Get to know Alice Rendell - Narrative Lead at Off-Leash Interactive AB

Passionate about narrative and game design, Alice focuses the power of games through storytelling. She's joining DevTalks Romania 2025 on June 5th on the Gaming Stage, and we couldn't be more excited to have her on this edition. She has such a creative view on the gaming industry, which you can read all about in this interview she gave us.

1. Can you introduce yourself in a few words?  

I’m Alice Rendell, and I’ve spent over 15 years in the games industry focused on narrative and game design. 

2. How did you get into what you’re doing right now, career wise?   

I studied Computer Game Design back in the UK (which is where I’m from) many years ago and started my career working as a Game Designer in the free-to-play and mobile space. But I always really loved the narrative side of making games, and eventually found myself working in quests, writing, and narrative systems — which is where I truly feel at home. 

3. What’s your favorite game of all time — and what makes it special to you? 

I grew up playing JRPGs in the nineties and they hold a special place in my heart. I completely fell in love with the story worlds of Final Fantasy VII-X and those games really sparked a desire to make my own game stories and characters. Years later I got a chance to work with the lead writer of these games, Kazushige Nojima, which was a bit of a dream come true for me. 

4. In your view, what do you think is the biggest change that shaped the tech industry of today?  

I’m fascinated by the psychology of smartphones and how being constantly connected to social media, and the internet in general, has fundamentally rewired our brains. Instant gratification has shortened our attention spans, and we are constantly competing for audience engagement. This shift seems to have deeply impacted how we design, market, and build products — games included. 

5. If you had to sum up the industry in one sentence, what would you say?  

Games have the power to shape how we see the world and stories are one of the most powerful ways to do that. 

6. Are there any games, creators, or studios that inspire your work? 

I’m always inspired by the craftsmanship of Rockstar, Naughty Dog, and Sony Santa Monica. The level of polish in every aspect of their games is incredible. They tell such compelling stories with characters you really care about, and gameplay that enhances all their narrative moments. 

7. Where do you see the gaming industry heading in the next 5 years? 

Games are getting bigger, take longer to make, and require more people — so it’ll be interesting to see how the industry adapts. I can see it either taking a step back toward shorter, more focused experiences, or embracing generative AI to meet the demands of production. 

8. What is something you’re looking forward to at DevTalks 2025?  

I’m especially looking forward to talks on generative AI. The technology is evolving fast, and I’m eager to see how others are integrating it into their creative workflows. 

9. If you had to predict one major technological breakthrough that will revolutionize the world in the next decade, what would it be?   

It’s hard to answer this without mentioning generative AI — it’s already transforming creative and business spaces. It’s going to be interesting to see how we as an industry adapt to it, both creatively and legally. I’m also curious about where AR might take us, especially in how it can seamlessly blend storytelling into our physical environments. 

10. If you could time-travel to any point in history with a piece of modern technology, where would you go and what would you bring?  

I’d travel to the summer of 1816, to Lake Geneva where Mary Shelley and other writers created such timeless stories. Frankenstein is a sci-fi masterpiece, especially considering Shelley was 19 years old when she wrote it. It would be the ultimate writer’s retreat! 

11. If you could switch lives with anyone for a day, who would it be and why?  

Someone working with David Attenborough on his documentaries — I love animals and travel, and it would be a dream to observe wildlife up close as well as meeting such an icon. 

12. What message do you have for our Romanian IT community?  

Communicating with others via stories is one of the most fundamental things we do as human beings and those stories can be embedded into all aspects of tech to make products unforgettable. 

Now that you know a little bit more about Alice, make sure you catch her keynote "Storytelling through systems" on June 5th on the Gaming Stage, and join the 12th edition of the leading tech conference in CEE.