaller studios. Chapters: 00:00 The Origins of The Chinese Room 03:49 Starting with Mods: Conscientious Objector, Antilion Soccer, Dear Esther & Korsakovia 05:11 Moving to Commercial Games: Dear Esther and Amnesia: A Machine For Pigs 07:02 Shifting from Walking Simulators to Horror Games 12:39 The Formation of The Chinese Room as a Company 16:33 The Impact of Studio Size on Development 20:23 Funding Struggles and the Studio Downsizing in 2017 25:57 Recovery and the Sumo Group Acquisition 29:06 Little Orpheus and Maintaining Creative Control After Acquisition 34:01 The State of the Game Industry 39:26 The Impact of AI on Game Development 45:46 Challenges for Indie Developers 48:27 Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 01:02:43 What's next for Dan About Dan: Dan Pinchbeck is a writer, creative director, and co-founder of the acclaimed UK studio The Chinese Room. With a background in academia and digital arts, he’s known for pioneering narrative-driven experiences that blur the line between storytelling, atmosphere, and player agency. Dan’s work has helped shape modern indie game storytelling and inspired a generation of developers to experiment with emotion and meaning in games. You can find him on: Dan's Website: https://www.danpinchbeck.co.uk/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danpinchbeck/ About Me Hi, I’m Cat Burton! I've built studios, raised funding and shipped games to millions of players. Now I help you do the same with expert games consultancy and advice. The Goth Boss Podcast dives into the real challenges of making games and running game studios by sharing honest stories and inspiring conversations with my industry friends. You can connect with me on: GothBoss (Games Consultancy & Coaching): https://www.GothBoss.co.uk LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/catburton Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gothbosscat Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/gothbosscat.bsky.social TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gothbosscat ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

How to Future-Proof Your Game Industry Career

The game industry might be unpredictable, but your career doesn’t have to be. In this episode, I share ten practical tips to help you stay strong while working through these really tough times. Chapters: 00:00 10 Practical Tips to Future-Proof Your Career 02:00 Tip 1: Focus on What You Can Control 03:04 Tip 2: Be Ready for Change 05:25 Tip 3: Lift Others Up 07:23 Tip 4: Stay Visible 09:41 Tip 5: Protect Your Energy 12:49 Tip 6: Build Your Confidence 16:10 Tip 7: Lead with Transparency and Trust 19:41 Tip 8: Stay Curious and Keep Learning 22:09 Tip 9: Create Financial and Mental Stability 24:59 Tip 10: Redefine Success 27:15 Recap Links: UK game industry Slack: https://www.ukgamesindustry.com/ [https://www.ukgamesindustry.com/] Imposter syndrome episode: https://youtu.be/hOTjI38cnCg?si=vogYLgBkFVvJ0AP3 [https://youtu.be/hOTjI38cnCg?si=vogYLgBkFVvJ0AP3] Burnout episode: https://youtu.be/1tKNL_iuk1c?si=L_HSNh-5hA1vfWlR [https://youtu.be/1tKNL_iuk1c?si=L_HSNh-5hA1vfWlR]  About Me: Hi, I’m Cat Burton! I've built studios, raised funding and shipped games to millions of players. Now I help you do the same with expert games consultancy and advice. The Goth Boss Podcast dives into the real challenges of making games and running game studios by sharing honest stories and inspiring conversations with my industry friends You can find me on: Goth Boss Studios: https://www.GothBoss.co.uk [https://www.gothboss.co.uk] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/catburton [https://www.linkedin.com/in/catburton] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gothbosscat [https://www.instagram.com/gothbosscat] Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/gothbosscat.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/gothbosscat.bsky.social] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gothbosscat [https://www.tiktok.com/@gothbosscat] Take Part: Send me your questions to answer in future episodes! Or if you would like me to interview someone to hear about their game industry career, game or studio, please recommend them. Send me a message at: https://www.gothboss.co.uk/podcast ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Can Game Design Change The World?

What if the key to solving the climate crisis, social inequality and even human behavior wasn’t found in policy papers, but in games? In this episode, I sit down with Trevin York, founder of Dire Lark, to explore how Games for Change are reshaping the way we tackle global challenges. From climate action and healthcare to finance and education, Trevin reveals how playful design can turn complex, serious topics into experiences that inspire real-world impact. We dive into the power of data to understand players, what it takes to design for transformation and the surprising business realities of running a purpose-driven game studio. You’ll hear how AI is influencing funding and what aspiring designers can do to build games that truly make a difference. If you’ve ever wondered how games could actually change the world, this conversation will make you rethink what “serious play” really means. Books: Design for the real world by victor Papanek: https://amzn.to/43d7nKK [https://amzn.to/43d7nKK]  Design when everybody designs by ezio manzini: https://amzn.to/3KKd2lh [https://amzn.to/3KKd2lh]  Designs for the pluriverse by Arturo escobar: https://amzn.to/4nMxzV3 [https://amzn.to/4nMxzV3]  Ideas Arrangements Effects by the Design Studio for Social Intervention: https://amzn.to/477DpJx [https://amzn.to/477DpJx]  The Transformational Framework by Sabrina Culyba: https://amzn.to/4n446Vt [https://amzn.to/4n446Vt]  Trevin's book - The Game Needs to Change: https://www.routledge.com/The-Game-Needs-to-Change-Towards-Sustainable-Game-Design/Prax-Whittle-York/p/book/9781032836195?srsltid=AfmBOoq7wZEBpY_yHJWvlB1iKJPOXi4CLmyWnPxGWdl4q1DXIl7DWJ69 [https://www.routledge.com/The-Game-Needs-to-Change-Towards-Sustainable-Game-Design/Prax-Whittle-York/p/book/9781032836195?srsltid=AfmBOoq7wZEBpY_yHJWvlB1iKJPOXi4CLmyWnPxGWdl4q1DXIl7DWJ69]  About Trevin Trevin York  has spent over a decade collaborating with talented teams to make games and other interactive experiences focused on effecting lasting change. As the founder of Dire Lark, Trevin works with organizations ranging from tech startups to game studios to international firms, bringing game design techniques and processes to projects aiming for real-world positive impacts across a variety of contexts. You can find Trevin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trevin-york/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/trevin-york/], and Dire Lark at: https://direlark.co.uk/ [https://direlark.co.uk/] About Cat Hi, I’m Cat Burton! I've built studios, raised funding and shipped games to millions of players. Now I help you do the same with expert games consultancy and ecosystem building. The Goth Boss Podcast is where I dive into the real challenges of making games and running studios. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Unity’s in Crisis…But Is It Still the Right Engine for Your Next Game?

Unity has had a rough few years including PR disasters, project cancellations, layoffs, a now-cancelled runtime fee policy and a recent security flaw. Many developers have switched engines in the last few years as a result. But is Unity still the right engine for your next game? In this episode, I break down Unity’s recent challenges, compare it to Unreal, Godot and GameMaker, and explain why many developers still stick with Unity in 2025. Topics: • Unity’s controversies & leadership shakeups • Which engine to choose for for different project types • Godot’s rise as an indie favorite • Why Unity still excels for prototyping, mobile and AR/VR Subscribe for more weekly insights into the games industry. Chapters: 00:00 Unity's Current Crisis 01:01 A Few Difficult Years For Unity 04:20 Unity's Strengths and Advantages 06:51 Comparing Unity to Unreal Engine, Godot and Game Maker 07:09 Unity vs Unreal Engine 08:36 Unity vs Godot 09:48 Unity vs Game Maker 11:10 Where Unity Still Wins 12:27 Summary 14:15 Goth Boss Studios Podcast - Video Intro.mp4 References: Pocket Gamer’s article about John Riccitiello calling people idiots: https://www.pocketgamer.biz/unity-ironsource-john-riccitiello-marc-whitten-merger/ [https://www.pocketgamer.biz/unity-ironsource-john-riccitiello-marc-whitten-merger/]  John Riccitiello’s apology in Pocket Gamer: https://www.pcgamer.com/unity-ceo-apologizes-for-calling-developers-fking-idiots-promises-to-do-better/ [https://www.pcgamer.com/unity-ceo-apologizes-for-calling-developers-fking-idiots-promises-to-do-better/?utm_source=chatgpt.com] Unity announces, then cancels, Gigaya: https://unity.com/blog/games/introducing-unitys-latest-sample-game-gigaya [https://unity.com/blog/games/introducing-unitys-latest-sample-game-gigaya]  Unity layoffs 2022-2025: https://www.blog.udonis.co/mobile-marketing/mobile-games/unity-layoffs [https://www.blog.udonis.co/mobile-marketing/mobile-games/unity-layoffs]  ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Surviving the Games Industry: Layoffs, Studio Closures and Future Predictions

In this episode, I discuss the current challenges facing the games industry, including significant job losses, studio closures and the impact of rising costs and market saturation. I share insights from conversations with industry veterans and offer practical advice for navigating these turbulent times. The discussion also touches on the future of the industry, including potential recovery and the importance of networking and visibility for everyone in the industry. Chapters: 00:00 The Turbulent State of the Games Industry 06:09 Understanding the Causes of Industry Challenges 15:13 Navigating the Future: Strategies for Survival 24:53 Hope for Recovery: Insights and Predictions References & Articles TIGA Report: https://tiga.org/news/weathering-the-storm-tiga-research-reveals-uk-games-dev-sector-continues-to-grow-despite-global-sector-downturn [https://tiga.org/news/weathering-the-storm-tiga-research-reveals-uk-games-dev-sector-continues-to-grow-despite-global-sector-downturn] The move towards film/TV structure: https://www.wiggin.co.uk/insight/a-litany-of-layoffs-how-the-games-industry-might-mitigate-some-of-its-pain-by-looking-to-film-and-tv/ [https://www.wiggin.co.uk/insight/a-litany-of-layoffs-how-the-games-industry-might-mitigate-some-of-its-pain-by-looking-to-film-and-tv/] Layoffs statistics: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022%E2%80%932025_video_game_industry_layoffs [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022%E2%80%932025_video_game_industry_layoffs]  About Me Hi, I’m Cat Burton! I've built studios, raised funding and shipped games to millions of players. Now I help you do the same with expert games consultancy and coaching. The Goth Boss Podcast dives into the real challenges of making games and running game studios by sharing honest stories and inspiring conversations with my industry friends. You can connect with me on: GothBoss (Games Consultancy & Coaching): https://www.GothBoss.co.uk LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/catburton Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gothbosscat Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/gothbosscat.bsky.social TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gothbosscat ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.