One of the more subtle limitations that develops over time in the video game industry is not a lack of creativity or ambition, but a narrowing of perspective. It rarely happens in a way that is obvious. In fact, it often develops in environments that are otherwise high performing, well informed, and deeply engaged with their craft. Teams study competitors, track trends, attend industry events, and continuously iterate on what they believe to be best practices. From the outside, this looks like a healthy and informed ecosystem.
The issue is not the presence of information. It is the source of it.
When most of that information originates from within the same industry, even strong teams begin to operate within a shared set of assumptions. Over time, those assumptions start to feel less like choices and more like constraints. Approaches that were once innovative become normalized. Patterns repeat. Solutions begin to converge. Even when teams believe they are pushing boundaries, they are often doing so within a framework that has already been collectively defined.
This is where stepping outside the industry becomes valuable.
Over the past few years, I have made a deliberate effort to spend time in environments that are adjacent to games but operate under different creative and commercial pressures. That has included attending the Berlinale Film Festival, the Bologna Children’s Book Fair, and the Annecy International Animation Film Festival along with the MIFA market. None of these spaces are focused on game development, yet all of them are deeply concerned with storytelling, audience engagement, and the long-term viability of creative work.
What becomes clear very quickly in those environments is that while the mediums differ, the underlying challenges are closely related. Each industry is trying to create meaningful experiences, build sustainable models, and evolve in response to changing audience expectations. The methods vary, but the intent is shared.
Seeing how those methods differ is where the value lies.
Recognizing the Limits of Internal Reference Points
The video game industry has matured significantly over the past decades. With that maturity comes a well-established set of practices, frameworks, and expectations. These provide a strong foundation for development, but they also create a gravitational pull toward familiar solutions.
When leaders and teams rely primarily on internal reference points, they begin to reinforce those patterns without necessarily questioning them. This is not due to a lack of creativity. It is the result of working within a system that rewards proven approaches and discourages unnecessary risk. Over time, the industry develops a kind of internal logic that shapes decision-making in ways that are not always immediately visible.
This internal logic influences everything from design decisions to production structures. It shapes how teams approach progression systems, monetization strategies, narrative delivery, and even player engagement loops. While these approaches are often effective, they are not the only possible solutions. They are simply the most commonly accepted ones within the current context.
Stepping outside of that context exposes you to alternative ways of thinking.
At Berlinale, storytelling is constrained by the absence of interactivity. Every element of the experience must be carried through direction, performance, pacing, and structure. This creates a level of intentionality that is sometimes less pronounced in interactive mediums, where player agency can fill in gaps.
At the Bologna Children’s Book Fair, the emphasis shifts toward clarity and accessibility. Stories are constructed in ways that communicate effectively across age groups and cultural boundaries. There is very little room for ambiguity in core messaging, which forces a different kind of discipline.
At Annecy and the MIFA market, the focus often moves toward visual innovation and cross-platform storytelling. Animation projects frequently explore how stories can exist across multiple formats, each contributing to a larger narrative ecosystem.
These differences are not simply interesting observations. They challenge the assumption that the way things are done in games is the only way they can be done.
Actionable steps
Make it a deliberate part of your leadership practice to seek out environments that sit outside of your immediate industry. This should not be treated as occasional exposure, but as an ongoing source of perspective.
When you engage with these environments, focus on identifying the underlying principles behind what you are seeing. Look beyond the surface and ask how and why certain decisions are made.
After each experience, document specific observations that challenge your existing assumptions. This process forces you to engage critically rather than passively.
Bring those observations back into your team discussions. Use them as a way to explore alternative approaches rather than as direct prescriptions.
Observing Storytelling Through Different Constraints
One of the most immediate areas where external inspiration becomes relevant is storytelling. Each creative industry approaches storytelling with its own set of constraints, and those constraints shape the way stories are constructed and delivered.
In film, the absence of interactivity requires a high degree of control over pacing and structure. Every scene must contribute to the overall narrative, and transitions between moments are carefully managed. This creates a strong emphasis on cohesion and intentionality.
In contrast, game development often incorporates systems that allow players to engage with the narrative in a more flexible way. This can create opportunities for deeper immersion, but it can also introduce fragmentation if not handled carefully. When storytelling relies too heavily on systems without sufficient structure, the experience can lose clarity.
Children’s publishing introduces another dimension. At Bologna, the focus on simplicity and clarity highlights the importance of communicating ideas effectively without unnecessary complexity. Stories are designed to be accessible while still carrying emotional and thematic weight. This balance is achieved through careful use of language and visual elements.
Animation, particularly at Annecy, often blends structured storytelling with visual experimentation. It is a space where creative risks are more visible, and where new approaches to narrative and presentation are actively explored.
When you observe these approaches collectively, you begin to see storytelling as a set of adaptable tools rather than a fixed methodology. This perspective allows you to make more deliberate choices about how narrative is integrated into your work.
Actionable steps
Select one non-game storytelling medium and study it in detail over a defined period. Focus on how it handles structure, pacing, and emotional progression.
Analyze specific examples and identify what makes them effective. Look for patterns rather than isolated techniques.
Apply those insights to your current projects in a controlled way. This does not require large-scale changes. Small adjustments can reveal significant improvements.
Encourage your team to engage with external storytelling references and incorporate those discussions into your development process.
Expanding Strategic Thinking Through Transmedia
One of the most significant shifts across creative industries is the move toward transmedia storytelling. This approach recognizes that stories can exist across multiple platforms, each offering a different perspective or experience.
At MIFA, this concept is not theoretical. Projects are often developed with the expectation that they will extend beyond a single format. Creators think about how a story can evolve across film, animation, publishing, and interactive experiences, maintaining a consistent identity while adapting to different mediums.
For leaders in the video game industry, this has important implications. Games are already positioned as interactive hubs within broader ecosystems, but many studios still approach them as standalone products. This limits the potential for long-term engagement and expansion.
By observing how other industries approach transmedia, you gain insight into how to think about your own work more holistically. You begin to consider how your IP can grow beyond its initial format, how different mediums can complement each other, and how to maintain coherence across those experiences.
This requires a shift in perspective. It moves the focus from individual releases to long-term development of ideas and worlds.
Actionable steps
Evaluate your current projects in terms of their potential to expand beyond a single format. This does not mean committing to immediate expansion, but understanding the possibilities.
Study examples of successful transmedia projects and identify the factors that contribute to their cohesion.
Develop relationships with creators in other industries who may bring complementary expertise.
Incorporate transmedia considerations into early-stage planning where appropriate, rather than attempting to add them later.
Building Relationships Outside the Industry
Another significant benefit of engaging with external environments is the opportunity to build relationships with people who operate under different assumptions.
The video game industry, while large, often circulates within familiar networks. This creates strong connections, but it can also limit exposure to new ideas and opportunities.
At events like Berlinale, Bologna, and Annecy, you are interacting with filmmakers, writers, illustrators, producers, and distributors who approach creative work from different perspectives. These interactions often lead to conversations that would not occur within the game industry.
These relationships are valuable not only for potential collaboration but also for the perspective they provide. Engaging with people who think differently challenges your own assumptions and expands your understanding of what is possible.
Networking in these environments requires a different approach. It is less about immediate outcomes and more about building genuine connections.
Actionable steps
Approach networking with the intent to understand rather than to promote. Focus on learning about other people’s work and perspectives.
Ask questions that explore how different industries approach similar challenges.
Maintain relationships through thoughtful follow-up rather than transactional communication.
Look for opportunities where collaboration could create value for both parties.
Translating External Inspiration Into Action
Inspiration, on its own, does not create change. It needs to be translated into action to have meaningful impact.
It is common to leave events feeling energized and full of ideas, only to return to established routines without applying what was learned. Avoiding this requires a deliberate process.
After engaging with external environments, it is important to identify specific insights that can be applied to your current work. These should be concrete and actionable rather than abstract observations.
The role of leadership is to ensure that these insights are integrated into the development process. This may involve adjusting workflows, introducing new approaches, or simply encouraging teams to think differently about their work.
Actionable steps
Document key insights immediately after attending external events. Focus on ideas that can be applied rather than general impressions.
Select a small number of insights and test them within ongoing projects. This allows you to evaluate their effectiveness without significant disruption.
Share your observations with your team and encourage discussion about how they might be applied.
Revisit these insights over time to assess their long-term value.
Final Thoughts
Looking outside the video game industry is not about finding shortcuts or copying what other industries are doing. It is about expanding your perspective so that you can approach your own work with greater awareness and flexibility.
When you engage with different creative environments, you begin to see the underlying principles that drive successful storytelling and audience engagement. You recognize patterns that transcend individual mediums, and you gain a clearer understanding of how your own work fits within a broader context.
This perspective allows you to make more deliberate decisions. It helps you avoid defaulting to familiar solutions and encourages you to explore alternatives that may be more effective.
As a leader, your responsibility is not only to guide execution but also to shape the way your team thinks about its work. By bringing in external inspiration and translating it into practical application, you create an environment where new ideas can emerge and evolve.
The video game industry will continue to grow and change, but it will not do so in isolation. It will be influenced by the same forces that shape other creative industries. Understanding those influences gives you an advantage.
Inspiration is not limited to where you are comfortable.
It exists in the spaces where you are willing to look beyond your own field and engage with the unfamiliar.
