There is no such thing as a video game industry
In this edition of The Game Business Show, we explore the idea that there may not be a video game industry at all! And we are joined by industry veteran, consultant, investor and developer (plus co-owner of Spilt Milk Studios) Nicholas Lovell to discuss the subject. In addition, we look at the latest cuts at Ubisoft, Larian’s shifting position on AI, and the drop in Battlefield 6 players. Enjoy! 00:00 Introduction 00:30 Ubisoft layoffs 01:58 Meta cuts 03:54 Larian AI pivot 10:18 Battlefield 6 12:06 Split Milk Studios 18:24 Indie stability 19:53 Cosy games 22:42 Kickstarter 25:14 No such thing as a game industry 50:40 Game consoles 58:35 Nicholas Lovell's 2026 hopes
Video Chapters
- 0:00 Ubisoft’s massive restructuring and cost-cutting plan
- 1:25 Meta’s strategic shift: VR closures and wearables
- 3:54 Larian Studios clarifies its controversial stance on AI
- 6:12 How successful games are utilizing AI voice acting
- 7:45 Testing Google AI: Can it actually handle a job interview?
- 8:55 Is AI stunting the growth of next-gen developer skills?
- 10:14 Analyzing the sudden player exodus from Battlefield 6
- 11:50 How live service games adapt to player fluctuations
- 13:02 Nicholas Lovell on leaving finance for the indie scene
- 14:24 Choosing player satisfaction over corporate interests
- 15:45 Handling 75 rejections: The struggle to fund Trash Goblin
- 17:10 Validating market demand through the power of Kickstarter
Original Output
0:00 Ubisoft’s massive restructuring and cost-cutting plan 1:25 Meta’s strategic shift: VR closures and wearables 3:54 Larian Studios clarifies its controversial stance on AI 6:12 How successful games are utilizing AI voice acting 7:45 Testing Google AI: Can it actually handle a job interview? 8:55 Is AI stunting the growth of next-gen developer skills? 10:14 Analyzing the sudden player exodus from Battlefield 6 11:50 How live service games adapt to player fluctuations 13:02 Nicholas Lovell on leaving finance for the indie scene 14:24 Choosing player satisfaction over corporate interests 15:45 Handling 75 rejections: The struggle to fund Trash Goblin 17:10 Validating market demand through the power of Kickstarter Timestamps by StampBot 🤖 (454-there-is-no-such-thing-as-a-video-game-industry)
Unprocessed Timestamp Content
0:00 Ubisoft announces staff layoffs and ambitious new cost cutting targets 1:25 Meta closes several VR studios while shifting focus toward wearables 2:40 The VR market shifts toward free to play gaming titles 3:54 Larian Studios clarifies their stance on using AI for development 5:18 Why Larian decided to stop using AI for concept art 6:12 Successful games find a way to use AI voice acting 7:45 Testing Google AI for interview questions leads to mixed results 8:55 Concerns regarding how AI tools impact the next generation skills 10:14 Battlefield 6 sees a massive player drop following early success 11:50 Live service games must adapt to survive player count fluctuations 13:02 Nicholas Lovell discusses the move from finance to indie development 14:24 Prioritizing player delight over satisfying corporate shareholders and suit wearing investors 15:45 Trash Goblin faces rejection from seventy five different game publishers 17:10 Using Kickstarter to prove market demand and unlock additional funding Timestamps by StampBot 🤖 (454-there-is-no-such-thing-as-a-video-game-industry)