https://simplecast.com The GameDiscoverCo Show How do PC and console games get popular? Hosted by GameDiscoverCo founder Simon Carless & Polygon co-founder and Post Games/The Besties co-host Chris Plante, this companion to GDCo's popular newsletter talks about the latest game platform & discovery news trends, weekly. 2020-2026 Game Discovery Now LLC en Tue, 4 Aug 2026 18:20:48 +0000 Tue, 4 Aug 2026 19:26:17 +0000 https://the-gamediscoverco-show.simplecast.com The GameDiscoverCo Show https://image.simplecastcdn.com/images/9b27f3f5-cb9d-4ef0-8c20-da786311807f/a0e8a50a-3a60-4d0e-96e0-775a239fb3bc/3000x3000/gamediscoverco-logo-b5b89ym2.jpg?aid=rss_feed https://the-gamediscoverco-show.simplecast.com episodic How do PC and console games get popular? Hosted by GameDiscoverCo founder Simon Carless & Polygon co-founder and Post Games/The Besties co-host Chris Plante, this companion to GDCo's popular newsletter talks about the latest game platform & discovery news trends, weekly. Simon Carless & Chris Plante false https://feeds.simplecast.com/m533KlVm game discovery Game Discovery Now LLC simon@gamediscover.co 36508820-8602-11f1-91c8-4f80097a5c9c 5a57e936-67ba-41d7-abcf-50cdb55f0317 Too many 'compulsion loops' in PC games? Mentioned in this episode of the GameDiscoverCo Show: 

- Simon Carless on Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls & the rise of PC games as the 'lead' platform for tech: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/simoncarless_with-the-rise-of-pc-games-as-the-key-pc-ugcPost-7487147115043844096-ziP-/ 
- Kirill Oreshkin on why “The main source of [Steam game] traffic is influencers… for strategy games, tactics & roguelikes - long-form influencers first.": https://www.linkedin.com/posts/kiroreshkin_whats-the-single-biggest-source-of-traffic-share-7481283246438346753-DaRG/ 
- The Verge on the rise of vertical video: https://www.theverge.com/column/970756/vertical-video-tiktok-youtube-instagram-streaming-facebook
 - Mathew Kumar on hit PC game ‘compulsion loops’ and Vampire Survivors: “It’s getting disturbingly transparent to see the slot machine and scratch card[-ish gameplay].. ‘come join us in the machine zone. [it] doesn’t even need you to spend all your money. Your time is good enough for us, here.’” - https://expzine.com/2026/07/21/vampire-survivors-poncle-2022/ 
- GameDiscoverCo's story on the demo success of roguelike autobattler Guildrun: https://newsletter.gamediscover.co/i/208717522/how-guildrun-genre-mashed-its-way-to-300k-demo-players-in-10-days

]]> Tue, 4 Aug 2026 18:20:48 +0000 simon@gamediscover.co (Game Discovery Now LLC) https://the-gamediscoverco-show.simplecast.com/episodes/too-many-compulsion-loops-in-pc-games-cYC5jZ59 Mentioned in this episode of the GameDiscoverCo Show: 

- Simon Carless on Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls & the rise of PC games as the 'lead' platform for tech: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/simoncarless_with-the-rise-of-pc-games-as-the-key-pc-ugcPost-7487147115043844096-ziP-/ 
- Kirill Oreshkin on why “The main source of [Steam game] traffic is influencers… for strategy games, tactics & roguelikes - long-form influencers first.": https://www.linkedin.com/posts/kiroreshkin_whats-the-single-biggest-source-of-traffic-share-7481283246438346753-DaRG/ 
- The Verge on the rise of vertical video: https://www.theverge.com/column/970756/vertical-video-tiktok-youtube-instagram-streaming-facebook
 - Mathew Kumar on hit PC game ‘compulsion loops’ and Vampire Survivors: “It’s getting disturbingly transparent to see the slot machine and scratch card[-ish gameplay].. ‘come join us in the machine zone. [it] doesn’t even need you to spend all your money. Your time is good enough for us, here.’” - https://expzine.com/2026/07/21/vampire-survivors-poncle-2022/ 
- GameDiscoverCo's story on the demo success of roguelike autobattler Guildrun: https://newsletter.gamediscover.co/i/208717522/how-guildrun-genre-mashed-its-way-to-300k-demo-players-in-10-days

]]> Too many 'compulsion loops' in PC games? Game Discovery Now LLC 00:37:02 We talk about whether your target PC/console device, technically, should always be the PC, chat about vertical video taking over the Internet, the rise of 'compulsion loops' in games, and analyze new Steam demo hit Guildrun. We talk about whether your target PC/console device, technically, should always be the PC, chat about vertical video taking over the Internet, the rise of 'compulsion loops' in games, and analyze new Steam demo hit Guildrun. false full 5 88da77cd-2060-4db6-8974-8340a27a7631 Do Steam player reviews matter for your game? Tue, 28 Jul 2026 16:16:03 +0000 simon@gamediscover.co (Game Discovery Now LLC) https://the-gamediscoverco-show.simplecast.com/episodes/do-steam-player-reviews-matter-for-your-game-MeIr1uf_ Do Steam player reviews matter for your game? Game Discovery Now LLC 00:41:23 We talk about GDCo's survey around how Steam fans treat player review when they buy games. Also: an academic's view on the 'deprofessionalization' of games, Gamescom 2026's role in the industry, and improvements to Steam gifting and wishlist categorizing. We talk about GDCo's survey around how Steam fans treat player review when they buy games. Also: an academic's view on the 'deprofessionalization' of games, Gamescom 2026's role in the industry, and improvements to Steam gifting and wishlist categorizing. false full 4 c62ef1ea-a1db-4a0c-9ab7-c775aaec53a8 How much AI do players want in their games? Tue, 21 Jul 2026 15:43:40 +0000 simon@gamediscover.co (Game Discovery Now LLC) https://the-gamediscoverco-show.simplecast.com/episodes/how-much-ai-do-players-want-in-their-games-zieFegOu How much AI do players want in their games? Game Discovery Now LLC 00:42:50 We talk about GDCo’s recent player survey of AI in games, whether Steam refunds for short games are bad news & how the Apple Arcade catalog has settled in over time. Plus, we discuss where Meccha Chamelon fits in the Steam ecosystem. We talk about GDCo’s recent player survey of AI in games, whether Steam refunds for short games are bad news & how the Apple Arcade catalog has settled in over time. Plus, we discuss where Meccha Chamelon fits in the Steam ecosystem. false full 3 cd1bf003-5ea7-47c3-a556-e6aac583996d Should devs center their plans on Next Fest? Tue, 30 Jun 2026 15:34:16 +0000 simon@gamediscover.co (Game Discovery Now LLC) https://the-gamediscoverco-show.simplecast.com/episodes/should-devs-center-their-plans-on-next-fest-8zL3Kwof Should devs center their plans on Next Fest? Game Discovery Now LLC 00:36:55 How does Steam Machine's pricing reflect the new reality of hardware costs? What's the state of physical video game sales in the U.S. in 2026? And what is Next Fest's relative importance for marketing your game? How does Steam Machine's pricing reflect the new reality of hardware costs? What's the state of physical video game sales in the U.S. in 2026? And what is Next Fest's relative importance for marketing your game? steam machine false full 2 d20f579e-7cb9-445c-b7a0-c3dfc52cd516 Summer Game Fest: worth it for devs? Mon, 22 Jun 2026 21:53:59 +0000 simon@gamediscover.co (Game Discovery Now LLC) https://the-gamediscoverco-show.simplecast.com/episodes/summer-game-fest-worth-it-for-devs-y83_Xzm7 Summer Game Fest: worth it for devs? Game Discovery Now LLC 00:40:54 In a pilot episode, Simon & Chris talk about Summer Game Fest & its discovery ramifications for devs, as well as GTA VI's release, Epic's State Of Unreal showcase and UK social media-related legislation that may affect games. In a pilot episode, Simon & Chris talk about Summer Game Fest & its discovery ramifications for devs, as well as GTA VI's release, Epic's State Of Unreal showcase and UK social media-related legislation that may affect games. false full 1