E115: The Culture Mistake Killing Game Development Teams - 4 Leadership Lessons

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

The game industry is undergoing a massive shift. Between the rise of "black hole games" that consume all player attention and the skyrocketing costs of AAA development, the old playbooks for leadership are breaking.

In this episode, Ben is joined by Andrew Brownell, a veteran Game Director at Netflix Games. Andrew brings over 20 years of experience from industry titans like Blizzard (Warcraft III) and Riot Games (League of Legends). Together, they unpack why the "unicorn" development model is failing and why the next generation of leaders must master a new set of "soft" skills to build resilient, high-performing teams in a bleak market.

What you'll learn in this episode:

• What Aggressive Gratitude really is and how to use it to build trust
• How to lead confidently when the direction isn't clear
• Why conflict can create clarity when handled one-on-one
• Why character often matters more than skill when hiring

If you're a game dev leader trying to level up performance without burning people out, this episode is for you.

Learn More About Our Guest:

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ahbrownell/

🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ahbrownell/

🔗 Twitter: https://x.com/ahbrownell

🔗 ContactOut: https://contactout.com/Andrew-Brownell-3180561

🔗 Netflix LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/netflix/

🔗 Netflix Games YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NetflixGames

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

If you want me to help producers or studios build better games through effective systems and leadership, you can reach me at: [e-mail]

#GameDev #Leadership #GameProduction #GameIndustry2026 #BuildingBetterGames