Nexon’s CEO on Leaving a Legacy, Fostering Talent, & AI in Games

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Jan 7, 2024

Nexon's CEO, Owen Mahoney, discusses his legacy at Nexon, succession planning, and the future of AAA publishing. They also explore the impact of AI-driven software on game development and the importance of learning from other industries. Owen compares himself to the next CEO and highlights their shared view of delivering fun games. The podcast concludes with a discussion on the future of the games industry, focusing on deflationary innovation and the benefits of smaller teams.

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Introduction

00:00 • 3min

Reflections on the CEO's tenure and leadership advice

03:05 • 15min

Flow, Succession Planning, and Setting the Next Generation Up for Success

18:12 • 6min

Reflections on Retirement and Comparison of Current and Next CEO

23:59 • 3min

The Future of the Games Industry: Innovation and Technology

27:10 • 20min

Personal Interests, Coding Hobbies, and Future Learning

47:02 • 3min

Owen Mahoney, CEO of Nexon, is back for another phenomenal conversation – this time on the heels of the announcement that Owen is soon stepping down from the CEO role after a decade of market-beating performance. He and host, Aaron Bush, discuss Owen’s legacy at Nexon, what he wished he knew about being CEO when he started, what goes into great succession planning, and more about Nexon’s next CEO, Junghun Lee. Then the duo discusses how AI-driven software is already enabling AAA games to be made with smaller creative teams (such as Embark Studios’ THE FINALS) and how that shifting reality will have a profound impact on AAA publishing in the coming years. Lastly, Owen and Aaron wrap up by discussing what Owen aims to spend more time doing post-Nexon.

Also, if you haven’t listened to our previous conversation with Owen, which covers how Nexon manages long-lasting virtual worlds and builds antifragility into its business, you can do so here: https://naavik.co/podcast/owen-mahoney/

And here are the book recommendations Owen mentioned during our conversation:

Mindstorms: Children, Computers, And Powerful Ideas: https://www.amazon.com/Mindstorms-Children-Computers-Powerful-Ideas/dp/0465046746
Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience: https://www.amazon.com/Flow-Psychology-Experience-Perennial-Classics/dp/0061339202/
Designing Games: A Guide to Engineering Experiences: https://www.amazon.com/Designing-Games-Guide-Engineering-Experiences/dp/1449337937/

We’d also like to thank Overwolf for making this episode possible! Whether you're a gamer, creator, or game studio, Overwolf is the ultimate destination for integrating UGC in games! You can check out all Overwolf has to offer at https://www.overwolf.com/

If you like the episode, please help others find us by leaving a 5-star rating or review! And if you have any comments, requests, or feedback shoot us a note at podcast@naavik.co.

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Sound design by Gavin Mc Cabe.