Valens Games

How do you secure a critical trade route in a world of shifting alliances? In Arctic Awakenings, negotiation isn’t just an option—it’s a necessity. Inside this imaginary 2030 scenario, players leveraged diplomatic strategy, persuasion tactics, and real-time decision-making to achieve their team’s geopolitical goals. ?? In this photo, two members of Team Canada (center and right) engage in high-stakes talks with Team U.S., debating the best path forward for securing the Northwest Passage—a key Arctic shipping route that has become navigable in 2030. While the risks and conflicts exist only in the game, the skills participants develop—negotiation, strategic thinking, and crisis management—are very real. This is just one of many real-world-inspired challenges tackled in Valens Games’ Immersive Exercise, hosted at Johns Hopkins SAIS on March 14. ?? Read more about Arctic Awakenings here:? https://lnkd.in/eQgxu35q

Valens Games put over 50 graduate students and national security professionals to the test in Arctic Awakenings last Friday at Johns Hopkins University Advanced Academic Programs’ D.C. campus. Confronting real-time crises, shifting alliances, and high-stakes choices, this Immersive Exercise was a 'trial by fire,' where?strategic thinking met the pressure of real-world consequences. Get the inside look at this high-impact experience—read more here:

The year is 2030. With Arctic ice retreating at an unprecedented rate, newly accessible trade corridors have become the focus of a geopolitical tug-of-war between China, Russia, the U.S., and Canada. Meanwhile, an arms race around the development of Directed Energy Weapons creates international tension with the formation of the North American Directed Energy Research Center. Simultaneously, the ever-ambitious North Korean government is expanding its international profile with the creation of a viral K-Pop group known as Eternal Flame, all while advancing its nuclear weapons program and forging closer ties with Russia. These storylines are just a snapshot of the initial setting for Valens Games’ Arctic Awakenings Immersive Exercise held for Johns Hopkins University Advanced Academic Programs in Washington, D.C. on Friday, March 14. Over 50 players were divided up into five teams, representing the U.S., Canada, North Korea, China, and Russia. Each team was a mix of graduate students, national security professors, and professionals from various military, government, and other national security organizations. Eleanor Ross, Director of Game Design, carefully crafted and spearheaded this Immersive Exercise from start to finish with support from the Valens Staff members, to include CEO and Founder Daveed Gartenstein-Ross, Chief Operating Officer Alix B., Jessica Nimons, Product Owner, and Catherine Girard, Content Writer. Throughout the game each team works to achieve their country’s goals through negotiation, intelligence-sharing, and decisive actions. Unlike traditional turn-based war games, Valens gameplay is continuous. Critical updates are delivered through custom materials created in real-time including briefings, classified memos, social media posts, news articles, and public news feeds. Teams must react and adapt with each major development they receive. However, outcomes are never guaranteed—teams can only dictate intent, not results. A covert betrayal, for example, may change the course of the game, while first-mover advantage can grant priority in critical moments. As intelligence memos introduce unexpected crises, teams must balance rapid decision-making with long-term strategy, knowing that every choice could trigger cascading effects. Ultimately, Arctic Awakenings simulates the unpredictability of global politics, where a single miscalculation can unravel alliances or escalate conflicts. From espionage operations to economic warfare, the game challenges players to think beyond military might and consider the soft power of influence campaigns and resource control. By the time the closing briefing is delivered, the world of 2030 has been reshaped—not by predetermined scripts, but by the ingenuity, ambition, and risk-taking of its players. Are you interested in bringing Valens Games to your university or organization? Shoot us a message! #Geopolitics #Strategy #Wargaming #NationalSecurity #HigherEd #LeadershipDevelopment

I had the privilege of attending an immersive #exercise yesterday at John Hopkins University, ran by Valens Games. The scenario was focused on the Northwest Passage issue, with teams split up into US, DPRK, PRC, Russia & Canada. Most of the time I spent taking notes about how the players were interacting with the format of the #wargame, but also provided some input to the US White House Team.

Tomorrow, the 2025 Security Studies Simulation will tackle a series of challenging scenarios centered around the effects of global warming in the Arctic. The all-day event at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg Center will bring together 60 participants, including MA in Global Security Studies students, selected faculty, alumni, practitioners, and private sector experts. Organized by Program Director Stephen M. Grenier, the exercise leverages Valens Games’ expertise as a company that combines storytelling, complex decision-making, and intricate world-building through war games and simulations. Participants will be divided into teams representing different countries and will call on their critical-thinking and crisis management skills to arrive at foreign policy decisions under conditions of strategic and bureaucratic uncertainty. In addition, the simulation will provide mentoring and networking opportunities for Johns Hopkins’ students, including those from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) and the Johns Hopkins Whiting School of Engineering. ?? https://bit.ly/3DCYaSE

???A final highlight from last week's public-facing engagements!??? On Thursday, March 6, Eleanor Ross and I had the pleasure of doing a video interview about games and simulations with Jeff Kubiak of the Future Security Initiative at the School of Politics and Global Studies at Arizona State University. We discussed the unique Immersive Exercise gaming style we have pioneered at Valens Games. ???Highlights from a very rich conversation: ????(9:50)?– Why the “fun factor” isn’t just nice-to-have—it's essential. When people are genuinely engaged, learning becomes effortless. ???(15:54)?– How games allow us to thoughtfully explore emerging global challenges ?? and better anticipate future scenarios. For this part of the discussion, I drew insights from the study "Utopia or Oblivion?," which Madison Urban and I published with the Irregular Warfare Center (IWC). Madi is an outstanding early career analyst whom I have deep respect for, so I was enthusiastic about the opportunity to highlight my work with her. ? (24:40) A live demo of the Providence game design platform! We at Valens Games are truly proud of this platform, which can create a fully playable game ?? for professionals or academic institutions in six minutes or less. ???(37:24)?– Audience Q&A. Truly excellent questions highlighting the Future Security Initiative's ability to attract thoughtful and experienced participants. Huge thanks again to Jeff Kubiak, the Future Security Initiative, and everyone who turned out for the conversation for hosting us and allowing us to have such a lively discussion! ???Watch the full conversation at the link below! #ValensGames #ImmersiveExercises #StrategicLearning #Geopolitics #Futurism https://lnkd.in/eYtEsJfE

?? Want to try wargaming? Here’s your chance! ?? We’re always looking to share great opportunities to get more people involved in Immersive Exercises and wargaming – so if you’ve ever wanted to jump in, this is for you! On March 28-29, Wargaming for the Leaders of Today and Tomorrow is hosting a FREE, two-day wargaming event open to the public. Whether you’re a total beginner or an experienced player looking to sharpen your skills, this is a great chance to play, learn, and connect with others in the space. Some highlights: ?? Interactive wargaming sessions – Hands-on, accessible games for all experience levels ?? Expert-led discussions – Learn from military strategists and game designers ?? Game demos & prototypes – Get a first-hand look at innovative mechanics This event is not affiliated with Valens Games, but we love seeing more opportunities for people to experience the power of wargaming firsthand. If you're interested, grab your spot and join the fight! ?? Register here: https://lnkd.in/ejH9weyw

It was such a pleasure to bring The Silent Auction, an Immersive Exercise based on strategic corruption in the Pacific, to life with this incredible group! Huge thanks to everyone who participated, contributed, and helped make this event such a success.

???Last week was a big one for public-facing work!?I’ll be posting about it over the next few days—starting with my testimony before Congress. Last Tuesday, I had the privilege of?testifying before the House Committee on Homeland Security’s?Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence,?for the hearing: ???“The Digital Battlefield: How Terrorists Use the Internet and Online Networks for Recruitment and Radicalization.” I represented the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), where I am a Senior Advisor, in my testimony. I was honored to testify alongside?Aaron Y. Zelin, Ph.D., Daniel Flesch, and Kurt Braddock???. ???Key takeaways from my testimony: ??AI is already changing extremism.?It’s not a future concern—it’s happening?right now. ??Terrorists don’t need high-tech AI labs.?They only need?the same widely available tools?that businesses and individuals use every day. ??AI can supercharge propaganda & recruitment.?Think?deepfake videos ??, hyper-personalized extremist content, and AI-powered radicalization agents ??. ??Built-in safeguards won’t solve the problem.?AI models are already?easy to jailbreak, and open-source AI will make it even harder to prevent misuse. ??History repeats itself.?We’ve seen terrorists struggle with new tech at first—but then?adapt and evolve???. This follows the same pattern that I first described in my work with?Colin P. Clarke, Ph.D. and Matthew Shear—the?violent non-state actor technology adoption Curve.?Social media and drones followed this trajectory, and?AI is no exception. ??A reactive approach is a losing strategy.?We shouldn't?wait until the damage is done. That’s why efforts like the?GenAI Terrorism Threat Assessment Act?are critical—ensuring that we?track how extremists are using AI before the next breakthrough becomes the next disaster???. ????It was an honor to testify?and to see the?Subcommittee take a principled, nonpartisan approach?to tackling these challenges. ???Want to watch the full hearing? Check it out at the link below. #Counterterrorism ?? #ArtificialIntelligence #GenerativeAI #HomelandSecurity ???? #Extremism https://lnkd.in/eaR-4NHB

We sat down with our Lead Front-End Developer Christopher Nugroho to talk about his pivotal role in shaping Providence. Chris Nugroho isn’t just building interfaces; he’s crafting experiences. As Valens Games' lead front-end engineer, he sees the front-end as the direct interface between player and world—a role he likens to a lead singer in a band. “You have to be on point,” he says. With a background in business before pivoting to tech, Chris brings a unique perspective to game development. His ability to bridge both strategic and technical worlds has played a critical role in transforming Providence from an operator-led platform to a multiplayer experience in just four months—a major feat in game development, especially with a lean team working part-time and on weekends. He credits both the front-end and back-end as equally demanding, emphasizing the challenge of creating seamless user interactions while ensuring technical integrity. But his true passion lies in what makes a platform not just functional, but compelling: an interface that immerses players, enhances storytelling, and feels intuitive. One of his personal triumphs? Implementing dark mode. “I love it because it’s easier on the eyes and no bugs,” he says, laughing, "coders, we love the indoors because.. no bugs." He continues, “but also because it’s a detail that matters to players. Every great gaming experience is built on those small but crucial decisions.” Chris has a vision for the future of games, and it’s one where players aren’t just experiencing a story—they’re shaping it. As Valens Games’ lead front-end engineer, he’s helping build Providence, a platform that moves beyond traditional gaming by allowing players to create their own narratives in real-time. Unlike conventional video games with set paths, Providence is designed to be truly dynamic. “Just like an open-world game, but instead it's an open-storyline game, instead of exploring a predefined map, you’re making decisions that generate the world around you,” Chris explains. “The story doesn’t exist until you create it.” This approach to game design aligns with Chris’s love for replayable experiences. We talked at length about Football Manager and the interface, as well as, Among Us and the gameplay, “What keeps me coming back to a game isn’t just the mechanics—it’s the ability to test different strategies, to push the system and see what happens.” But beyond the technical achievements,?Chris’s contributions don’t stop at the platform—he’s also shaping the culture of Valens Games. As someone who pivoted from business to tech, he understands the importance of growth, learning, and adaptability. And soon, he’ll be stepping into another major role: fatherhood. For Chris, it’s not just about code—it’s about creating a world players want to return to, time and time again.