Building the open garden: Web3 insights from Mythical Games’ Arron Goolsbey

Welcome to The Business of Games Podcast, brought to you by Xsolla.In this Extended Cut, host Lia Ballentine talks with Arron Goolsbey, Chief Operating Officer at Mythical Games, about how the next generation of Web3 games is moving beyond labels to focus on fun, fairness, and lasting player value.A 25-year veteran of the industry, Arron has led global publishing and technology efforts at Activision Blizzard, Meta, and Hasbro. Now at Mythical, he’s helping bridge traditional game development and blockchain innovation and creating ecosystems where players truly own and shape their digital worlds.Arron shares how Mythical is blending proven free-to-play design with player ownership, why “Web3” should become invisible to players, and how openness and interoperability will define gaming’s next chapter.Across the discussion, Arron and Lia explore:Why Web3 should be an invisible technology, not a marketing labelHow Mythical Games is blending studio development with an open digital-economy platformWhat an “open garden” model looks like: safe, curated, but freeHow early Web3 games confused speculation with participationWhy rebuilding trust starts with fun and fairnessThe role of ownership and interoperability in long-term engagementHow AI and new tools are collapsing the gap between players and creatorsWhat the “next version of the internet” means for developers big and smallWhether you’re a developer, publisher, or just curious about the evolution of digital ownership, this conversation unpacks how Web3 can move from buzzword to backbone and shape a more open, player-driven future for games.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.