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The Business of Games
The Business of Games: A podcast for developers, publishers, and executives navigating the ever-changing game industry.
From monetization models to player behavior, from platform shifts to emerging markets, The Business of Games is your guide to all the things transforming how games are built, marketed, and scaled.
Hosted by Chris Hewish and Lia Ballentine, each episode blends strategic insight, cinematic storytelling, and candid conversations with the people driving the business of play. You’ll hear from top executives inside studios and strategic partners across the ecosystem who are uncovering the ideas, tactics, and trends shaping tomorrow’s opportunities.
Whether you’re launching your first game or scaling a global studio, you’ll find practical strategies, future-forward thinking, and real-world examples you can act on right away.
The Business of Games is brought to you by Xsolla, your strategic partner behind the scenes. We bring together “All the Things” to help you simplify operations, unlock new revenue, reach more players, and launch fast.
Visit xsolla.com/podcast to explore episodes, connect with our team, and access bonus resources to level up your business of play. Want to join the conversation? Follow and comment on our LinkedIn page at The Business of Games Podcast, where we’ll be sharing updates, highlights, and continuing the discussion. And don’t forget to subscribe, rate, review, and share the podcast with friends and colleagues who want to learn more about the business of games.
The Business of Games
LiveOps unlocked: turning gameplay into growth
LiveOps is no longer a backstage scramble. It’s a growth strategy.
In this episode of The Business of Games: Extended Cut, host Chris Hewish sits down with Tim Kravchenko, veteran LiveOps producer and product manager at Xsolla, to explore how LiveOps has transformed into the heartbeat of modern games.
From Guinness World Record concurrency attempts to AI-driven campaign orchestration, Tim shares lessons from more than a decade of running global LiveOps, highlighting what works, what doesn’t, and what’s next.
You’ll hear about:
- How LiveOps evolved from a support function to a core business driver
- Why emotion and “the right moment” matter more than perfect pricing
- The pitfalls of spreadsheet-driven LiveOps (and how new tools solve them)
- How localization and cultural nuance shape global campaigns
- Why the future of LiveOps lies in player-created quests and streaming integrations
If you’re a studio lead, product manager, or monetization strategist, this conversation offers tactical insights for building LiveOps systems that scale and drive real business results.
For more insights and resources, visit xsolla.com/podcast. Want to join the conversation? Follow and comment on our LinkedIn page at The Business of Games Podcast. That’s where we’ll be sharing updates, highlights, and continuing the discussion. And don’t forget to subscribe, rate, review, and share the podcast with friends who want to learn more about the business of games.
