In this episode of ByteAction, I sit down with Guillaume Rambourg, a true operator of the games industry who’s quietly helped shape some of the biggest brands in gaming. Guillaume started his career in a QA department at CD Projekt during the final stretch of The Witcher 1, went on to help build GOG, opened CD Projekt’s US office, he then moved to Riot Games to launch their Paris office and get the company closer to players across Europe. Most recently, he was brought into Respawn (EA) to build a European publishing team for Apex Legends.
We talk about what it’s actually like to build teams and offices from scratch, why Riot’s long hiring process actually makes more sense than people think, and why self-awareness and a growth mindset matter more than raw talent. Guillaume shares what “player-first” really means in practice, and why a lot of live service games fail.
We also talk extensively about leadership, hiring, esports, community building, novelty in games, and where the industry is heading next. This one is part career story, part leadership masterclass, and part honest reflection on what it takes to build things that actually last in games.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Guillaume
03:00 Guillaume’s Journey in Gaming
05:58 Early Influences and Career Switch
09:14 The Growth of CD Projekt
11:48 Cultural Shifts at CD Projekt
15:01 The Launch of The Witcher 3
17:50 Establishing the US Office
20:50 Transition to Riot Games
23:57 Building the Paris Office at Riot
27:06 Understanding Player Needs at Riot
30:04 Conclusion and Future Aspirations
34:03 The Evolution of eSports Management at Riot
37:10 Recruitment Standards and Criteria at Riot
41:39 Diversity and Team Chemistry in Hiring
46:39 Leadership Style and Clarity in Decision Making
51:45 Keys to Successful Live Service Games
57:28 The Future of Gaming: Trends and Predictions
01:01:42 Advice for Aspiring Game Industry Professionals
