
The Brutal Truth About Gaming Consulting Nobody Talks About
From Deconstructor of Fun by Deconstructor of Fun
May 25, 2026 · 1h 4m
About this episode
The episode explores the harsh realities of gaming consulting amidst industry layoffs, featuring insights from Michail Katkoff and John Wright.
The gaming industry has seen 24,000+ layoffs in 2024–2025 alone, and a wave of new consultants has followed. But how many of them actually chose this path?Michail Katkoff sits down with John Wright to unpack the raw, honest reality of gaming consulting: the anxiety, the income rollercoaster, the identity crisis, and the strategies that actually work.In this episode, we break down: ● Why 70% of gaming consultants are in survival mode (not thriving)● The psychological shift from exec to consultant, and why it's harder than it looks● How to avoid "doing yourself out of a job" when you succeed● The pipeline trap: when to walk away from a lead● Equity vs. cash: the risk of taking options over fees● Why fractional work is the key to staying sharp● How to build your personal brand before you need it● Who consulting is NOT for
People in this episode
Host: Michail Katkoff
Guest: John Wright
Topics covered
- gaming consulting
- industry layoffs
- consultant challenges
- personal branding
- income instability
- psychological shift
Keywords
- gaming industry
- consulting
- layoffs
- income rollercoaster
- personal brand
- survival mode
More episodes of Deconstructor of Fun
- TWIG #387: LiftOff IPO, Xbox pulls out the bangers, and The Simpsons take over Monopoly GO! · June 12, 2026 · 52 min
- $500M in 2 Years: Here's How Grand Games Did It! · June 8, 2026 · 59 min
- The ESA's Essential Facts: Free Player Data Most Companies Pay For · June 5, 2026 · 56 min
- TWIG #386: CoD MW4 Revealed, Sony's State of Play, Bungie's End and 007 First Light · June 4, 2026 · 1h 0m
- Match Masters' Influencer Marketing Playbook: 8 Years of Always-On Growth · June 1, 2026 · 47 min
- TWIG #385: $100M for Indies, Lilith Goes Casino, Google Play Changes and Toon Blast Breaks Bad · May 28, 2026 · 1h 1m
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Deconstructor of Fun podcast page.