How to Survive, Rebuild, and Lead a Game Studio | Frederick Brassard

In this powerful episode of IndieGameBusiness, we sit down with Frederick Brassard, Studio Head at Nesting Games, to talk about the realities of running, losing, and rebuilding a game studio. With a career that began in the early days of Ubisoft Montreal—where he was hired as their 8th employee—Frederick shares an incredible story that spans decades of growth, challenges, and resilience in the game industry.

We dive into hard but essential questions: What does it take for a studio to survive in today’s volatile market? What are the common mistakes new founders make when starting a studio? How critical are mental and physical health in leadership? And what should you do when your studio is struggling to stay afloat?

Frederick opens up about the painful layoff of 60 employees at Nesting Games, how he and his partner rebuilt from that moment, and what it’s really like to balance production, business development, operations, and finance while trying to create great games in an unpredictable landscape.

Whether you're an industry veteran or an aspiring studio founder, this episode is a must-listen.

Topics Covered:

How a studio can survive and thrive in 2024

What not to do when starting your own game studio

Frederick's incredible origin story and his time at Ubisoft

Rebuilding Nesting Games after major layoffs

Where the game industry is headed—and how to prepare

Balancing mental and physical health as a studio leader

Real talk about production, partnerships, and perseverance

Connect with Frederick Brassard & Nesting Games:

Twitter (X): https://x.com/NestingGames

Facebook: https://facebook.com/nestinggames/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/playdirectorate/

Game Announcement: https://www.ign.com/articles/the-directorate-novitiate-announced-for-pc

#IndieGameBusiness #NestingGames #GameStudioLeadership #GameDev #FrederickBrassard #GameDevelopment #StudioSurvival #IndieDev #MentalHealthInGames #GameIndustry