In this episode of Dev to Dev, host Alex Sulman sits down with Matt Brunhofer, a game developer whose unconventional path ran through theater, film, and even EMT work before finding its home in video games. Matt’s journey is about persistence, creativity, and the joy of helping others succeed behind the scenes.
Discovering the Art of Collaboration
Growing up in Virginia, Matt’s love of storytelling began with filmmaking and theater. He chased the thrill of live performance—running lights, cables, and stage changes—and found his passion in the teamwork and energy of production rather than the spotlight. That drive to create experiences that move people would later define his life in games.
An Unexpected Breakthrough
After studying creative writing at Full Sail University, Matt moved to Los Angeles to pursue screenwriting. A chance look at a job posting at Square Enix led to an unexpected new chapter. Hired as a QA tester on Dissidia Final Fantasy NT, he discovered a workplace full of passionate, creative people who truly loved what they did. “I realized,” he recalls, “this is what I want to do for the rest of my life.”
Building Worlds at ZOS
That spark carried him to ZeniMax Online Studios, where he worked on The Elder Scrolls Online and an unannounced MMO. Fascinated by how tools and systems support creativity, Matt transitioned into technical production, helping bridge the gap between developers and the technical teams building the foundation of their games. “Helping others do what they love—that’s what drives me,” he says.
Finding Purpose Behind the Curtain
Matt’s story is one of rediscovering purpose. Whether balancing lights in a theater or balancing boss fights in ESO, his passion for storytelling and teamwork shines through. His journey reminds us that creative fulfillment often comes not from the spotlight, but from empowering others to create—and that the path to game development can be as unique as the games themselves.
Find the Podcast in both Video & Audio forms at:
Patreon: DevToDevPodcast
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0Rq9lZoWphzXvxkrETrWg0
Instagram: @devto.devpodcast
Bluesky: @devtodevpodcast.bsky.social
TikTok: @devtodevpodcast
YouTube: @DevToDevPodcast
Email:
[email protected]
Chapters
(00:00:00) - Interview(00:00:48) - How Starting Playing Video Games Inspired My Career in Film(00:06:59) - Philip Glass on Video Games(00:11:43) - Tom Holland on Playing Video Games and Acting(00:14:38) - WWE Superstar Tyler Oakley on His Acting Training(00:19:30) - What Was It About WWE That Drawed You To Write For The(00:20:37) - How QA at Square Enix Went From Internship to Full-(00:22:30) - How Making a Video Game Was Never Easy(00:26:00) - When I Walk In the Door of Square Enix(00:31:14) - How Zenimax Online's QA Talent Went From Square to(00:34:05) - How to transition from QA to Technical Producer(00:41:17) - Zos on Becoming a Technical Producer(00:46:20) - Has Working in the Industry Affected Your Gaming?(00:49:16) - Have You Played Any MMOs?(00:52:23) - Are You More Of A Multiplayer Gamer or A Single-Player Gamer(00:55:19) - How Does Your Family Support Your Video Game Profession?(00:58:00) - Moving to LA and Starting a Business(00:59:09) - Matt Brunhofer: Which Do You Think Defines You More
Italia