“Inclusion isn’t just a nice-to-have, it’s a core part of how we create better games”

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To mark International Women’s Day we reached out to the games industry to secure a snapshot of the women working in across games today. We’re highlighting the work they do and get their tips on how to break into the sector.

In this interview we speak to King executive producer Marta Cortiñas about her journey into the games industry and the development of the publisher’s first global launch in five years: Candy Crush Solitaire.

PocketGamer.biz: Can you tell us about your journey into the games industry?

Marta Cortiñas: I’ve always been passionate about games, but I never thought of it as a career option!

I started as an engineer in the train industry, but I quickly realised that it lacked the creativity and dynamism that I needed. I decided that I wanted to explore something more engaging, so I pursued a Master’s Degree in Multimedia Design, where I discovered that game development could actually be a profession.

That was a turning point for me – I knew I had to make the leap. I also realised that my skills in team management, problem-solving, and bringing projects to life were a perfect fit for game production, so I quit my job and landed a junior producer role. It’s been an exciting journey ever since!

And what was your first role in the games industry? 

I started my gaming career in 2010 as a junior producer at Digital Chocolate, which developed mobile, social and casual games. It was an amazing introduction to the industry and I consider myself very lucky.

Since it was a relatively small studio with only one other producer, they really needed my help and it gave me a lot of hands-on experience. The senior producer, who has since also become a colleague at King, was a great mentor and made sure I had exposure to all different aspects of game production. In a short time, I was even running a game on my own.

I had the opportunity to manage some really exciting projects like Millionaire City and launched my first mobile game Galaxy Life: Pocket Adventures, which made the experience even more rewarding.

I had always been interested in gaming, but seeing the full development cycle firsthand was truly inspiring. I had so much fun in the role that I knew for certain this was what I wanted to do for the rest of my career!

And now you’re executive producer at King. How did that role come about and what are some of the things you enjoy most about that role?

I joined King almost 13 years ago, which was just before Candy Crush launched. I was excited about the company’s vision and ambitious plans for the future. My journey to becoming an executive producer was shaped by my passion for building strong teams and delivering games that people genuinely love to play.

One of the most rewarding parts of my role is definitely the brilliant people I get to work with every day. I love the collaborative nature of the job, working with designers, developers, artists, and so many other disciplines to create something greater than the sum of its parts. The constant learning and creative problem-solving keep every day exciting.

Another thing I truly enjoy is helping shape both the creative vision and execution of our projects. Seeing an idea evolve from concept to a game that entertains millions of players is incredibly special. It’s a privilege to contribute to experiences that bring joy to so many people around the world.

We recently spoke with you about the release of Candy Crush Solitaire, King’s first release in around five years. How do you reflect on that game since its launch? 

The launch of Candy Crush Solitaire has been a thrilling adventure. Our goal was to bring a fresh, Candy Crush twist to a classic Solitaire game that everyone knows and loves.

We’ve taken TriPeaks Solitaire to the next level by introducing the Hold Slot, engaging progression, and familiar Candy Crush features like boosters and blockers – making it a fresh experience for players.

It’s been amazing to see the response from players globally. In fact, just over a week after launch, it set a new record as the fastest TriPeaks solitaire game to reach one million downloads in the past decade, which was a massive moment of pride for me and the team.

As with all our games, this is just the beginning. We’re committed to continuous innovation and elevating the experience even further. There’s so much more to come, and we can’t wait to surprise players with new features and events that add to the fun.

What have been some of the highlights of working on that game? And is there a project in your career so far that you’ve found most rewarding?

Candy Crush Solitaire is definitely up there as one of the most fulfilling projects in my career so far. Launching King’s first new game in five years has been a huge moment, and an incredible responsibility to have. The team has poured so much into making it the best experience possible for our players, and it’s truly been a pleasure bringing it to market.

One of my biggest highlights from working on the game has been the chance to bring something fresh and exciting to the Candy Crush universe, while keeping all the sweet goodness we know our players love.

Taking a classic game like Solitaire and reimagining it with a Candy Crush flair was challenging but so rewarding, even more so now post launch and being able to see how much our players have been enjoying it. It makes all the hard work worth it.

What do you think are some of the biggest challenges women face in the games industry today? And how can we combat them? Are there any industry changes you would like to see to make it more accessible for underrepresented groups?

I think we’ve come a long way in the past few years. There are so many amazing women contributing to the games sector but there is still an underrepresentation across the industry, particularly in leadership roles.

That lack of visibility can make it harder for women who are thinking about entering the industry or those who are in more junior positions to see a clear career path or to have clear role models that they can look up to and seek to emulate.

The best way to continue to make progress on this is to consistently and actively find ways to bring in and uplift diverse talent in gaming, whether through hiring, mentorship, or just making sure all voices are heard.

The more we celebrate and champion different perspectives, the stronger and more dynamic our industry becomes. It’s one of the reasons why I’m so happy to be at King, where diversity and inclusion is so central to our culture and teams across the business.

And how does King aim to create an inclusive and diverse workplace?

At King, we believe that diversity makes us stronger, both as a company and as creators of games. We are committed to fostering an inclusive workplace where everyone feels they belong and can do their best work. That means fostering representation at all levels, ensuring inclusive leadership, and creating employee networks where people can connect and support each other.

We also consider diversity in our games, thinking about how we represent different backgrounds, cultures, and experiences in a way that feels authentic. Inclusion isn’t just a nice-to-have, it’s a core part of how we create better games and a better workplace for everyone.

Over your career, what would you say are some of the most important lessons you have learned? 

Over my career, I’ve learned that people matter the most. Building strong, motivated teams is the foundation of any great product. No matter how good an idea is, it’s the team that brings it to life.

Games are built by cross-functional teams, and the best ideas often come from open discussions and different perspectives. Creating an environment where people feel empowered to contribute leads to stronger products and better results.

Another big lesson is the importance of product focus and fast iteration. The industry moves quickly, and being able to test, learn, and adapt is key. Iterating fast and making data-informed decisions helps us build better games.

And finally, resilience is everything. Game development comes with lots of challenges. Things don’t always go as planned and setbacks happen.

But learning from them, staying adaptable, and pushing forward is what ultimately leads to success. I always tell my teams “I can’t promise we’ll launch this, but I can promise we’ll learn a lot and have a great time trying”.

What excites you most about the future of the mobile games industry?

So much! Mobile gaming is huge, with over three billion players worldwide and it’s still growing. That means there’s so much potential to innovate and reach even more players.

We’re always looking at new ways to evolve, whether it’s through new games or with fresh game mechanics, live ops, or fun in-game events. With live service games, there’s always something new to try.

Another big opportunity is making games more accessible. The team here has been doing great work improving accessibility in areas like audio, visuals, and dexterity, developing tech that makes a real difference for players.

These kinds of features aren’t super common in casual games yet, so it’s been really exciting to see the team push things forward. At the end of the day, games should be for everyone.

And of course, AI and machine learning have amazing potential and are already changing the way we work, helping us test, adapt, and improve faster than ever. It’s unlocking new ways to make our games even more fun.

It’s such an exciting time for the industry, and I can’t wait to see what’s next.

Finally, what advice would you give to other aspiring women who are looking to enter the games industry? 

First off, go for it! The games industry is an amazing place to build a career, and there’s space for all kinds of skills and backgrounds. You don’t need to be a hardcore gamer to thrive – there are so many roles whether you’re into design, coding, production, marketing, or any other field.

Believe in your skills and your perspective, your voice is valuable, and the industry needs more diverse points of view.

Second, seek out mentors and allies. There are so many people in the industry who want to lift others up, and learning from those who’ve been in your shoes can be incredibly helpful.

And finally, don’t be afraid to take risks. A lot of us didn’t follow a traditional path into games, but what matters is finding what excites you and going after it. Stay curious, keep learning, and don’t let imposter syndrome hold you back. You belong here!