In this episode of Spawn On Me, I sit down with Ben Kvalo, CEO of Midwest Games, to dive into what makes this new publishing label stand out in an ever-evolving industry. We explore the role of publishers in today’s market, the challenges indie developers face, and whether the gaming industry is oversaturated with too many titles.

Ben shares his thoughts on building sustainable careers for the next generation of developers, and the value of player feedback, and we discuss how platforms like Xbox Game Pass are impacting discoverability. If you’ve ever wondered how publishers make decisions, support studios, or think about the long game in gaming—this one’s for you.

Topics We Cover:

What makes Midwest Games different from traditional publishers
The growing difficulty of standing out in a crowded market
How publishers can better support marginalized and new devs
Are players giving developers helpful feedback?
The real benefits and challenges of Game Pass for studios

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How Midwest Games Is Changing Gaming Right Now!