TOP 50 VIDEO GAME EXPERTS: GAMING CONSULTANTS, KEYNOTE SPEAKERS & CONSULTING THOUGHT LEADERS

The Top 50 video game experts, gaming consultants and games consulting expert witnesses know that the field is driven by creativity, innovation, and leadership. From renowned consultants to the heads of iconic developers, investment groups and publishing companies, we look at Top 50 video game experts and influential figures impacting the gaming industry.

1. Scott Steinberg

• Futurist, author, and expert on video game trends who’s consulted for 3000 brands

• Known for his expertise in gaming, technology, and innovation

• Advisor to leading gaming companies on market trends

2. Hideo Kojima – Founder of Kojima Productions

• Creator of the Metal Gear series and Death Stranding

• Known for his narrative-driven approach to game design

3. Shigeru Miyamoto – Creator of Mario and Zelda, Nintendo

• Pioneer of iconic franchises like Super Mario, The Legend of Zelda, and Donkey Kong

• Revolutionized gaming as a Top 50 video game experts legend with a focus on creativity and accessibility

4. Gabe Newell – Co-founder of Valve

• Creator of Half-Life, Portal, and the Steam platform

• Innovator in PC gaming and digital distribution

5. Howard Phillips – Former Game Master of Nintendo of America

• Helped launch Nintendo consoles of note

• Known for his leadership and marketing strategies

6. Phil Spencer – Head of Xbox

• Leading the charge for Xbox with cloud gaming, Game Pass, and new console innovations

• Advocated as a Top 50 video game experts option for gaming inclusivity and the future of cross-platform play

7. Todd Howard – Director at Bethesda Game Studios

• Known for The Elder Scrolls and Fallout series

• Innovator in open-world design and RPG mechanics

8. Yoshinori Ono – Former Producer at Capcom

• Top figure behind the Street Fighter series

• Known for revitalizing the fighting game genre

9. Ken Levine – Creator of BioShock

• Known as a Top 50 video game experts selection for storytelling in gaming and creating immersive environments

• Innovator in narrative-driven design and first-person shooters

10. Mark Cerny – Lead Architect of PlayStation 5

• Leading figure behind PlayStation’s hardware evolution

• Worked as a Top 50 video game experts provider on major PlayStation titles and the development of Crash Bandicoot

11. John Carmack – Co-founder of id Software

• Creator of DOOM and Quake

• Pioneering figure in first-person shooters and 3D graphics technology

12. Satoru Iwata – Former President of Nintendo

• Led Nintendo through transformative consoles like the DS and Wii

• Known for his innovative approach to gaming hardware and software

13. David Cage – Founder of Quantic Dream

• Known for narrative-driven interactive games like Heavy Rain and Detroit: Become Human

• Pioneer of cinematic game experiences

14. Jade Raymond – Founder of Haven Studios

• Former head of Ubisoft Toronto and EA Motive

• Noted Top 50 video game experts figure behind Assassin’s Creed and Watch Dogs franchises

15. Chris Zimmerman – Video Game Journalist and Author

• Known for his work as a consultant on many top franchises

• Focus on the inner workings of major studios and the human side of gaming

16. Kojima Productions Team – Creators of Death Stranding

• Team of Top 50 video game experts behind one of the most unique narrative games in recent years

• Pioneering work in blending storytelling and gameplay

17. Mike Morhaime – Co-founder of Blizzard Entertainment

• Helped create iconic games like World of Warcraft, StarCraft, and Diablo

• Known for fostering Blizzard’s strong community and eSports presence

18. Yves Guillemot – CEO of Ubisoft

• Oversees one of the largest video game publishers in the world

• Focus on creating diverse, cross-platform game franchises

19. Jinwoo Kim – CEO of Nexon

• Leader of one of the largest game developers in South Korea

• Known for developing MapleStory and Dungeon Fighter Online

20. Eiji Aonuma – Producer of The Legend of Zelda

• Key figure behind the Zelda franchise and Breath of the Wild

• Innovator in open-world adventure game design

21. Markus Persson – Creator of Minecraft

• Developed Minecraft, one of the best-selling games of all time

• Revolutionized gaming with sandbox-style, open-world play

22. Amy Hennig – Former Director at Naughty Dog

• Known for her work on Uncharted and Legacy of Kain

• Pioneer in storytelling and character-driven game design

23. Cliff Bleszinski – Creator of Gears of War

• Key figure behind the Gears of War franchise

• Innovator in third-person shooters and cover-based combat mechanics

24. Kazunori Yamauchi – Creator of Gran Turismo

• Known for creating the Gran Turismo racing series

• Focused on realistic driving simulations and automotive culture

25. Peter Molyneux – Creator of Fable

• Known for his ambitious game design and the Fable series

• Pioneer in simulation games and player-driven narratives

26. John Romero – Co-founder of id Software

• Creator of DOOM and Quake

• Pioneering figure in multiplayer and first-person shooter games

27. Tetsuya Nomura – Director of Kingdom Hearts

• Visionary behind the Kingdom Hearts series

• Known for combining Disney and Final Fantasy in innovative ways

28. Hironobu Sakaguchi – Creator of Final Fantasy

• Legendary game designer behind the Final Fantasy series

• Known for pioneering role-playing games (RPGs) with deep stories and innovative mechanics

29. Reed Hastings – CEO of Netflix (on gaming for streaming)

• A key player in the intersection of gaming and streaming services

• Exploring gaming as part of Netflix’s entertainment offerings

30. Randy Pitchford – CEO of Gearbox Software

• Creator of Borderlands

• Known for his contributions to shooter games and humor in game design

31. Swen Vincke – Founder of Larian Studios

• Developer of Divinity: Original Sin and Baldur’s Gate 3

• Innovator in role-playing games (RPGs) and player choice mechanics

32. Treyarch Team – Developers of Call of Duty

• Known for crafting some of the best entries in the Call of Duty franchise

• Key figures in multiplayer game design and competitive gaming

33. Andrew Wilson – CEO of Electronic Arts (EA)

• Oversees one of the largest video game publishers, responsible for franchises like FIFA, Madden, and The Sims

• Focus on sports games and live-service models

34. Patrice Désilets – Creator of Assassin’s Creed

• Innovator behind the Assassin’s Creed franchise

• Focus on historical settings and stealth-action gameplay

35. Chris Metzen – Former Senior Vice President at Blizzard Entertainment

• Creator of Warcraft and Starcraft universes

• Influential in developing Blizzard’s world-building and lore-heavy games

36. Cory Barlog – Director of God of War

• Known for his work on the God of War franchise

• Innovator in action-adventure game design with a focus on deep storytelling

37. David Vonderhaar – Director at Treyarch

• Known for his work on the Call of Duty series

• Influential in competitive multiplayer game design

38. Bobby Kotick – CEO of Activision Blizzard

• Leader of one of the largest video game companies in the world

• Focused on expanding franchises like Call of Duty and World of Warcraft

39. Brian Fargo – Founder of inXile Entertainment

• Creator of Wasteland and Torment: Tides of Numenera

• Known for reviving the isometric RPG genre

40. Yoko Taro – Director of Nier Automata

• Known for creating the thought-provoking Nier series

• Focused on blending existential themes with gameplay mechanics

41. Tim Schafer – Founder of Double Fine Productions

• Creator of Psychonauts and Grim Fandango

• Known for humor, quirky narratives, and unique game design

42. Hiroshi Yamauchi – Former President of Nintendo

• Led Nintendo from a card game company to the global gaming giant

• Key figure in the creation of Nintendo’s early hardware and software

43. Ian Livingstone – Co-founder of Eidos Interactive

• Co-creator of Lara Croft: Tomb Raider

• Pioneer in interactive storytelling and character-driven design

44. Bobby Kotick – CEO of Activision Blizzard

• Leader of one of the biggest video game companies globally

• Oversees major franchises like Call of Duty and World of Warcraft

45. Brian Fargo – Founder of inXile Entertainment

• Known for Wasteland and Torment: Tides of Numenera

• Pioneer in resurrecting isometric RPGs

46. Trey Parker and Matt Stone – Creators of South Park Games

• Known for their work on South Park: The Stick of Truth

• Blending humor with role-playing game mechanics

47. Tim Schafer – Founder of Double Fine Productions

• Known for creating Psychonauts and Grim Fandango

• Focus on humor, quirky narratives, and unique game design

48. David Hayter – Voice Actor for Metal Gear Solid

• Famous for voicing Snake in the Metal Gear series

• Known for his contributions to gaming through voice acting

49. Shuhei Yoshida – Former President of Sony Worldwide Studios

• Oversaw key PlayStation franchises like Uncharted and God of War

• Focused on bringing diverse, creative games to PlayStation

50. Kazunori Yamauchi – Creator of Gran Turismo

• Developer behind one of the most realistic driving simulators

• Known for his obsession with accuracy in car simulation