Brands in Play - Episode 4 | Do Brands Understand Gamer Culture? ft. Pete Basgen | Wavemaker

How Brands Are Embracing Gamer Culture: Walmart, DoorDash & L’Oréal in Gaming | Brands In Play Ep. 4

Description:
Gaming is no longer just an entertainment industry. It’s a cultural powerhouse, shaping how people connect, play, and even shop. In Episode 4 of Brands In Play, Nic Hill and Albane Prioux sit down with Pete Basgen, Head of Global Gaming at Wavemaker, to explore how brands are finding their place in this ever-expanding world.

From DoorDash’s integration into Fortnite to L’Oréal’s ongoing gaming initiatives, Pete shares insights into what it takes for brands to engage with gamers in ways that feel authentic, valuable, and culturally relevant. We explore the difference between activations that build lasting engagement vs. one-time experiments. 

What’s Inside:
🎮 Gaming’s influence on modern culture and why brands are investing in it

🎮 How non-endemic brands like L’Oréal and DoorDash are making gaming a long-term strategy

🎮 The global reach of gaming—why it’s now a key pillar in brand marketing

🎮 The evolution of branded experiences: One-off activations vs. always-on engagement

🛍 Real-Time Review: Walmart’s Discovery Game on Spatial
For the first time on the show, Nic and Albane go hands-on and test Walmart’s latest foray into virtual retail gaming. Is this the future of shopping? Or just another gimmick? We break it all down.

🎧 Subscribe for more insights from industry leaders shaping the future of gaming and interactive experiences.

Join Albane Prioux & Nic Hill as they dive into the dynamic world of brand storytelling, cultural marketing, and the future of engagement.

💡 Join the conversation → Use #BrandsInPlay and let us know what you think!

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Follow: 
Pete Basgen  https://www.linkedin.com/in/petebasgen/
Nic Hill  https://www.linkedin.com/in/nic-hill-%F0%9F%94%9C-gdc-6553873/ 
Albane Prioux  https://www.linkedin.com/in/albaneprioux/ 

Produced by: Edward Regue
Creative Direction: Javid Kazmi & Joe Jeter
Audio Engineering: Somrung Keo


YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BrandsInPlay

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/brandsinplay/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Fk2t5Z78wtTGD7dtH8ZEk?si=6ef87999dbac4c04

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/brands-in-plays-podcast/id1796275878

📢 Subscribe for more deep dives into gaming, marketing, and immersive media.

#BrandsInPlay #GamerCulture #GamingMarketing #BrandIntegration #Metaverse #UGCGaming #Wavemaker #SpatialGaming #WalmartGaming