Live Long and Prosper with Amazon's Christoph Hartmann

VP of Amazon Games Christoph Hartmann is our guest. At BMG he helped launch GTA and went on to co-found 2K Games and publish NBA 2K, Civilization, Bioshock and Borderlands. We discuss the upcoming King of Meat, a very fresh take on how AI can help gamedev and more - this week!

Episode Highlights

[00:00:00] Intro: Christoph Hartmann

[00:20:32] From Music to Games: Christoph’s First Break at BMG
Christoph shares how his early exposure to computers led to an internship at BMG Interactive — a move that launched his career from music into video games

[00:28:03] Learning from Sam: Building for the Future
Christoph reflects on learning from his leaders and how to run a company with one eye on the horizon — always anticipating industry shifts to stay ahead.

[00:31:32] Founding 2K Games: Building a Creative Powerhouse
He talks about the creation of 2K Games and how the studio became home to major franchises like BioShock and Borderlands.

[00:40:10] Captain Kirk, Not Spock: Leading Overnight
Christoph shares how he was suddenly handed leadership responsibilities, earning the nickname “Captain Kirk” while his second-in-command was called “Spock.” He jokes, “I’m not Spock,” but explains what it taught him about command and trust.

[00:42:12] Spotting Winners: How Christoph Evaluates Studios
He breaks down what he looks for when assessing game studios — from creative spark to execution — and when it’s the right time to buy in or step back.

[00:49:12] Embracing AI: Innovation, Adaptation, and Opportunity
Christoph discusses how new technology, including AI, could actually improve development — making gameplay more adaptive and lowering production costs.

[00:59:34] Joining Amazon Games: Betting on Live Service Futures
After a moment of career reflection, Christoph joined Amazon to explore live service games — a model he believes represents the future of the industry. He shares why he finds Amazon’s culture both exciting and rewarding.

[01:04:15] Leading Smart Teams: Managing a Crew of “Spocks”
At Amazon, Christoph leads teams full of brilliant problem-solvers — his “Spocks.” He explains how he adapts his leadership to align incentives, empower experts, and keep learning as a leader.

[01:11:57] Bridging Creativity and Business: The In-Between Role
Christoph describes himself as the bridge between creative vision and business strategy, uniting both worlds to make better games. He also teases Amazon’s upcoming project, King of Meat.

[01:16:56] Outro: Wrapping Up and Reflecting on AI’s Power Demand
Alex and Aaron close out the episode, reflecting on Christoph’s insights and joking about the future of AI — and the nuclear power plants we might need to keep it all running.

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