Show Notes
In this Conflicted Conversation, George Osborn draws on his excellent new book Power Play: Video Games, Politics and the Battle for Global Influence to reveal the hidden political power of video games.
Once dismissed as a niche hobby, gaming has become one of the largest social environments ever created: a vast digital third space where billions of people form identities, build communities, and increasingly encounter politics — often aligned with authoritarian agendas.
George explains:
The history of video games: from arcades to global digital networks
How gaming helped drive the modern technology revolution
Why video games became the ‘third spaces’ of the internet age
Steam, online gaming, and the rise of digital communities
How China controls and regulates gaming culture
Saudi Arabia's investment strategy in gaming and esports
Russia, information warfare, and influence operations in gaming
Gamergate and the politicisation of gaming communities
Steve Bannon, online culture, and the rise of populist politics
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Conflicted is a Message Heard production.
Executive Producers: Jake Warren & Max Warren.
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