E102: 5 Game Dev Delusions That Kill Studios

Stop leaving reality behind and ship better games! If you’re a leader in game dev who feels stuck, able to spot problems but struggling to make a real difference, there is a path forward that levels up your leadership and accelerates your team, game, and career. Sign up here to learn more: https://forms.gle/nqRTUvgFrtdYuCbr6 Is your studio living in a delusion that will only end in pain? Seemingly great teams burn millions of dollars only to shut down because they left reality behind. This episode breaks down the five game dev delusions that kill studios, which I've seen in well-funded, 100+ person teams, unfunded indies, and VC-backed startups. If you lead a team or want to avoid losing touch with reality, this is for you. We cover five "Ps" of delusional failure: Play, Planning, People, Players, and Purpose AND provide the concrete actions you must take to stay grounded, align your team, and ship a game that makes a difference. What You'll Learn in This Episode: ✔ Why chasing “the first fun” is a mistake ✔ How to spot vapor estimates before they sink you ✔ Why “best people” hiring puts the cart before the horse ✔ The “audience size” trap (and what to do instead) ✔ Why more work isn’t getting you over the line ✔ What gives leaders an edge in staying grounded Connect with us: 🔗Ben’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamin-carcich/ 🔗BBG’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/building-better-games/ 🔗Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buildingbettergames/# 🔗Website: https://www.buildingbettergames.gg 🔗YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZpMT-dUwQR-R4Mb4uub6Sw #gamedevleadership #gamedevelopment #gamedevlife #startups #gameproducer