Joost van Dreunen

Joost van Dreunen is an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the Leonard N. Stern School of Business, New York University, where he teaches the Business of Video Games. He holds a PhD from Columbia University and a MA from the University of Amsterdam. As a recognized expert in the global video game industry, he bridges academic research with real-world market analysis and strategic commentary.

• Institution: New York University (NYU)
• School: Leonard N. Stern School of Business
• Academic Rank: Adjunct Assistant Professor
• Highest Degree: PhD, Columbia University

His research and professional interests center on the economics of digital entertainment, market dynamics in gaming, consumer behavior, and the strategic impact of technology policy. He frequently analyzes trends in console pricing, digital distribution, cloud gaming, and the effects of trade tariffs on the gaming industry. His insights into the launch of new hardware like the Nintendo Switch 2 and pricing strategies for major titles such as Grand Theft Auto VI are regularly featured in major media outlets.

Van Dreunen is the author of One Up: Creativity, Competition, and the Global Business of Video Games and the founder of SuperData Research, a market intelligence firm acquired by Nielsen in 2018. He currently publishes the weekly SuperJoost Playlist newsletter, offering expert commentary on gaming, tech, and entertainment. His work emphasizes the shift from content innovation to distribution innovation, particularly in response to economic pressures such as proposed U.S. tariffs on imported hardware.

He has commented extensively on industry developments including:

• Price increases for consoles (PlayStation, Xbox, Switch 2)
• Potential $80–$100 AAA game pricing
• The impact of U.S.-China tariffs on gaming hardware costs
• The strategic responses of Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo
• The rise of cloud gaming and streaming services as alternatives to physical hardware

Van Dreunen advocates for industry collaboration to seek tariff exemptions, drawing on the precedent set in 2019, and predicts long-term shifts toward hardware-independent gaming models. He is actively involved in advising startups and investing in the tech and gaming sectors.

Notable affiliations and roles include:

• Former CEO and Co-Founder, SuperData Research (acquired by Nielsen)
• Author, One Up: Creativity, Competition, and the Global Business of Video Games
• Contributor and commentator for Forbes, GameSpot, and other major media
• Writer and publisher of the SuperJoost Playlist newsletter on Substack