Video Game IndustryTabletop CollaborationsInde NavarretteGaming Crisis
From Twitch Streams to Triple-A Dreams: How Actors and Adaptations Are Reshaping Gaming
Inde Navarrette's pivot from Obsession to video game voice acting mirrors an industry turning to cross-media collaborations to survive its crisis.
Source material: nme.com
A New Player Enters the Game
Inde Navarrette, the breakout star of Obsession which has made over $400 million worldwide from a $750,000 budget, has confirmed she's set to star in an unknown video game project. Her path began with streaming Call Of Duty and The Last Of Us on Twitch, where she built a following that fans later rediscovered after she deleted her videos in a panic over career concerns. "I got scared. I was moving into a new chapter of my life," she told Variety. Now playing God Of War: Ragnarök and approached for voice acting, Navarrette aims to start small before pursuing her dream role in Resident Evil, noting, "I would die inside [if I got cast in one]."
An Industry Under Pressure
Both the video game and tabletop sectors face significant financial headwinds. Xbox layoffs triggered further studio cuts, Bungie reduced staff after Destiny 2's final update, and Epic Games slashed 1,000 employees in March due to a downturn in Fortnite engagement. In tabletop gaming, Pathfinder publisher Paizo restructured after its book distributor Diamond Comics declared bankruptcy, while CMON cited rising tariffs in layoffs that disrupted crowdfunding campaigns like Plaid Hat’s The Monolith and the Altered expansion Roots of Corruption, both canceled despite meeting their goals.
Collaboration as a Creative Lifeline
Creators of XCOM and Gloomhaven view cross-industry partnerships as a stabilizing force. Julian Gollop highlighted the overlapping audiences, and Isaac Childres noted that royalties from Gloomhaven Digital and Frosthaven Digital provide steady income amid tariff disruptions. Flaming Fowl Studios' digital Gloomhaven adaptation in 2019 and Snapshot Games' Frosthaven Digital, in early access with a full launch on October 15, demonstrate this model's appeal. Hristo Petkov, game director of the Frosthaven adaptation, said board game IPs offer "stability and predictability" in a volatile market, with examples like Modiphius's XCOM miniatures game and Archon Studios' StarCraft adaptation underscoring the trend.
Nostalgia Drives the Market
Gollop attributes part of the gaming industry's struggles to nostalgia, as players often return to older titles rather than adopt new ones. This sentiment fuels adaptations targeting audiences with disposable income: StarCraft and XCOM miniatures games cater to adults in their 30s and 40s seeking laid-back tabletop experiences to reminisce about games from two decades ago. While nostalgia offers clear marketing opportunities, it also pressures developers to innovate within established frameworks, creating a tension between heritage and novelty.
Smaller Steps, Bigger Stability
Amid economic uncertainty, companies are diversifying to mitigate risks. Cephalofair Games is focusing on smaller projects like a Buttons & Bugs expansion for September and Mercenaries Wanted, a drafting game launching in December, both previewed at Gen Con. Childres questions whether large-scale games like Frosthaven remain viable given current tariffs, emphasizing product line variety. This approach helps avoid crowdfunding pitfalls, as seen in successful adaptations like Cult of the Lamb's board game, which raised $1.8 million on Kickstarter, and Starfinder: Afterlight, an RPG adaptation from Paizo set for early access after an $828K Kickstarter campaign.
The Future: Voices and Ventures
Navarrette has already been approached about voicing a character in a video game and plans to start that journey soon, though she wants to begin with a smaller project to test the water before tackling anything bigger. She remains an active gamer herself — currently working through God of War: Ragnarök — and sees voice work as a way to stay connected to the medium she loves despite being too busy to stream. Her ultimate ambition is clear: a role in Resident Evil. 'I love that world specifically,' she said. 'I would die inside.'