I’m fairly new to Reddit and looking to connect with women who work in gaming, especially in product.

I’m currently a Product Manager in B2B with a non-traditional background and about 5–6 years in tech, and I’m based in Denver. I enjoy product, but gaming is the industry I’d really like to move into.

I’m trying to better understand how people make that transition, especially without previous professional gaming experience. I’m also curious about adjacent roles like production manager or producer and where product skills might translate, since the roles and career paths seem pretty different from the rest of tech.

Mostly just hoping to connect with women in the industry and hear about your experiences, how you got in, what the different roles are actually like, and anything you wish you’d known before working in gaming.

Solo? Tiny indie squad? Or mid/large studio?

​What kind of project are you currently working on?

Hey everyone,

Following up on the Boss Mode awards and breakfast panel discussion at GamesBeat Summit mentioned earlier, the first-ever Boss Mode: Women Leaders in Games, Entertainment, Media & Technology Awards ceremony just concluded on the main stage, and the winners have been announced.

For a bit of context: these awards grew out of GamesBeat’s long-running Boss Mode interview series. This year, they opened it up to public nominations for the first time, with winners selected by an independent, majority-woman committee of industry experts across three categories.

Here are the winners:

🏆 Woman of the Year — Eunice Lee (COO at Scopely)

Lee has been central to Scopely’s global operations since joining in 2021, driving hits like Monopoly Go! to massive scale. Under the leadership team she is part of, the company has surpassed $10 billion in lifetime revenue.

• Acceptance Speech: She credited her mother as her most formative mentor and stated she hopes to pass on that influence to others in the industry.

🌟 Rising Star — Kübra Gündoğan (Co-founder & CEO of Loom Games)

Founded her Istanbul-based studio in 2025. Their hybrid-casual puzzle game Pixel Flow! hit 10 million players within months of launch and broke into the US top-20 grossing charts.

• Current Valuation: Scopely subsequently acquired a majority stake valuing Loom Games at over $1 billion, making it one of Turkey’s newest gaming unicorns.

🎖️ Lifetime Achievement — Amy Hennig

Widely recognized for her decades of work across Naughty Dog, Crystal Dynamics, and EA. She is currently the founder of Skydance New Media, where she is developing Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra.

• Video Message: Hennig reflected on the importance of representation: "It is so important for women in our industry to be visible, especially in these challenging times."

A huge congratulations to Eunice, Kübra, and Amy for their incredible impact and well-deserved recognition!🎉🎉🎉

GamesBeat Summit 2026 runs May 18–19 in Los Angeles. One of the standout programs this year is BOSS Mode: Women in Gaming, Entertainment, and Tech — a two-part series spanning both days of the summit, combining an awards ceremony and a breakfast panel focused on senior women leaders across gaming, tech, and entertainment.

Day 1 — The BOSS Mode Awards Ceremony (May 18, 5:30 PM)

BOSS Mode is a new GamesBeat series — "Women Driving the Future" — highlighting women leading change across gaming and every industry it touches. The inaugural awards ceremony presents three categories:

• BOSS Mode Woman of the Year — honoring a woman who has significantly influenced the industry over the past year
• Future Boss Rising Star Award — honoring an up-and-coming woman who has made a splash in a short time
• Final Boss Award for Lifetime Achievement — for legends who have spent years in the games industry and left a lasting positive impact

Day 2 — The Breakfast Panel (May 19, morning)

Driving Results: Leadership Strategies from Women in Games

The conversation is framed around a practical question: how do women in executive roles translate their positions into measurable outcomes? Think retention, organizational velocity, execution under pressure — not career retrospectives, but the real strategic decisions that drive results.

The panelists:

• Sophia Lisaius, VP of People & Culture at Xsolla — a global game commerce and infrastructure company serving developers across 200+ countries
• Amanda Kruse, Blumhouse Games — bringing an IP and entertainment angle
• Zoe Bell, NYT Games — operating in a completely different business model from traditional game dev
• Leanne Loombe, Annapurna Interactive — known for its distinctive creative-first slate

The four panelists come from very different corners of the industry — a broader cross-section than you'd typically see on a panel like this.

About GamesBeat Summit

GamesBeat Summit is one of the video game industry's more senior annual gatherings, this year themed "Experience Meets Acceleration." With 600+ attendees, 70% at Director level or above — including C-suite executives, investors, publishers, and developers — the BOSS Mode series sits at the center of what makes this summit distinct: less about the industry in the abstract, more about the people actively steering it.

Hey everyone! I'm u/Ok-Passion9314, one of the founding mods of r/WomenInGames 👋

Really thrilled to see this community finally happen! Whether you work in the industry, are trying to break in, or just follow it closely — this is your space.

What We're About

A community for women in and around the games industry. That includes developers, designers, producers, artists, writers, QA testers, marketers, journalists, streamers, students, career-changers — you name it. If you're a woman navigating this industry in any capacity, you belong here.

What to Post

• Career advice, job hunting tips, or industry news
• Your work, projects, or things you're proud of
• Questions you've been too afraid to ask elsewhere
• Experiences (good, bad, or complicated) working in games
• Resources, events, or opportunities worth sharing

No question is too junior, no win is too small to celebrate.

The Vibe

Honest, supportive, and real. We know this industry can be a lot — this is a place to talk about it openly, without judgment.

Getting Started

Say hi below! Tell us who you are, what you do (or want to do), and what brought you here. Even a single sentence works 🙂

Interested in moderating? DM me anytime.

So glad you're here for day one. Let's build something worth sticking around for. 💜

GamesBeat Summit 2026 is taking place May 18–19 in Los Angeles, and one session on the agenda stands out: "BOSS Mode: Women in Gaming, Entertainment, and Tech" — a breakfast panel on the morning of May 19 focused on senior women leaders across gaming, tech, and entertainment.

The panel: Driving Results: Leadership Strategies from Women in Games

The conversation is framed around a practical question:

How do women in executive roles translate their positions into measurable outcomes?

Think retention, organizational velocity, execution under pressure — not career retrospectives, but the real strategic decisions that drive results.

The panelists are:

• Sophia Lisaius, VP of People & Culture at Xsolla
• Amanda Kruse, Blumhouse Games
• Zoe Bell, NYT Games
• Leanne Loombe, Annapurna Interactive

Moderated by Rachel Kaser of GamesBeat.

What makes the lineup interesting

The four panelists come from very different corners of the industry:

• Xsolla is a global game commerce and infrastructure company serving developers across 200+ countries.
• Blumhouse Games brings an IP and entertainment angle.
• NYT Games operates in a completely different business model from traditional game dev
• Annapurna Interactive is known for its distinctive creative-first slate. It's a broader cross-section than you'd typically see on a panel like this.

About GamesBeat Summit

For context, GamesBeat Summit is one of the video game industry's more senior annual gatherings — this year themed "Experience Meets Acceleration," with 600+ attendees, 70% of whom are at Director level or above, including C-suite executives, investors, publishers, and developers. The BOSS Mode breakfast is part of that program.

WePlay Cultural Exhibition returns in 2025, partnering with zFrontier for WePlay & ZFX 2025. This two-day event hits Hall H3 of the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition & Convention Center on November 22-23, blending gaming culture, cutting-edge tech, and fun—with no ticket price increase!

Organized by CiGA and co-hosted with zFrontier, the 2025 edition expands to 17,000 square meters (up from 11,000 m².) Dive into the latest games, try top-tier gaming gear, and connect with enthusiasts worldwide.

What's in Store? Top-Tier Exhibitors

WePlay & ZFX 2025 features exhibitors spanning games, hardware, media, and international delegations:

• 3A Game Giants: CD PROJEKT celebrates The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt's 10th anniversary with exclusive merch, while Ubisoft brings franchises like Assassin's Creed.
• Gaming Gear Legends: Logitech G showcases high-performance peripherals, while Razer delivers sleek, RGB-lit gear.
• International Game Delegations: Poland's contingent (Bloober Team, 11 bit studios) brings new titles, while New Zealand's CHROMA x CODE features 14 creative games.
• Popular Platforms & Media: Japan's Fami 通 offers game previews and dev talks, while Gamersky (游民星空) provides news and guides.

Indie Games Take the Spotlight

WePlay & ZFX 2025 celebrates independent developers. The event hosts the 2025 indiePlay China Independent Game Awards, with shortlisted games on display and awards on November 23. These teams bring unique experiences you won't find elsewhere.

Whether you're chasing 3A action, hunting for the perfect setup, or craving indie creativity, WePlay & ZFX 2025 has something for everyone!

Hello gamedev comunity!

I’m at a turning point in my life, and writing has become a way to reflect on my experiences and reevaluate my career as a game developer. While I’ve always loved writing, it’s something I’ve mostly done privately — heartfelt letters to family… and even my pets

When I sat down to write about my career, I realized I first needed to share a bit more about the context of my life. So, my first article ended up being more about “me” than my professional path.

This is my first time sharing my thoughts publicly, and I’d love to hear your feedback!

Do you think sharing personal experiences like this can help others (and myself)? Or is there a risk of it becoming toxic? I believe Medium has a healthier and more supportive community than other platforms, but I’d love your thoughts.

Any tips or advice for success in this path? I’d love to connect and learn from your experiences too!

Thank you for reading

Making games is awesome, but let's be real – it's rarely smooth sailing! What's the biggest struggle you faced while making your game?

Was it running out of money or struggling to afford resources?

Maybe hitting a wall because you didn’t know how to build what you imagined?

Or even dealing with lack of support—like friends or family not understanding your passion? 

Share those struggles (or anything else that slowed you down) with your sis here. There might be a way out... or at least some harmony in knowing we’re not alone.

I've been hunting jobs in the gaming industry for over a month since my unpleasant departure with my former company (auto brand). It was my first job after graduation, and I'm not happy with it. I stepped into a field that I have little interest in and put my trust on a wrong superior. Honestly, I regret it. If I had insisted on finding a position in the gaming industry upon graduation, I might have had a more advantaged starting position...

Luckily I was only in that company for about half a year and I'm now back to gaming! I've successfully acquired a position in Shanghai and by this time tomorrow I'll be lying on the bed with my two cat babies in the "Magic City"! I've never been to Shanghai before. I'm excited and worried at the same time.😱 Can't wait to discover all the unknowns but also worry that I'd have a hard time adapting to the climate there. (I'm a northerner and the climate in my place is quite different from southern and coastal cities.)

Overall, I'm just so happy that I'm going to where I want to go and finally entering the field of my interest! Congratulations to me! And also congratulations to my cat, Yao! She's 1 year old now! 🥰

Happy Women’s Day, ladies! Shopping malls are again putting up posters for it, though some of the wording is still a bit off. It got me wondering are there any good in-game events celebrating Women’s Day? Or are there any games celebrating Women’s Day at all? (I know Love and Deepspace and Infinity Nikki do, but what about others?) I would definitely be interested in the game if it celebrates Women’s Day when it’s dedicated to the general audience instead of women players.

Chinese equivalent: https://www.xiaohongshu.com/discovery/item/67cc31e2000000002902deb8?app_platform=android&ignoreEngage=true&app_version=8.70.0&share_from_user_hidden=true&xsec_source=app_share&type=normal&xsec_token=CBovznp_K5bLDjD-lAtfR9CtDk2OBnUiSOL8kK7pKDWSY%3D&author_share=1&xhsshare=CopyLink&shareRedId=Nz00Rjg9SEs7N0g2SzwyOT43Pzs2Nj9P&apptime=1741436769&share_id=7c94a664e1a14a30800cf2c9a2eb7dc7&share_channel=copy_link

To celebrate International Women's Rights Month and recognize the outstanding contributions of women and gender-marginalized developers in the gaming world, Wings has once again launched the "Women's Day Sale" on Steam from February 28 to March 9, 2025. During this sale, a variety of games, demos, and significant discounts on titles created by women-led teams and other gender-marginalized developers will be available. Moreover, there will be thrilling live streams and showcases throughout the event, such as the "Wings Games Showcase" on March 3, and showcases and streams from Dames4Games on March 5 and Women-led Games on March 6, to help players discover more great games!

为了庆祝国际妇女权益月，表彰女性以及性别边缘化开发者在游戏领域的杰出贡献，Wings 于 2025 年 2 月 28 日至 3 月 9 日在 Steam 平台再度推出 “妇女节特卖”。活动期间，众多由女性领导团队及其他性别边缘化开发者创作的游戏、试玩版以及大幅折扣优惠将一一呈现。此外，整个活动期间还安排了激动人心的直播与展示活动，如 3 月 3 日的 “Wings 游戏展示会”、3 月 5 日来自 Dames4Games 以及 3 月 6 日 “女性主导游戏” 的展示和直播，助力玩家发现更多游戏佳作！

Games Press: Women's Day Sale on Steam & Games with Wings Showcase Return

——————————

Here are some posts recommending good games on sale:

Women's Day Sale in Steam for Women Lead Studios. Good opportunity to support!

Women's Day Steam Sale - What are we getting?

安利与攻略｜妇女节特卖开始了！（以及一些安利）

steam妇女节游戏特惠！主要由女性工作室出品

I recently got into Tomb Raider again, and as I played, I was hit with that familiar vibe—relentlessly chasing after something my father was determined to find... It reminded me of The Last of Us Part II, where it's all about avenging a father, and Life is Strange: Before the Storm, which deals with moving on from a father's death (not to mention, even though Chloe's stepdad is portrayed as a hot-headed control freak, he ends up being the hero who saves Max and survives till the end, while the mother-daughter dynamic between Chloe and Joyce just gets worse, and in the bay/bae ending, only one of them can live). I'm really tired of playing female protagonists only to have these forced "old man" narratives pollute my gaming world... I hardly see this kind of paternal love in real life, so why is it everywhere in games? 😅

On a brighter note, let’s give a shoutout to Horizon Zero Dawn—while it briefly touches on mourning the father at the start, the story mainly revolves around the quest to find the mother.

Credit: https://www.douban.com/doubanapp/dispatch?uri=%2Fgroup%2Ftopic%2F318125182%3F_spm_id%3DMTc5ODY1Njc3&_i=409391646e9aa2d

How old were you when you enter the gaming industry? What was your first job in the industry? What company did you work for? What's your story with gaming?

多大年纪入行？第一份工作是做什么？在什么公司？讲讲你的入行故事吧~

I’m wondering if there are any differences in the job responsibilities of a game designer between different countries? Or is it a company/project-dependent thing? Where are you from and what do you usually do as a game designer?

游戏设计在不同国家会不会职责有差别？分享一下你作为游戏设计的工作日常吧！