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The Gaming Playbook
Game Development
· 68 min
Why Indie Developers Give Away Too Much to Get Published | Ben Kvalo
With Ben Kvalo
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About this episode
What do game publishers actually do in 2026? Why do some indie games succeed while others fail, even with a great product?
Today’s guest is Ben Kvalo, founder of Midwest Games and former publishing, marketing, and technology leader at Netflix, Blizzard, and 2K. Ben breaks down how modern game publishing works, why traditional publishing models are changing, how Steam’s algorithm impacts launches, common mistakes indie developers make, and why the future of game development may be shifting away from traditional industry hubs.
Whether you’re an indie developer, publisher, marketer, or game industry professional, this conversation provides practical insights into game publishing, Steam marketing, wishlists, launch strategy, publisher relationships, and the future of the games industry.
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