Why Every Game Needs a Creator Program

In 2025, gaming is no longer just about creating great games—it’s about creating thriving ecosystems. The rise of live-service models and player-driven economies means that success hinges on more than just initial downloads or launch-day hype. Studios now face a critical question: how do you keep players playing? Justin Sacks, CEO and Co-Founder of Nexus, offers a compelling answer: creator programs. These initiatives empower content creators to transform games into dynamic communities, driving retention, reactivation, and long-term growth in an industry where player loyalty is priority #1. Justin joins Peggy Anne Salz and Brian Baglow in this episode for a candid conversation on what it takes to build and maintain a world-class creator program. The group discusses why working with content creators proves to be a fantastic tool for sustainable growth, the mistakes and challenges studios face when getting started, why traditional influencer marketing falls short and how a revenue-sharing model sets both creators and studios up for success. Listen and learn! CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Intro 01:54 - Lessons from competitive gaming 03:05 - Why creator programs matter 09:10 - Managing creator programs 13:25 - What Nexus does 14:46 - Influencer marketing vs a creator program 19:35 - Streamer to studio designer pipeline 22:08 - Steps to setting up 28:35 - Small creators still perform 31:58 - Common challenges and mistakes 38:16 - Upcoming trends 39:25 - Favourite games Q&A * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *  ** Let's Connect ** 👉🏻 X - https://x.com/pgbiz  👉🏻 LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/groups/144491/  👉🏻 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/PGbiz  👉🏻 Website - https://www.pocketgamer.biz  Check out more world-class speakers sharing their insights and expertise at one of our events. You can find details of our next event here - https://www.pgconnects.com/next-event