← Back to Blog

GEC BONUS EP: What’s up at GDC 2025? (w/Charlie Hsu)

April 7, 2025

Phillip & Eric navigate the strangely subdued landscape of GDC 2025, pondering if there really is such a thing as a free lunch. Christopher Kaczmarczyk-Smith dials in, wondering if his absence is secretly the key to Eric’s roundtable success.

They dissect the talks, the conference economics, the rise of mobile’s respectability, and a guest in economy designer, Charlie Hsu.

In this episode:

– Is the game industry actually shrinking, or just taking a nap? And if Web3 isn’t the savior, what’s left besides… sweeps?
– Is GDC just a cleverly disguised wealth transfer from sponsors to developers?
– What’s the latest “reasonable” pitch for Web3 in games?
– What’s the economic model behind those San Francisco walk-up shops overflowing with candy bars right next to the register? High margins? A tourist trap? Something… else

Watch: https://lnkd.in/e66H5DR6
Listen: https://lnkd.in/ekQUjrKX