Red 2.0: Transforming a game company | Colin Walder at Leaddev London 2023

Transforming a game company through core values, distributed leadership, and communal management, prioritizing team collaboration, empowerment, and ownership.

Key takeaways
  • The company has transformed its approach to game development, focusing on building strong teams and core values.
  • The values are: Hungry (ambition and passion), Humble (ego control), and Smart (communication and emotional intelligence).
  • The company has introduced cross-functional teams, mentorship circles, and distributed leadership to foster collaboration and empowerment.
  • The goal is to create a culture where teams work together effectively, with leaders who are technical experts and leaders.
  • The company has implemented communal management practices, such as extreme ownership, to promote ownership and accountability.
  • The values are not just aspirational, but are a mandatory part of the company’s culture and are applied in daily work.
  • Feedback from journalists and the community indicates that the game is looking good, and the company is excited about the future.
  • The company is focused on delivering a high-quality game without crunch and is committed to maintaining a healthy work-life balance.
  • The leadership team is committed to the transformation and is working to instill the values in all teams and employees.
  • The company recognizes that change can be painful, but is willing to make changes to ensure a healthy and successful future.