The challenges of gender equality in the video game industry, with Joan Francesc Bañó

In this episode of *ODS5*—Zona Franca Barcelona’s podcast dedicated to female talent—we have the honor of speaking with Joan Francesc Bañó, Executive Director of Game BCN, one of Southern Europe’s leading video game incubators. Joan Francesc offers us deep insight into gender equality within the video game industry—a sector that, despite its growing popularity, still faces significant challenges regarding female representation.

During our conversation, Bañó shares his personal experience as a father and discusses the evolution of maternity and paternity policies in Spain, highlighting how they can transform corporate culture. We reflect on the striking gender gap in video game development, where women make up only 26% of developers, even though they account for 48% of players. Joan Francesc attributes this to the industry’s technological legacy—historically male-dominated—and emphasizes the need to highlight diverse professional profiles within the field of game development.

We also discuss the importance of having female role models in the sector and the need to foster diversity within work teams. Bañó shares the initiatives Game BCN is implementing to create a more inclusive ecosystem and explains their efforts to encourage more women to get involved in video game creation.

This episode serves as a call to action for young women interested in the video game industry, reminding them that there are numerous paths and opportunities available in this exciting field.