top of page

Press Release

January 20, 2026

 

Good Game Club Podcast in Partnership with Tencent, Launches at Davos to Champion the Positive Power of Play

 

[DAVOS, Jan. 20] Today at the World Economic Forum in Davos, ‘Good Game Club’ Podcast officially launches, bringing together leading global voices to open conversations on how the video games industry can be a positive force in today’s society. 

 

The first episode features an interview with game industry author and commentator Bastian Bergmann. Hosted by games industry pioneers Jude Ower and Mathias Gredal Norvig, the podcast builds on the success of their 2024 bestselling book ‘Gaming for Good’, bringing key concepts to life through in-depth expert guest conversations.  Its mission is to reveal the hidden and unexpected benefits of play, shining much-needed light on the positive impact games can have for everyone, everywhere and for the planet.

 

Good Game Club has some exceptional guests to look forward to each month, including:

  • David Barrie, Founder and CEO of Game Academy.

  • Maria Sayans, CEO of Ustwo Games (Monument Valley franchise).

  • Dr. Mick Donegan, Founder and CEO of charity SpecialEffect.

  • Tom Chatfield, tech philosopher and author of ‘Wise Animals’ and ‘How To Thrive In The Digital Age’.

  • Kirsty Rigden, CEO of FuturLab (PowerWash Simulator).

 

Jude Ower, Chief Strategy Officer of PlanetPlay and Host of the Good Game Club podcast, says: “Gaming is the biggest change-making platform in today’s culture, and one of the most transformative art forms for social impact.  By launching our new podcast at Davos, we aim to share this message with the world’s most influential leaders to ignite action tied to this year's Forum theme, ‘A Spirit of Dialogue.’  Gaming is a critical tool for building community and spearheading movements to address some of society’s most pressing challenges.”

 

In the debut episode of the Good Game Club Podcast released today, Bastian Bergmann, Co-Founder of technology start-up Solsten and author of ‘Press Play – Why Every Company Needs A Gaming Strategy,’ explains why gaming is now essential for brands to connect with modern audiences. He stresses the importance of using psychological and human-centric insights to better understand consumers and create authentic, engaging experiences. Bergmann urges companies to align gaming with their core goals and values and cites successful examples like Duolingo and The New York Times. Ultimately, he argues that skills such as resilience, tenacity, and collaboration - developed through games - are vital for both personal and professional growth.

 

Bergmann shares: “Video games are effectively a digital manifestation of the concept of play.  That’s why they are so effective at engaging us. If you look at all the data, games are where culture exists. It’s where all the engagement lives.  Gaming is a medium. And I would argue, it’s the defining medium of our time.”

 

Good Game Club podcast is supported by a strategic partnership with Tencent, uniting shared ambitions to shape a more positive future through the power of games.  Together, they aim to inspire and galvanise audiences through thought-provoking and insightful conversations, and accelerate understanding of gaming as a positive aspect of modern-day culture and learning.

 

Danny Marti, Head of Public Affairs at Tencent, commented on the partnership: “Our partnership with Good Game Club is built on a shared belief that healthy gameplay is a global force for positive progress. With some three billion people engaged in games worldwide, this medium unites diverse cultures and communities, fostering the development of essential life skills such as collaboration, leadership, adaptability and problem-solving. By amplifying voices both within and beyond the industry, we can harness the universal reach of video games to drive meaningful learning, wellbeing and belonging - creating connections and experiences that matter for players, families and communities across the globe.”  

 

Goals House at Davos is partnering with Good Game Club to advance the UN ‘s Sustainable Development Goals.  As part of this collaboration, World Economic Forum delegates are invited to participate in a special leaderboard challenge in SYBO’s Subway Surfers - one of the world’s most popular mobile games – on Tuesday 20th (2.30-3.30 CET) and Thursday 22nd (1.30-2.30 CET) at Goals House Davos.  This initiative aims to demonstrate how playful competition can inspire action and awareness around global goals, harnessing the power of gaming for positive change.

 

Building on the conversations of the Good Game Club podcast, Jude Ower will be participating in a panel discussion about the importance of mental health in gaming, cyber security and online safety on Wednesday, January 21 (10.00-11.30 CET at the Mountain Plaza Hotel). Hosted by author Ignat Bobrovich, it is part of unDavos 2026: The Spirit of Action, an independent conference which runs parallel to the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting.

 

The first episode of Good Game Club can be viewed here.


For more information, please contact comms@goodgame.club. 

The Good Game Podcast is supported by a strategic partnership with Tencent, working together to shape a more positive future through the power of games. 

bottom of page