We’re excited to unveil our agenda for our much-anticipated GamesBeat Insider Series: Hollywood and Games conference. (You can still get tickets at this link).
The half-day event will have a series of cross-industry talks on the convergence of interactive entertainment and mainstream entertainment. The event, emceed by Gerard “HipHop Gamer” Williams, will begin with a breakfast session starting at 8 a.m. on December 11 and will run through 1 p.m. Pacific time at the Clive Davis Theater at the Grammy Museum at LA Live in downtown Los Angeles.
It is not affiliated with The Game Awards, but it will take place a stone’s throw away and on the same day so that visitors can make the most of their time in Los Angeles. We’ll have plenty of time for networking with our audience of movers and shakers in the game industry. (If you have signed up and can’t make it, please let us know as that will open up a spot for someone else).
Our theme — CTRL Hollywood: Powering the Next Entertainment Revolution
The only industry gathering where Hollywood meets games — and deals get made.
At the intersection of games, storytelling, and technology, a new creative class is rising — one that’s diverse, visionary, and unafraid to break the rules. We will explore this dynamic convergence, highlighting how the worlds of film, music, television, and video games are increasingly interwoven.
Join GamesBeat at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles on December 11, 2025, for CTRL Hollywood — a half-day insider event exploring how game engines, AI, and interactive formats are transforming entertainment. From game studios launching film projects to Hollywood producers embracing interactivity, we’ll dive into the creative and cultural revolution unfolding now.
The run of show
8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
Doors open for registration/breakfast.
8:50 a.m. Stage 1: Emcee welcome. Our introduction by emcee Gerard “HipHop Gamer” Williams.
8:55 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. Stage 1
Welcome by Dean Takahashi, editorial director for GamesBeat
9:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. Stage 1
Cross-Platform Worldbuilding for Games and Beyond
Audiences no longer simply want to watch a story unfold. They want to play, shape, share and become fully immersed in the worlds they love. In this conversation moderated by Justin Berenbaum (SVP of Global Industry Relations at Xsolla), David Baronoff (Co-founder and EVP of Storytelling at Bad Robot Games) and Halley Gross (Writer of The Last of Us Part II and The Last of Us adaptation) explore how cross-disciplinary teams can build universes that feel authentic and thrive across different mediums. They’ll share how games, film, and writing come together to create stories that invite participation, deepen connection, and keep worlds thriving no matter where audiences experience them.
MODERATOR: Justin Berenbaum, SVP Global Industry Relations, Funding GM, Xsolla
Halley Gross, Writer on The Last of Us Part 2 and The Last of Us Season 2 show
David Baronoff, Co-founder & EVP of Storytelling, Bad Robot Games
Two stages begin
9:30 a.m. – 9:55 a.m.
Stage 1
The New Blockbuster Formula: IP Activation, In-Game Engagement & Digital Revenue
Studios and brands are increasingly bringing iconic IP into the world’s most-played games to drive engagement, brand affinity, and meaningful new revenue streams.
Join Shahar Sorek, CMO of Overwolf, and Marcus Liassides, SVP & Global Head of Digital at Mattel, for a tactical look at how partners like Universal Pictures, Paramount, Warner Bros., Hasbro, and Mattel are activating IP across platforms like Fortnite, Roblox, Minecraft, and ARK: Survival Ascended.
This session explores premium mods, branded interactive experiences, attribution models that tie gameplay to real-world sales, and the rise of “genre-targeting” to reach specific gamer cohorts.
Attendees will walk away with a clear understanding of what’s working now, and how to build IP activations that resonate at scale.
Shahar Sorek, CMO, Overwolf
Marcus Liassides, SVP of Digital Gaming, Mattel
MODERATOR: Alex Lee; Lead News Writer, GamesBeat
Stage 2
Inspiring creativity
How can creative people come up with ideas on a deadline? Glen Schofield has been on the front lines of creating big ideas for blockbuster games, including Dead Space, Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare, Call of Duty: WWII and the Callisto Protocol. Schofield, former CEO of Striking Distance Studios and cofounder of Sledgehammer Games, has done this for decades and he will talk about the process of coming up with ideas on a deadline, and how he has done so over the years.
Speaker: Glen Schofield
9:55 a.m. – 10:20 a.m.
Stage 1
The culture crossover in gaming
Gaming is more popular than ever, but esports and game companies are still developing the tools and best practices to make competitive gaming take off as an entertainment and media property, from the celebrity-powered Global Gaming League to the Saudi-Arabian-backed Esports World Cup. In this session, Void Interactive general manager Chris Stone will join Global Gaming League CEO Clinton Sparks and Esports World Cup Foundation executive producer Ariel Horn for an optimistic discussion about the trajectory of esports in 2026 and beyond — and what their companies are doing to bring more eyeballs to competitive gaming going into the new year.
MODERATOR: Chris Stone, Studio GM, VOID Interactive
Clinton Sparks, CEO, Global Gaming League
Ariel Horn, Executive Producer, Esports World Cup Foundation
Stage 2 Tadgh Kelly, game consultant, begins as emcee.
Video Game IP, Licensing, and the Future of Entertainment
Video games are redefining how IP is built, scaled and monetized worldwide. Hollywood has discovered games are a goldmine when it comes to crossmedia collaborations with movies, TV, and other entertainment – and a launchpad for fresh fan experiences.
But how do you handle the licensing properly? Can you make a deal happen fast? How do you make sure the project is a success? How do you balance creative freedom with the proper guard rails in a deal that benefits both sides? How do unlock more value from IP and tell authentic stories across formats without alienating fans? How do you make game-based narratives resonate with non-gamers and thrive in different markets?
Yong-Yi Zhu, VP, Head of Business Operations, Strategy & Compliance, Tencent
Stefan Makoul, VP of Media Business, Capcom Pictures
Moderator: David Hoppe, Founder & Managing Partner, Gamma Law
10:20 a.m. – 10:40 a.m.
Break
10:40 a.m. – 11:05 a.m.
Stage 1
Expanding the Universe: A Conversation on Splinter Cell: Deathwatch with Ubisoft Film & Television
Join us for an exclusive conversation with Helene Juguet, executive producer from Ubisoft Film & Television, as we dive into the making of Splinter Cell: Deathwatch. Discover how this new series invites new audiences to experience the iconic Splinter Cell universe in a different way, while staying true to the franchise’s core themes of stealth and intrigue. We’ll explore how the show expands on pivotal in-game events, deepens the lore, and remains canon to the beloved game series, bridging the gap between interactive storytelling and cinematic experience.
MODERATOR: Alex Lee, Lead News Writer, GamesBeat
Helene Juguet, Executive Producer, Ubisoft Film & Television
Guillaume Dousse, Director of the Splinter Cell series.
Stage 2
Culture, Collabs & Console Drops: How Pop Culture Is Rewriting the Rules of Game Marketing
The lines between gaming, music, fashion, and pop culture have never been more intertwined. What once existed as separate lanes has converged into a cultural ecosystem where players don’t just play — they participate, wear, listen, stream, and share. Cultural relevance, artist collaborations, and creator influence shape today’s most impactful game marketing strategies. Game studios are partnering with musicians, fashion brands, and voice actors not just to promote their titles but to shape how players experience them. This panel explores how culture‐forward strategy is transforming player engagement and pushing gaming beyond the screen.
Alyssa Sweetman, Director of Client Services, UberStrategist
Mia Ginaé Watkins, Program Manager, Riot Games
Emmanuel “Master” Rodriguez, Team NINJA Studio Community Manager, Koei Tecmo
Eli Harris, Voice Actor
Moderator: Tanesha Graham, PR strategist
11:05 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Stage 1
More Than a Game: The Art & Business of Making Playable Worlds
As Hollywood and gaming collide, it’s important for filmmakers and game developers alike to approach their adaptations in a way that is both profitable and responsible to the core IP. In this panel, Variety media analyst Kaare Eriksen will speak with Delphi founder Casper Daugaard and AGBO president of interactive technology Pete Wanat — industry leaders who sit at the crossroads of entertainment and gaming — for a comprehensive breakdown of the life cycle of IP-driven game development, from securing rights to navigating funding and production.
Casper Daugaard, Founder, Delphi
Pete Wanat, President of Interactive Technology, AGBO
MODERATOR: Kaare Eriksen, Contributor, Variety
Stage 2 (double session for 50 minutes: 11:05 am to 11:50 am)
How will the rise of AI impact the relationship between Hollywood and games?
Artificial intelligence is rapidly disrupting all aspects of the entertainment industry in 2025, sparking debates across both Hollywood and the gaming industry about how to best leverage the technology — and about the proper level of caution to use while experimenting with AI. As intellectual properties are translated back and forth between Hollywood and gaming, it’s inevitable that AI will influence the adaptation process, too. In this panel, our moderator, Xsolla chief marketing and growth officer Berkley Egenes, will join Genies CEO Akash Nigam, game dev Glen Schofield and CAA head of video games Derek Douglas for a discussion of the challenges and potential benefits of AI amid the growing romance between Hollywood and games.
MODERATOR: Berkley Egenes, Chief Marketing & Growth Officer, Xsolla
Akash Nigam, CEO, Genies
Derek Douglas, Head of Video Games, CAA
Glen Schofield, Director / Game Advisor
11:30 a.m. – 11:55 a.m.
Stage 1
The Convergence of Entertainment IP and Gaming
The worlds of Hollywood (entertainment) and gaming are converging more than ever before. Games leverage entertainment IP to attract players and scale. Movie studios are drawing on game IP for their next blockbuster. Entertainment IP is becoming playable and experiential through games. This fireside chat explores the transmedia future of entertainment where games and entertainment reinforce each other to reach new audiences and to effectively engage consumers across the customer journey, turning single IP touch points into multi-touchpoint, always-on worlds and universes players and fans can traverse.
Bastian Bergmann, Co-founder & COO, Solsten and author of Press Play: Why Every Company Needs a Gaming Strategy
Kara Bilkiss, SVP of business development, Skydance/Paramount
Followed by book signing on table outside.
Stage 2
Session continued: How will the rise of AI impact the relationship between Hollywood and games?
11:55 a.m. – 12:20 p.m.
Capturing the Magic of MONOPOLY GO!: Reimagining a Timeless IP for a New Era of Entertainment
In this session, Eric Wood, Senior Vice President of Publishing at Scopely, and Barry Dorf, Vice President of Interactive Global Licensing and Business Development at Hasbro, reveal how their partnership brought MONOPOLY GO! to life—transforming one of the most recognizable brands in entertainment into a global mobile phenomenon.
Together, Scopely and Hasbro combined storytelling expertise, design innovation, and deep respect for the MONOPOLY legacy to create an experience that feels both timeless and entirely new. The conversation will explore how this partnership led to reimagined gameplay, vibrant communities, and turned MONOPOLY GO! into a cultural touchstone within the modern entertainment landscape.
Join this session for an inside look at how the Scopely–Hasbro partnership bridges gaming, storytelling, and pop culture, creating beloved experiences that players want to return to again and again.
Barry Dorf, VP of Interactive Global Licensing & Business Development, Hasbro
Eric Wood, SVP of Publishing, Scopely
MODERATOR: Dean Takahashi, Editorial Director, GamesBeat
Stage 2 ends
12:20 p.m. – 12:50 p.m.
Stage 1
Episodic Gaming Entertainment: From Lara Croft to the Z-Team
Gaming IP is generating some of the most compelling episodic entertainment around. From “Fallout,” “The Last of Us,” “Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft,” and “Arcane” to the forthcoming adaptations of “Life is Strange” and “God of War,” television series based on videogames have been some of the most entertainment and successful productions of the past few years. And this year, AdHoc’s brought back appointment gaming with the incredible “Dispatch.”
This panel, featuring “Tomb Raider” showrunner Tasha Huo, AdHoc CCO and “Dispatch” writer Pierre Shorette, and Story Kitchen co-founder Dmitri Johnson, and moderated by entertainment lawyer Simon Pulman, will delve into the process of creating great episodic storytelling around gaming IP.
Dmitri Johnson, Co-founder, Story Kitchen
Simon Pulman (moderator)
Tasha Huo, showrunner
Pierre Shorette, Co-founder & CCO, AdHoc Studio
12:50 p.m. – 12:55 p.m.
Thank you
Gerard “HipHop Gamer” Williams
Closing remarks
Alex Lee, lead news writer for GamesBeat