In the dynamic world of esports, where triumphs within the game arena often take center stage, there lies a crucial void—the untold stories of the players' human experiences. Known multimedia personality Erin Ashley Simon joins our host Jacob Wolf in this episode of Visionaries, shedding light on the profound challenges that shape the esports landscape today.

From the intricacies of marketability to fervent advocacy for mental health, Erin navigates through the industry's intricate tapestry with insightful discussions.

This episode dives into an exploration of the human side of esports, transcending the conventional narratives of in-game prowess. Erin, with her wealth of experience, articulates the need for a paradigm shift, urging the industry to recognize and amplify the personal narratives that exist beyond the gaming realm. She addresses the complex dynamics of marketability within esports, punctuating the discourse with real-world examples and behind the scenes insights while emphasizing the pressing need for mental health advocacy within the esports community.

Drawing from her own experiences and industry observations, Erin underscores the significance of fostering a supportive environment for players, acknowledging that their well-being is paramount beyond the virtual battlegrounds.

As the episode unfolds, Erin's narrative prowess comes to the forefront while she delves into the industry's evolution, drawing parallels with broader entertainment landscapes and stressing the importance of cultivating transferable skills. Through her unique perspective on Visionaries she advocates for a holistic approach to esports education, urging fans and players of the industry to develop not just a passion for the games but also an analytical mindset.

(A full transcript of the episode will be available soon on this page.)

You can listen to this episode of ‘Visionaries’ and many more on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you find your podcasts.

In this episode of ‘Visionaries,’ host Jacob Wolf is joined by Matt Schembari, co-founder and CEO of Lightforge Games Studio. Breaking down the intricate layers of his career, from his roots at Blizzard to his time at Epic Games and the departure to create his own studio, Schembari candidly discusses the challenges associated with venture capital funding for video game developers and others in the gaming industry.

Read more about this episode of ‘Visionaries’ here below.

This episode of ‘Visionaries’ kicks off with Matt sharing profound insights into the current development status at Lightforge Games and how they’re attempting to bend gaming’s programming rules to create a choose your own adventure style RPG, inspired by tabletop games like Dungeons & Dragons. The duo then dived into issues that encompass the whole gaming industry, offering reflections on the transformative changes at Epic Games and Blizzard post-Microsoft acquisition—and the mission at Lightforge Games.

"I want to make a studio that lasts," Matt said, highlighting his dedication to crafting not just profitable games, but experiences that resonate with players.

Exploring the dynamics of blockbuster games—and their curse—Matt reflected on the challenges and pitfalls of sustaining success in the industry, drawing attention to the challenges of maintaining the momentum after achieving a massive game hit. As the episode unfolded Matt shed light on industry giants like Blizzard and Epic Games and their past yet always present scandals, offering a unique insider perspective as one of their former employees.

Amid discussions on the ever-evolving landscape of the gaming industry, this episode of ‘Visionaries’ provides listeners with a captivating glimpse into the future of the game development industry, from its giants to the new founded studios.

"I do truly believe that if you make a good game and then all the other things happen right."

(A full transcript of the episode will be available soon on this page.)

You can listen to this episode of ‘Visionaries’ and many more on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you find your podcasts.

In this Patreon-exclusive installment of Visionaries, host Jacob Wolf sits down with attorney Bryce Blum and former Riot Games and Loaded executive Avi Bhuiyan to dissect the central issues shaping the rapidly evolving landscape of esports and competitive gaming.

They begin by unraveling the intricate world of esports franchising, touching upon its potential to stabilize the industry and elevate player salaries while stressing the necessity for proficient, vision-aligned partners. Bhuiyan and Blum point out that franchising has exacerbated the complexity of the ecosystem, correcting some issues like player mistreatment and financial instability from the pre-franchise era, but also welcoming a new set of challenges.

Read more about this episode of ‘Visionaries’ here below.

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Wolf, Blum and Bhuiyan delve into the imperative for nuanced understanding of a sector enveloping considerations such as player salaries, league configurations, partnerships, and business professionalism.

The dialog then shifts to the pressing subject of player unionization in esports — an endeavor seen as a potential salve for present-day issues yet obstructed by unique hurdles including historical divergences from traditional sports and the role of game publishers. The lack of ethical and capable stakeholders in the scene, underscored by firsthand encounters with unethical industry players, further compounds these challenges.

Drawing upon rich experiences and insights, the trio emphasizes the necessity for a transformative approach grounded in professionalism and ethical conduct to foster a nurturing environment for players, partners, and sponsors.

In closing, this session of ‘Visionaries’ skillfully dismantles the most contentious points circulating in the ever-changing esports sphere, highlighting the urgency for informed, thoughtful analysis and decisive action in steering the future of competitive gaming.

(A full transcript of the episode will be available soon on this page.)

You can listen to this episode of ‘Visionaries’ and many more on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you find your podcasts.

In this episode of ‘Visionaries,’ Andrea Sepenzis and Michael Chu, both Riot Games alumni who now run Treehouse Games, join host Jacob Wolf to discuss the evolution of the gaming industry and their unique approach to game development.

Read more about this episode of ‘Visionaries’ here below.

Andrea and Michael share their perspective on creating games that cater to a broader audience and how that perspective was shaped by their work at League of Legends and VALORANT developer Riot Games. They dive into the challenges of transitioning from AAA gaming to their own venture, Treehouse Games, which aims to address the underserved need for non-competitive social games.

Highlighting their commitment to creating games that foster meaningful social interactions and relationships, Andrea and Michael emphasize the importance of building a game studio that caters to a wider demographic, especially those who may have moved on from intensive competitive games due to life commitments. They also share insights into securing funding for Treehouse Games, and discuss the challenges of staying true to their vision in an industry driven by trends such as crypto and Web3 games.

In this episode of ‘Visionaries,’ the Treehouse execs emphasize the importance of finding investors who can provide more than just financing—those who understand the gaming industry and can offer valuable insights and support beyond the monetary aspect. Treehouse successfully sought partners who genuinely connected with their vision and mission, leading to the release of their upcoming game, Codename Islands.

But despite the challenges and pressures shared on ‘Visionaries,’ Andrea and Michael emphasized the significance of focusing on human needs and forging genuine connections through gaming, ultimately driving their innovative game development approach forward. They acknowledged that while the market may be trend-driven, Treehouse's focus on addressing human needs in gaming isn't necessarily a trend, but a noble endeavor that makes sense on its own merits.

(A full transcript of the episode will be available soon on this page.)

You can listen to this episode of ‘Visionaries’ and many more on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you find your podcasts.

You might not know the name Jeff Gardiner. But chances are, if you’ve played video games at any point in the past 15 years, you’ve at least seen—or more likely played—one of the titles he’s worked on.

Jeff started working at Bethesda, one of gaming’s most successful developers, in 2005. He served as a developer on hit games like Fallout 3, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and Fallout 4. But not every game Jeff led was a success, with his last Bethesda project, Fallout 76, releasing to harsh criticism due to numerous bugs.

Jeff is now the founder and CEO of Something Wicked Games, which is developing a new role-playing game, Wyrdsong. Jeff is this week’s guest on ‘Visionaries’ with Jacob Wolf.

In the episode, Jeff and Jacob discuss the mental health of entrepreneurship and the pressure and fear of failure that comes with starting something new after working at some of the most successful companies in their respective fields. Jeff talks about the release of Fallout 76, the importance of making a good first impression with gamers and how that often clashes with publishing deadlines and shareholder expectations.

The two also talk about consolidation among video game publishers, in lieu of the soon-to-be-completed Microsoft–Activision Blizzard deal. Microsoft previously acquired Bethesda Softworks, Jeff’s former employer, in March 2021.

Speaking of Bethesda, the widely-successful game studio is set to launch its biggest swing in more than a decade with Starfield, a new space action role-playing game led by Fallout and Skyrim director Todd Howard. Starfield is set to release on September 6. In this episode, Jacob and Jeff discuss why Starfield will be so vital in the future of the company and why Jeff is betting his former colleagues will once again entertain millions of gamers around the world.

(A full transcript of the episode will be available soon on this page.)

You can listen to this episode of ‘Visionaries’ and many more on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you find your podcasts. Subscribe to the Jacob Wolf & Mikhail Klimentov Patreon for more ‘Visionaries’ exclusive content.

We’ve got some exciting news! We’re officially live on Patreon.

On this episode of ‘Visionaries,’ host Jacob Wolf sits down with new partner-in-crime, former founding editor of The Washington Post’s video game section Launcher, Mikhail Klimentov.

The two are joined by the Overcome team — Samie Daigle, Prem Thottumkara and Cecilia Ciocchetti — to discuss why we’ve made the move and our collective aspirations to build something bigger with even more journalists and creators in gaming, nerd culture and the creator economy.

Read more about this episode of ‘Visionaries’ here below.

After sixteen months on Substack as the company’s first partnered gaming writer, Jacob is making the move to Patreon after some concerns about the platform’s reach to younger audiences. Over the past few months, Mikhail and Jacob have discussed the opportunity to combine forces after writing separate newsletters on Substack. Now, The Jacob Wolf Report, ReaderGrev and ‘Visionaries’ are coming together under one umbrella.

But that’s not all. With success, the team is looking to expand further — bringing other journalists and creators into the fold and building a bigger media company.

(A full transcript of the episode will be available soon on this page.)

You can listen to this episode of ‘Visionaries’ and many more on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you find your podcasts.

In this episode of ‘Visionaries’, host Jacob Wolf is joined by Brandon 'Atrioc' Ewing, a content creator on YouTube and Twitch and member of the global marketing team at Nvidia.

The two discuss the role of platforms like Twitch in combating the growing sense of loneliness in the modern world, drawing parallels between Twitch's appeal and fast food – a convenient but not wholly fulfilling source of human connection.

Read more about this episode of ‘Visionaries’ below.

Exploring Atrioc's journey of rapid growth on YouTube and Twitch, this episode of ‘Visionaries’ sheds light on his shift from esports to a broader focus on general gaming. The discussion then expands to the changing dynamics of the gaming industry, as Atrioc and Jacob reflect on whether esports was perhaps oversold to its audience and Twitch's strategic shift from esports to gaming influencers.

This episode of ‘Visionaries’ dives deep into how gaming influencers have transitioned into A-list celebrities thanks also to TikTok's impact on content consumption habits since the rise of multi-million dollar platform deals for gaming influencers.

Throughout the conversation, Atrioc shares his opinion on the aspects of being a gaming influencer, addressing the short versus long-term mentality, the competition between YouTube and Twitch, the responsibility of influencers in shaping their audience's preferences and the importance of setting boundaries in parasocial relationships.

(A full transcript of the episode will be available soon on this page.)

You can listen to this episode of ‘Visionaries’ and many more on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you find your podcasts.

In this episode of ‘Visionaries,’ award-winning journalist Jacob Wolf talks with Marcus Bromander, co-founder of Innersloth and co-creator of the highly popular multiplayer game Among Us. 

The two discuss how this indie game unexpectedly gained immense popularity just weeks before its creators contemplated ending its development.

Read more about this episode of ‘Visionaries’ here below.

The conversation begins with Bromander discussing Innersloth's ongoing projects and how Among Us garnered significant attention on platforms like Twitch and TikTok. Bromander explains how the evolution of Among Us from its initial release in 2018 to its present status as a cultural phenomenon

Bromander explains how the evolution of Among Us from its initial release in 2018 to its present status as a cultural phenomenon saved the game and dispelled any doubts of potential failure.

"We were basically done with it at the start of 2019,” Bromander said. “We had put out our third map. We had done enough bug fixes that the game functioned. We were like, 'alright, that's it.'

“[Innersloth co-founder] Forest [Willard] and [artist] Amy [Liu] started prototyping other game ideas that got decently far along, but when Among Us took off again, we were like what do we do? We should ride the wave."

This episode of ‘Visionaries’ delves deeper into how the financial success of Among Us impacted the game’s team. Bromander sheds light on whether Innersloth entertained acquisition offers and provides an unique glimpse into the company's forthcoming game plans. Bromander openly shares his journey from solo game development on platforms like Newgrounds to co-founding Innersloth. Alongside, he imparts valuable insights gleaned from Among Us regarding influencer marketing and the challenges of transitioning from individual game creation to managing a full-fledged business.

But the implications of creating a follow-up game after the monumental success of Among Us are just some of Marcus's personal reflections on the game's significance.

(A full transcript of the episode will be available soon on this page.)

You can listen to this episode of ‘Visionaries’ and many more on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you find your podcasts.