Claire Lazo

Claire leads Deloitte’s work at the intersection of Gaming and Mergers & Acquisitions, combining deep professional expertise with a personal passion for gaming especially action-adventure RPGs . She has authored multiple thought leadership pieces on the topic and is a frequent speaker at industry events. Claire oversees approximately 350 practitioners within Deloitte’s Gaming & Esports vertical and specializes in complex integrations and carve-outs, supporting legal Day 1 readiness and post-close integration activities. She holds a BS from Northwestern University, an MS from The Johns Hopkins University, and an MBA from the University of Michigan Ross School of Business.

Fandom as a Strategic Growth Engine in Gaming

Fandom has become a powerful driver of long-term growth in the gaming industry, extending player engagement far beyond individual release cycles. Players increasingly are connecting with game worlds through social platforms, creator communities, live experiences, and cross-media storytelling, creating more emotional investment in an IP that can span decades. This shift presents an opportunity for studios to think more intentionally about how fandom forms, deepens, and sustains meaningful player relationships over time.

From designing experiences that spark early passion to creating ways for players to stay connected as their interests evolve, strong communities, narrative continuity, and opportunities for self-expression help build trust and long-term loyalty. Join this roundtable, moderated by Claire Lazo (Deloitte), to explore how we as an industry can build deeper, more enduring player relationships - and how thoughtful fandom strategies can support sustainable growth while honoring the passion at the heart of gaming.