#27 - Hendrik Lesser: "Why Game Studios Struggle in 2025" - Leadership, Survival Strategies & more

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The Gaming Playbook w/ Harry Phokou

Harry Phokou

46 episodes

1 day ago

On The Gaming Playbook, Harry Phokou sits down with experts in the games industry who have never been interviewed before. Through these in-depth conversations, Harry unpacks the "Playbook" that made them so successful. Skip the line on Tuesdays and download the real-life cheat codes every gaming industry pro needs to know. LinkedIn: @hphokou Instagram: @hphokou Newsletter: gamingrally.net Business and guest inquiries: playbook@phokou.com

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#27 - Hendrik Lesser: "Why Game Studios Struggle in 2025" - Leadership, Survival Strategies & more

The Gaming Playbook w/ Harry Phokou

1 hour 10 minutes 1 second

8 months ago

#27 - Hendrik Lesser: "Why Game Studios Struggle in 2025" - Leadership, Survival Strategies & more

Today's guest is Hendrik Lesser, president of the European Game Developer Federation and CEO of Remote Control Productions (RCP).

Hendrik started out selling and writing about games before spending nearly five years at Take-Two Interactive. In 2005, he founded Remote Control Productions (RCP), which has grown from a small startup into a global network of 16 studios, shipping over 400 projects. Through RCP, he helps developers focus on making great games while handling business operations, and he continues to advocate for the industry through policy, education, and mentorship.

In this episode, he breaks down the real challenges facing the gaming industry in 2025, from cash flow struggles to why bad business, not bad games, is what really kills studios. He shares hard-earned lessons on studio leadership, competing with old games, and the biggest risks developers need to watch out for. Hendrik also talks about the power of partnerships, how to make remote teams work, and why strong leadership matters more than ever.

Whether you're running a studio, breaking into the industry, or just want a behind-the-scenes look at the business of games, this episode is for you!

Connect with Hendrik:
LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/hendriklesser/⁠
Website: ⁠https://rcp.family/⁠

Connect with Harry:
LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/hphokou/⁠
Youtube: ⁠ ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@hphokou⁠
Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/hphokou⁠

Get exclusive podcast recaps & industry tips – Sign up for the Gaming Rally Newsletter! ⁠gamingrally.net⁠

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
02:16 The Reality of the Gaming Industry in 2025
04:10 Biggest Risks for Studio Leaders This Year
10:20 What Is Remote Control Productions (RCP)?
16:25 The Old Games Problem: Why It’s Harder to Compete
21:46 The Power of Community: RCP’s Approach
23:48 Finding Mentors, Building Community, and the Value of Events
29:41 Why Bad Business Kills Studios, Not Bad Games
34:32 Consensus Culture vs. Strong Studio Leadership
40:19 The Role of Partnerships in Game Development
43:35 Making Remote Collaboration Work
48:06 Why Hierarchy Matters in Remote Teams
53:58 Hendrik’s Favorite Part of the Job
58:58 Balancing Game Development and Gaming Habits
1:05:08 Advice for Gaming Industry Leaders
1:06:42 Words of Wisdom for Aspiring Game Developers
1:08:40 How to Connect with Hendrik