Womenize! – Inspiring Stories is our weekly series featuring inspirational individuals from games and tech. For this edition we talked to Lena Pilz, Experienced Game Release Manager. She speaks about her role, detailing her work across different release phases, the need for flexibility and backup plans, and the importance of gaining experience and networking in the industry. Read more about Lena here: 
Hi Lena! Your role as a Game Release Manager involves a mix of project management, collaboration, and technical expertise. Could you walk us through a typical day in your role and share what excites you most about the process of bringing games to players?

As a Release Manager every day looks a bit different—it really depends on the release phase. At the start of a project, I gather all the information, create a schedule, and align it with all departments and the developers. During the age rating phase, I might spend an entire day editing a gameplay video for the rating boards or scanning the script for bad language (I’ve learned a lot of new curse words that way! 😆). As the release approaches, my focus shifts to setting up storefronts, build submissions, and coordinating with first parties.

On an average day, I start by checking messages, then spend time between meetings assisting developers and ensuring everything stays on track. If it doesn’t, I try my best to find a solution.

The whole process is really fun—I love working with different teams and people. But the best part is seeing the game released and watching players enjoy it. That’s when I know all the effort was worth it!

What are the most valuable lessons you’ve gained throughout your career, and how have these experiences shaped your approach to game releases today?

I’ve learned a lot over the past few years—especially on a personal level. Working with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures has greatly helped me grow on an interpersonal level.

When it comes to game releases, however, the biggest lesson I’ve learned is: Things never go exactly as planned. In fact, this probably applies to many aspects of life. What I’ve taken away from this is that you should always be prepared with not just a Plan B, but also a Plan C—and ideally even a Plan D!

Breaking into the gaming industry can be challenging, especially for those just starting out. Based on your own journey, what advice would you give to someone interested in pursuing a career in release management or project management for games?

I was fortunate that just as I finished university, a publisher in Germany had an open junior position. My experience as a working student, where I gained my first insights into project management, likely gave me an advantage.

With the current state of the gaming industry, I encourage newcomers and career changers not to get discouraged. If things don’t work out right away, don’t lose hope—use the time to gain project management experience in other industries.

I also highly recommend attending networking events. Even though those events can be challenging for introverts like myself, strong relationships within the industry are important—and in the end, it’s definitely worth the effort. At some point, you’ll need someone who knows
someone who knows someone… and that can make all the difference!

Thanks for this interview, Lena!

Lena’s links: LinkedIn

 

Womenize! – Inspiring Stories Feature by Madeleine Egger