GIES #27 - W6 | 2025

In this episode, Casey Al-Kaisy, Dave Thier, and Manu Rosier discuss various topics in the gaming industry, including personal gaming experiences, children's gaming habits, the rise of Chinese game publishers, the stagnation in Western game development, the evolution of console wars, and the monetization of user-generated content in platforms like Roblox. They also touch on EA's plans for the next Battlefield game and the challenges it faces in a competitive market. In this episode, the hosts discuss various topics in the gaming industry, including the importance of gameplay focus and community engagement in game development, the launch of the Video Game History Foundation's digital libraries, and the trends in handheld gaming with the anticipated release of the Switch 2. They also delve into the latest reports on game engines, the challenges of curation in digital stores, and the success of video game movies like Sonic and Detective Pikachu. Additionally, they analyze sales trends for new releases, speculate on Ubisoft's future, and review Konami's financial performance. The conversation wraps up with insights on the success of Black Myth Wukong and Dragon Ball Sparkling Zero, as well as the reception of Batman Arkham Shadow in the VR market. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction and Welcome 03:04 Gaming Experiences and Insights 06:01 Children's Gaming Behavior and Trends 09:01 The Future of Gaming: Trends and Predictions 12:08 The Changing Landscape of Game Development 15:12 Console Wars: A New Era 17:51 The Evolution of Game Marketing and Monetization 30:18 Pricing Strategies for the New Switch 34:21 Market Dynamics and Competition in Gaming 38:30 EA's Battlefield Release Strategy 47:17 Video Game History Foundation and Digital Archives 52:40 The Future of Handheld Gaming 55:08 The State of Premium Games on Switch 56:05 Insights from the Big Game Engines Report 58:41 The Challenge of E-Shop Curation 01:02:06 Trends in Video Game Movies 01:06:08 Sales Trends and Market Analysis 01:11:46 Konami's Financial Performance and Future 01:14:06 The Success of Black Myth Wukong 01:17:46 The Future of VR Technology 01:22:12 Gies Intro.mp4 Connect With Us: Learn more about the Mighty Diamonds at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Mighty.Diamonds⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe to Gies Podcast wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe to Gies Newsletter on Substack⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with our hosts on Linkedin: Casey Al-Kaisy Dave Thier Manu Rosier