GEC BONUS EP: What's up at GDC 2025 (w/Charlie Hsu)
Phillip & Eric navigate the strangely subdued landscape of GDC 2025, pondering if there really is such a thing as a free lunch. Chris dials in, wondering if his absence is secretly the key to Eric's roundtable success. They dissect the talks, the conference economics, the rise of mobile's respectability, and a guest in economy designer, Charlie Hsu.In this episode:Is the game industry actually shrinking, or just taking a nap? And if Web3 isn't the savior, what's left besides... sweeps? Is GDC just a cleverly disguised wealth transfer from sponsors to developersWhat's the latest "reasonable" pitch for Web3 in games?What's the economic model behind those San Francisco walk-up shops overflowing with candy bars right next to the register? High margins? A tourist trap? Something... else
Game Economist Cast · Phillip Black
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Show Notes
Phillip & Eric navigate the strangely subdued landscape of GDC 2025, pondering if there really is such a thing as a free lunch. Chris dials in, wondering if his absence is secretly the key to Eric's roundtable success.
They dissect the talks, the conference economics, the rise of mobile's respectability, and a guest in economy designer, Charlie Hsu.
In this episode:
- Is the game industry actually shrinking, or just taking a nap? And if Web3 isn't the savior, what's left besides... sweeps?
- Is GDC just a cleverly disguised wealth transfer from sponsors to developers
- What's the latest "reasonable" pitch for Web3 in games?
- What's the economic model behind those San Francisco walk-up shops overflowing with candy bars right next to the register? High margins? A tourist trap? Something... else