Latest / The Gaming Playbook w/ Harry Phokou
#70 - Ben Kvalo: Why Indie Developers Give Away Too Much to Get Published
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…
The skinny
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