Acquired Benchmark’s Mitch Lasky and Blake Robbins on The Art of Business in Gaming
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Apr 26, 2023 
Mitch Lasky, a legendary gaming investor with pivotal stakes in Riot Games and Discord, teams up with Blake Robbins, Benchmark principal and co-host of the GameCraft podcast. They dive into the evolution of gaming business models, tracing the journey from niche markets to mainstream dominance. The duo explores the rise of free-to-play games and subscription services, along with the critical role of digital platforms like Steam. They also discuss the impact of AI on game development and the burgeoning landscape of esports as a vivid marketing tool.
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From Book to Podcast
- Mitch Lasky considered writing a book about the business of gaming, inspired by "The Genius of the System".
- Friends advised him that "nobody reads books", leading him to podcasting.
Business Models Drive Creativity
- Game business models significantly shape creative vision in game development, not the other way around.
- The packaged goods era prioritized planned obsolescence to drive recurring sales.
Nintendo's Inventory Strategy
- Mitch Lasky recalled Nintendo's clever inventory strategy during his time at Activision.
- Nintendo would intentionally limit inventory for Black Friday, creating demand, then flood shelves before Christmas.
