From comics to controllers: Bronson Lingamfelter on digital ownership and the future of game discovery

Welcome to Coffee.Press.Play., brought to you by The Business of Games Podcast, powered by Xsolla.Recorded live at GDC 2026 inside the Xsolla Clubhouse, this series puts a twist on the traditional interview format: guests play a round of a classic video game against host Chris Hewish and the outcome determines whether they face an easy question or a hard one.In this first episode, Bronson Lingamfelter, co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of One Earth Rising, takes on Chris in a quick battle and earns the easy question — though what follows is anything but a simple conversation.Bronson's path into gaming runs through one of digital media's most transformative moments. Nearly 20 years ago, he helped digitize the comic book industry, co-founding Comixology and building the Buy Once Read Anywhere platform that powered digital comics for Marvel, DC, Image, and more.Now, Bronson is applying those same instincts to games: using emerging technology to rethink how players discover, own, and engage with the titles they love. At One Earth Rising, that means driving new game ownership out of retail environments, bridging loyal CPG audiences into gaming experiences on PlayStation and Steam, and opening up discovery in ways the industry hasn't fully explored yet.One word captures how he got there: ownership.What you'll hear:How digitizing comics shaped Bronson's approach to game ownershipWhat Comixology built and why it mattered before the Walking Dead show changed everythingHow One Earth Rising is using retail activations and CPG partnerships to bring new players into gamesWhy Bronson sees emerging technology as the key to unlocking the next chapter of game discoveryLet’s get into it.Coffee.Press.Play. is an ongoing mini-series, and more conversations with our GDC guests are on the way. Listen on your favorite podcast platform or watch full episodes on our YouTube channel.Missed us at GDC 2026? Stay tuned to our LinkedIn page for announcements on where we'll be next. And catch up on recent episodes at xsolla.com/podcast.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.