Career Switches, Showcase Pitches, and Finding Your Voice with Dennis Abe

Today’s guest is Dennis Abe, a community manager at King in Sweden. Dennis has held various roles in the video game industry, including time in Japan as a game designer and esports commentator. His unconventional journey—from awkward introvert and indie game studio intern in Tokyo to respected community manager—reflects the power of curiosity, persistence, and community-building. We chat about the value of setting boundaries as a community manager, how to separate personal and professional identities, and why internal communication within game studios is just as critical as player engagement. Dennis shares actionable tips for newcomers to the industry and highlights what makes communities like Supercell’s and Landfall’s so impactful. Dennis also tells the story of launching a VR game showcase, driven by player passion, and how that initiative helped shape broader industry practices. Games mentioned in this episode: Valorant Super Smash Bros. Melee Candy Crush Solitaire Squad Busters MoCo Find Dennis on: LinkedIn BlueSky The Community Lounge is brought to you by Feature Upvote – Painlessly collect feedback from your players. More insights, less noise.