"Game" and "Development": The Two Theories of Dysfunction

Sammanfattning: This Master's thesis in Business & Management delves into the intriguing question of why video games fail. Our aim is to uncover potential answers and shed light on this complex issue. To achieve this, we adopted a Grounded Theory approach as our methodology. We conducted 18 semi-structured interviews with 15 unique participants from the Swedish Video Games industry, gathering valuable insights. Based on our research findings, we identified categories that characterise the problems prevalent in video game development. From these categories, we formulated two theories: "Value Misattribution" and "Absence of Control in the Creative Process". These theories provide a deeper understanding of the dysfunctions observed in the industry. To further enrich our analysis, we examined these theories through the lens of relevant academic literature on management. By incorporating existing scholarly insights, we aim to contribute to the existing knowledge base and provide practical implications for addressing the challenges faced by the video game industry.