Killer Instinct's Adam Boyes Tears Down the Walls

The Fourth Curtain

Our guest this week is Adam Boyes, longtime co-CEO of Iron Galaxy and now founder of Vivrato. From Killer Instinct to The Last of Us Part I, he’s helped bring major games to life and now supports devs launching their own. We discuss putting in raunchy stuff, nemawashi and his magic deck of challenges - this week!

Episode Highlights

[00:00:00] "Shipping Will Burn You": Why Making Games Is the Best Teacher
Adam kicks off with advice for aspiring devs: build, release, and learn from failure—because real growth comes from shipping games, not just dreaming them.

[00:08:00] From Farm Town to QA: Adam’s Unlikely Start at EA Sports
Hear how Adam landed his first job in games testing NBA Live 97 and FIFA 98, despite growing up in rural Canada with dreams of working on NHL games.

[00:15:00] Modding Roots and BBS Culture: The Birth of a Developer
Adam shares how his love for PC modding and running a Jurassic Park–themed BBS shaped his curiosity and multi-discipline approach to game development.

[00:27:00] The Wild Days at Midway: Slugfest, Blitz & Studio Chaos
From canceled games to f-bomb-filled meetings, Adam reflects on Midway’s raw, chaotic culture—and how it helped him grow as a producer and leader.

[00:34:00] “Nemo Washi”: Building Consensus Like a Japanese Producer
Adam explains the Japanese business concept of Nemo Washi, and how it shaped his leadership style—building trust, alignment, and resource sharing across teams.

[00:44:00] Smashing Red Tape at PlayStation: Killing the Concept Submission Process
At Sony, Adam eliminated outdated approval systems and championed indie access, unlocking millions in dev revenue and streamlining platform entry.

[00:50:00] Iron Galaxy’s Secret Sauce: Co-Development with the Best in the Biz
Adam discusses co-developing Skyrim, Diablo III, The Last of Us Part I, and Fortnite—and how Iron Galaxy became one of the industry’s most trusted studios.

[00:56:00] Launching Vivrato: Solving the Game Industry’s Hardest Problems
Now at Vivrato, Adam's mission is to help devs at all levels—focusing on industry-wide challenges with a personalized, high-impact advisory approach.

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