Has proven success across content development and publishing, infrastructure and technology for ‘games as a service’, and with technologies such as mixed reality, blockchain and artificial intelligence.

James Hursthouse is a twenty-year veteran of the global games and digital media sector. He has proven success across content development and publishing, infrastructure and technology for ‘games as a service’, and with technologies such as mixed reality, blockchain and artificial intelligence. He was a contributing author to ‘The Metaverse Roadmap’ whitepaper in 2007 and has been developing initiatives that could be considered precursors to the current ‘Metaverse boom’ for over fifteen years.

After spending the first half of his career focused on early-day massively multiplayer online games in Asia and Silicon Valley, James moved to Vancouver, BC in 2010 to co-found and be the CEO of Roadhouse Interactive, a gaming studio that grew to 180 people at its peak. Roadhouse was an early adopter of Unity for its Family Guy Online 3D web-based game, and worked on multiple high profile mobile titles, including a series of action sports titles for Red Bull and Iron Maiden’s Iron Maiden: Legacy of the Beast. The massively successful Legacy of the Beast world tour, continuing through 2022, represents the first time a major artist has toured in support of a video game rather than an album.

Between 2016 and 2018, James served as the Executive Director of DigiBC where he continues to serve on the board.

James co-founded Cooper’s New Reality Garage, an augmented reality mobile game studio in 2017. CNRG was acquired by Truly Social Games in 2018, which in turn was acquired by LEAF Mobile in 2021. He also co-founded PlayChannel Inc., a mobile game developer and publisher focused on prizing-supercharged mobile game experiences, in 2019.

Between 2019 and 2023, James served as Chief Strategy Officer of AMPD Ventures Inc., a company focused on unlocking the opportunity associated with the next generation of immersive 3D digital content, sometimes referred to as the Metaverse. AMPD went public on the Canadian Securities Exchange in October 2019.

James founded Departure Lounge Inc. in June 2021 to explore a range of Metaverse-focused technology and content opportunities.