[Ep535] Where’d all the money go in game dev?

[Ep535] Where’d all the money go in game dev?

Author: Butterscotch Shenanigans August 27, 2025 Duration: 59:55
Game Dev Podcast | Coffee with Butterscotch
GamesGames & HobbiesArtsComedyCultureHobbiesPhilosophySocietySociety & CultureTechnology

In episode 535 of 'Coffee with Butterscotch,' the brothers dive into the complexities and pitfalls of live service games, highlighting recent industry trends and discussing how giant corporations handle their gaming acquisitions. They also reveal their next exciting indie project, 'How Many Dudes?', and share insights on open development and community engagement

Support Crashlands 2!
Official Website: https://www.bscotch.net/games/crashlands-2/
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ib7fzLf59vo
Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1401730/Crashlands2/
Google Play:https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bscotch.crashlands2
Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/crashlands-2/id1528199331

00:00 Introduction and Welcome
00:53 Thanks to our supporters! (https://moneygrab.bscotch.net)
01:39 Naming the New Service: Ludo Kit
06:04 Video Podcast Transition
09:55 How Many Dudes: Game Development Insights
11:46 Success on GX.games and Future Plans
18:39 Soft Announcement: How Many Dudes as Next Game
25:13 Sony's Live Service Games (Listener Question)
30:29 Challenges in AAA Game Development
34:27 The Roblox Generation
37:01 Indie Games vs. Big Studios
43:15 The Complexity of Live Service Games
49:07 The Role of Beta Testing (Listener Question)
56:21 Open Development and Community Engagement
01:00:43 Conclusion 

To stay up to date with all of our buttery goodness subscribe to the podcast on Apple podcasts (apple.co/1LxNEnk) or wherever you get your audio goodness. 

If you want to get more involved in the Butterscotch community, hop into our DISCORD server at discord.gg/bscotch and say hello! 

Submit questions at https://www.bscotch.net/podcast, disclose all of your secrets to podcast@bscotch.net, and send letters, gifts, and tasty treats to https://bit.ly/bscotchmailbox. 

Finally, if you’d like to support the show and buy some coffee FOR Butterscotch, head over to https://moneygrab.bscotch.net.

★ Support this podcast ★

Pull up a chair and pour something warm. Each week, the folks behind the award-winning indie studio Butterscotch Shenanigans-the creators of Crashlands-sit down to untangle the messy, rewarding, and often absurd reality of making games. Coffee with Butterscotch feels less like a formal broadcast and more like eavesdropping on a freewheeling conversation between friends who’ve been in the trenches. You’ll hear them dissect the nuts and bolts of development, from art pipelines to bug-squashing, but the discussion rarely stays in the technical lane. It veers into the philosophy of creativity, the rollercoaster of running a small business, and the strange habits that fuel productivity. The tone is unfiltered and genuinely funny, because the hosts don’t separate the work from the life surrounding it. This podcast digs into how to solve problems, ship your projects, and keep your sanity while doing it, all served with a heavy dose of camaraderie and self-deprecating humor. It’s a weekly dose of insight and laughter for anyone curious about the stories behind the screen, whether you're a seasoned developer, an aspiring creator, or just someone who enjoys peeking behind the curtain of how things are made.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 556

Official website RSS
Game Dev Podcast | Coffee with Butterscotch
Podcast Episodes
[Ep516] Exploding Servers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:41
In this episode, we discuss launch stats, slippery servers, and squishy plushies. Crashlands 2 hit the ground running with five times the sales of the original and a tidal wave of new players! Steam charts lit up, bugs s…
[Ep515] Crashlands 2 OUT NOW! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:26
On this special bonus episode of Coffee with Bscotch, we celebrate the launch of Crashlands 2! We talk about the studio's journey and reflect on a decade of shenanigans, butterscotch-flavored and otherwise. If you’re new…
[Ep514] It’s Coming [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:49
In this episode, we discuss comfort systems, progression maps, and pre-launch vibes. Everything’s ready, the fuse is lit, and now it’s the final countdown. Crashlands 2 launches tomorrow! Are you ready?Support Crashlands…
[Ep513] Locked & Loaded [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:58
This week, we talk about golden builds, crabs, and slippery fish. Some weapons in Crashlands 2 have a catch, literally. If you manage to hook one of these powerful items, you might find that they’re hard to hang on to. E…
[Ep512] Sequel Struggle [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:42
In this episode, we discuss development time, co-op, and sequel iterations. Turns out, building a sequel is less about stacking on new features and more about wrestling the original into shape. Sometimes you circle all t…
[Ep511] Final Stretch [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:15
This week, we talk about the beta wrap-up, player stats, and endgame design. The end of a game is where things get weird. Players want closure, but they also want more to do. There’s a fine line between sticking the land…
[Ep510] Lock & Launch [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:58
In this episode, we discuss edge cases, string lock, and embargos. Press keys are out, and now it’s a trust fall. Will the embargoes hold, or will spoilers make it into the wild? Will our calculated risks pay off, or is…
[Ep509] Median Madness [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:51
This week, we talk about median playtime, weapon balance, and revisiting our older games. From chaotic co-op antics to echolocation-based platforming, our game jam experiments were always a blast, even if they were never…
[Ep508] Game Hooks [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:50
In this episode, we discuss meatloaf, odd strategies, and player engagement. Striking the right balance of clarity, depth, and enjoyable interactions keeps players hooked, but doing it at every level is a challenge. If a…
[Ep507] Testing Grounds [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:55
This week, we talk about beta testing,design tweaks, and the wild gamble of launching a game. No matter how much planning, testing, or iterating goes into making a game, launching one is always a leap into the unknown. A…

«12345678910...56»