You don’t. Games designed by committee usually turn into a mess. Someone has to take charge, make the tough calls, and own the direction. You hear everyone out, but at the end of the day, someone is always going to be upset. That’s just part of the job. You can’t please everyone, but you can keep the game focused and true to its vision.

In my experience, when my team disagreed on game direction, we held a brainstorming session. Everyone shared their ideas, and we worked together to find common goals.

Chat it Out: Catch the team, maybe order some pizza, and have a cool chat about the game. Everyone should throw out their thoughts and problems, no one should be judged. Just be clear and honest. Listen: Really listen when others are talking. Try to see things from their perspective. It’s cool to show them where you’re from, even if you don’t agree with it at all. Find common ground: Find things you all have in common, like game goals or cool things you all dig. These shared resources can help you make a deal. Get creative: Consider some ideas when mixing and matching everyone’s tastes. Think outside the box – maybe there’s a way to make everyone’s vision work together.

Find common ground by starting with a shared vision. Discuss each team member’s ideas and priorities, then look for overlapping goals or themes. Create a roadmap that incorporates elements from different perspectives and compromises where needed. It’s like assembling a team with diverse skills—blend everyone’s strengths for a game direction that’s both innovative and cohesive!

Disagreements in game development are common and shouldn’t be avoided—they can actually improve the game. Conflicts help highlight areas where we’ve thought wrong or overlooked something, and they bring valuable perspectives from others. The key is to keep discussions constructive and focused on the game's vision. By fostering open, respectful conversations, we can turn conflicts into opportunities for growth and create a stronger, more refined final product. Embrace the challenge, but keep the focus on improving the game.

Assuming here that you are one of the game's directors: 0- Assuming there is "psychological safety" in the team: 1- Openly communicate and embrace the differences of opinion. 2- As a leader, make everybody take a step back from their "ideas": Remind them that everybody has the same purpose: To succeed. 3- With this in mind, ask the right questions and engage them to find "common ground" between their ideas. This might become a "shared vision". 4- Review those new ideas / decisions against the reality, what was promised to other stakeholders, and what the the game really needs. 4- Get "alignment." Circle back to the new or original "shared vision", and rework either. 5- Always balance ambition with pragmatism, comms and action plan.