Game Dev Career Advice, Starting a Studio & AI in 2026 | Rushdown Studios

Kirk Becker and Hunter Fortuin of Rushdown Studios join JP for a wide-ranging conversation on breaking into games, advancing your career, building a co-dev studio, AI's real impact, and what 2026 looks like from inside the industry.

KEY TOPICS

• Breaking into the games industry in 2026

• The "brag book" strategy for career advancement

• Networking, portfolios, and increasing your surface area of luck

• Co-development studio culture and ownership mindset

• AI in game dev: what's real, what's hype, and what to do about it

• Why NOT hiring junior talent due to AI is a long-term danger

• UEFN, Roblox, Godot, and the new wave of accessible game development tools

• Sustainable game development vs. big-budget gambles

TIMESTAMPS

0:30 — Introductions & where in the world are you?