Game Changers

This week on Game Changers , host Jackson Vaughan dives into one of the most ambitious frontiers in gaming: the quest for realism. From emotional depth to physical presence, this episode explores how developers are using neuroscience, psychology, and cutting-edge tech to make virtual worlds feel just as real as the physical one. Why do some games stick with us long after we’ve stopped playing? Why...

This week on Game Changers , host Jason Chapman explores a powerful trend quietly reshaping how we engage with the world: the rise of off-screen entertainment. In a culture dominated by screens and digital immersion, Jason dives into why millions are consciously stepping back—reconnecting with reality through podcasts, board games, theme parks, and live events. From the psychology of sensory engag...

This week on Game Changers, host Josh Chapman dives into the hidden toll of decision-making in our digital age. As we navigate a world overflowing with choices—pinged by notifications, overwhelmed by content, and pulled in countless directions—Josh unpacks the concept of decision fatigue and how technology might be making it worse. From the science of cognitive overload to the psychology of motiva...

This week on Game Changers, host Jason Chapman explores a bold vision for the future of personal technology—one where we rely less on screens and more on seamless, proactive computing. While today’s phones are powerful access points for information, Jason looks ahead to a world where devices quietly work in the background, anticipating our needs without constant interaction. From the rise of smart...

This week on  Game Changers , host Jackson Vaughan dives into the explosive growth of online sports betting in the U.S., exploring how the industry reached its current $11 billion valuation and forecasted future growth. From the history of gambling to the big players dominating the market, Jackson explores how innovation and new trends like sweepstakes and prediction markets are reshaping the...

Is your mobile game studio struggling to stand out? Stillfront CEO Alexis Bonte gets real about the brutal competition, why AI is now a survival tool, and how a laser-focused strategy can keep players—and profits—from walking away. This is direct advice for developers navigating today's tough market, from someone who's built and sold a game company and now leads a major group. The mobile game scen...

Welcome to our latest episode of the Konvoy Newsletter podcast, your go-to source for insights at the intersection of gaming and finance. Today, we're diving into the world of Grand Theft Auto VI, a game set to redefine cultural and financial milestones in the gaming industry. Episode Highlights: A Global Gaming Phenomenon: Grand Theft Auto (GTA) stands among gaming icons like Super Mario and Poké...

In this episode of Game Changers , Jason Chapman explores how an innovation from Pixar—OpenUSD—laid the groundwork for a revolution in 3D content creation. From blockbuster films to immersive gaming experiences, the process of building digital worlds is notoriously fragmented. Jason breaks down how OpenUSD is becoming the universal translator across tools and teams, enabling smoother collaboration...

In this episode of Game Changers, Josh Chapman explores how artificial intelligence is becoming more than just a tool for kids — it’s evolving into a curious, patient, and ever-present companion. We unpack how AI is showing up in childhood spaces, from tutoring apps that adapt in real-time to emotional support robots like Milo that help kids practice social interaction. With studies showing big ga...

In this episode of Game Changers, Jackson Vaughan explores the rising power of IP licensing in today’s gaming landscape—why it’s becoming essential for discoverability, and how developers are using it to drive growth across mobile, PC, and console. We unpack the challenges facing studios today, from rising ad costs to shrinking visibility, and spotlight how familiar brands and characters can give...

In this episode of Game Changers, Jackson Vaughan breaks down the evolution of console business models—from the Magnavox Odyssey’s one-time hardware sale in the 1970s to today’s mix of subscriptions, digital storefronts, and cloud gaming. Along the way, we explore how the introduction of game cartridges sparked the rise of third-party developers, how Nintendo’s 30% licensing fee shaped the modern...

In this episode of Game Changers, Josh Chapman explores the growing intersection of gaming and robotics. While robotics has long been a frontier of innovation, its development is now accelerating—driven by open-source tools like the Robot Operating System (ROS) and game engines like Unreal and Unity. With simulation becoming a key tool for robotics training and hybrid physical-digital gameplay on...

In this episode of Game Changers, Jackson Vaughan dives into the shifting landscape of PC gaming. While the market has grown steadily, with nearly 1.9 billion players worldwide, recent headwinds—like a 21% drop in playtime, rising hardware costs, and cloud gaming’s rapid rise—are challenging its dominance. With consoles catching up and game discovery becoming harder, is PC gaming at risk of losing...

In this episode of Game Changers, Managing Partner Jason Chapman unpacks Amazon’s $100M investment in The House of David, a faith-based series that’s already climbing the charts. Faith-driven content is seeing a resurgence, with Gen Z increasingly turning to spirituality—a trend shaping not just movies and TV, but gaming as well. With 36% of young Christian players open to faith-based games, could...

In this episode of Game Changers, Managing Partner Josh Chapman explores how AI agents could transform digital advertising—eliminating intrusive tracking and irrelevant ads while curating only what truly matters to you. With digital advertising expected to hit $663B by 2027, AI-driven ad filtering could reshape industries, including gaming, where mobile game discovery and monetization could be rev...

Join Konvoy Managing Partner Josh Chapman as he unpacks our latest newsletter topic: affective computing and its impact on gaming. Can technology truly understand human emotions? From early psychological theories to AI-driven emotion tracking, we explore how gaming experiences could adapt in real time based on player moods. Could this be the next frontier in game design, or are we still years away...

Join Konvoy Managing Partner Jackson Vaughan as he unpacks our latest newsletter topic: the intersection of gaming and music. From the early days of chiptune to dynamic, real-time soundtracks, music has shaped how we experience games. But what’s next? While game music is more advanced and accessible than ever, will we see major innovation—or just incremental improvements? Tune in as we explore the...

Join Konvoy Managing Partner, Josh Chapman, as he explores the future of consumer investing and why gaming is poised to bring VCs back to the space. For years, venture funding has leaned toward enterprise markets, leaving consumer investments on the back burner. But that’s shifting. Gaming companies are driving some of the biggest opportunities in consumer tech, and with major exits on the horizon...

Join Konvoy Managing Partner Jason Chapman as he unpacks our latest newsletter topic: the future of gaming subscriptions. While streaming services thrive on constant content consumption, gaming habits don’t always align—players invest months into just a few titles, making all-you-can-play libraries less compelling. With the rise of free-to-play games and evolving monetization strategies, can these...

In this new series of Game Changers, we’re bringing Konvoy’s weekly written newsletter to life with engaging audio episodes! Join Konvoy Managing Partner Jackson Vaughan as he dives into our most recent topic: Nintendo’s highly anticipated Switch 2 and its expectations. We’ll unpack its potential impact on the future of handheld gaming, how it builds on Nintendo’s storied legacy of innovation, and...

In this episode of Game Changers, Josh Chapman, Managing Partner of Konvoy, sits down with Ed Fries, one of the visionaries who led the team that created the first Xbox at Microsoft. Ed began his career developing Microsoft Excel and Word before transitioning to gaming. He founded Microsoft Game Studios and expanded the team from 50 to over 1200 people, publishing over 100 games and leaving a sign...

In this episode of Game Changers, Jackson Vaughan, Managing Partner of Konvoy, is joined by Emily Greer, a serial gaming entrepreneur, investor, and advisor. Emily previously led Double Loop Games, a women-led mobile game studio, and was the CEO and co-founder of Kongregate, a top browser and mobile games platform. Under her leadership, Kongregate grew to 18M MAU, pioneering free-to-play games in...

In this episode of Game Changers, Jason Chapman, Managing Partner of Konvoy, is joined by Kevin Lin, one of the pioneering founders of Twitch. Kevin and his cofounders sold Twitch to Amazon in 2014 for $970m, at the time being Amazon’s largest acquisition. As Twitch’s long-time COO, Kevin brought live social video to hundreds of millions of people around the world, helping thousands of creators ma...

In this episode of Game Changers, Jason Chapman, Managing Partner of Konvoy, sits down with Brian Ward, the CEO of Savvy Games Group. Prior to leading Savvy, Brian held key positions, including head of worldwide studios at Activision Blizzard, where he played a pivotal role in launching blockbuster gaming titles. His executive background spans industry giants such as EA and Microsoft, and now unde...

In this episode of Game Changers, Josh Chapman, Managing Partner of Konvoy, sits down with Kevin Segalla, the visionary founder and CEO of Tilting Point, a powerhouse in the realm of free-to-play games publishing. With over 80 game titles under its belt, Tilting Point stands at the forefront of the industry through strategic partnerships and acquisitions. Since its inception in 2012, Kevin has led...