Fateless Podcast Recap: Can We Create the PERFECT In-Game Economy?
In this week’s Fateless Podcast, the team dive deep into one of the trickiest aspects of game development: economy design. Joining the conversation are long-time team members Brad, Sham and Paul, along with special guest Robert, the lead game economy designer on Godforge.
Podcast Summary
Robert, with over 15 years in the industry across mobile and AAA titles, offers key insight into why so many game economies feel frustrating. His answer? It’s incredibly hard to balance systems that both challenge and reward players—especially when you introduce things like trading, grind-heavy mechanics, and monetization layers.
The team explores examples of failed and successful game economies. From Path of Exile’s community-led trading systems to Diablo III’s auction house fiasco, they discuss how too much freedom or overregulation can destabilize a game. Robert explains the importance of separating “critical” and “non-critical” resources and how Godforge is focusing on sustainable, player-friendly balance—especially for free-to-play users.
As Robert puts it, “It’s not about making players run out of resources—it’s about making sure every minute they play feels rewarding.” Whether you play casually or grind for hours, Godforge aims to create an economy that respects your time and choices. Be sure to head on over to the YouTube video to check out the full conversation!
