The February GameUp Africa Meetup was a deep dive into what it takes to transition from game developer to studio leader, featuring Melissa Phillips, Director of Games Leadership. With over a decade in the gaming industry, Melissa has worked with leaders across game studios, helping them navigate challenges, develop leadership skills, and create sustainable businesses.

The session unpacked the realities of running a game studio, the mindset shift from developer to leader, common challenges in the first year, and essential leadership skills for long-term success.

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The Keys to Building a Game Studio:

The Reality of Running a Studio: Leadership is Everything

Melissa emphasized that running a game studio is not the same as making a game. While a game team is focused on developing a game, a game studio must think about sustainability, finances, project management, and team growth.

🔹 A game team asks:

• How do we make this game?
• Why this game?
• Who/what do we need to make this game?

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🔹 A game studio asks:

• How do we pay our team so they can keep making games?
• How do we manage projects in a way that avoids burnout?
• How do we sustain the studio beyond one game?
• How do we market and sell the game so we can make another one?

Melissa stressed that a game team relies on direction, while a game studio relies on leadership—a critical distinction that shapes how founders should think about their business.
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Challenges in the First Year: The Hidden Struggles of Studio Leadership

Starting a game studio is exciting but incredibly challenging. Melissa outlined three major struggles studio leaders face:

Decision Fatigue

• Constantly answering critical questions: Where is funding coming from? Should we sign with a publisher? When should we start marketing?
• Having to make tough calls daily, often with limited information.

Consistency

• Balancing long-term sustainability with short bursts of motivation.
• Handling publisher/investor interest, which can shift team dynamics.

Overpromising

• Scoping too large and committing to more than the team can deliver.
• Learning to adjust ambitions to reality is a key leadership skill, not a failure.

Melissa emphasized that knowing how to scope effectively takes experience, and successful studios learn to prioritize and adapt over time.

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From Developer to Studio Leader: The Mindset Shift

Melissa explained that studio leaders need to think beyond the game and focus on the business. Some key mindset shifts include:

Communicating the Vision

• Leaders must share the vision, not just hold it in their heads.
• Trust and alignment are essential for team motivation.

Self-Awareness & Leadership Skills

• Understanding personal strengths and weaknesses is crucial.
• Feedback is a powerful tool for growth and improvement.

Games Leadership Framework: You – Me – Us

• You: Understand yourself first as a leader.
• Me: Build relationships and trust with your team.
• Us: Create a strong studio culture that supports growth.

Melissa founded Games Leadership after realizing the lack of structured leadership models in the industry. Her work focuses on helping studio leaders develop skills that set them up for long-term success.

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Project Showcase: Echo by Organized Khaos 🎮

The meetup concluded with an exciting project showcase by Andy Korshie-Sherrie, Studio Lead and Co-Founder of Organized Khaos, who earned the first runner-up position at the GameUp Africa Jam for Democracy with their game, Echo.
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About Organized Khaos

Based in Accra, Ghana, Organized Khaos is an indie studio focused on creating fun, narrative-driven, and financially sustainable games from Africa for the world.

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Lessons from the Game Jam

Andy and his team shared hard-earned lessons from developing Echo:

🔹 Scope properly! Avoiding scope creep is crucial.
🔹 Over-communicate, don’t just communicate. Clarity matters.
🔹 Start small but polish well. Quality over quantity.
🔹 Stay flexible. Game development is unpredictable.
🔹 Feedback is gold. Iteration is key.

🎯 Biggest takeaway: Find the fun!

The February meetup was packed with valuable insights, and attendees left inspired to think beyond game development and embrace leadership in the gaming industry.

Watch the Meetup Again! Did you miss the session or want to revisit key insights? The live stream is available to rewatch on Maliyo Games’ YouTube page. Be sure to subscribe to stay updated on future meetups and leave a comment on what stood out to you!

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Looking Ahead: More Meetups, More Fun!

As we continue into 2025, GameUp Africa Meetups will bring more industry leaders, insightful talks, and exciting project showcases.

Stay tuned for updates, and don’t forget to follow us on social media on @maliyogames and GameUp Africa’s LinkedIn page,  for the latest news! 🎮✨