The executive summary: winners, risks, and next bets from Gamescom

Welcome to The Business of Games podcast, brought to you by Xsolla.In this special episode, host Lia Ballentine sits down with Chris Hewish, President of Xsolla, who has just returned from the world’s biggest gaming event: Gamescom. This time, Chris takes the guest chair to share his firsthand takeaways from the show floor, giving us a unique insider’s perspective on the industry’s most important trends.From direct-to-player monetization and AI breakthroughs, to the balancing act between indie creativity and blockbuster spectacle, Gamescom 2025 offered a front-row seat to the future of gaming. Along the way, you’ll hear live soundbites from the industry voices Chris spoke with on the ground and get a true pulse check on where the business of games is headed next.Whether you’re a studio founder, platform strategist, or simply curious about what Gamescom signals for the year ahead, this episode delivers your executive summary of the winners, risks, and next bets shaping the business of games.Let’s get into it.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.