In this episode of Dev to Dev – the podcast about everyday video game developers and why they do what they do every day – I sit down with accessibility designer Nick Heindl to explore his journey from a small town in Wisconsin to shaping inclusive design in AAA development. Nick’s story is one of persistence and empathy, rooted in both personal struggle and a love for games that often sat outside the mainstream. From teaching himself multiplication through Number Munchers on the Apple II to obsessing over quirky N64 titles like Conker’s Bad Fur Day and Harvest Moon 64, Nick’s influences set him on a unique creative path.

After studying computer science and linguistics, Nick began to see the possibility of game development as a career. An internship at Amazon confirmed that big tech wasn’t the right fit, while Raven Software revealed that meaningful opportunities could exist closer to home than he had ever imagined. From Raven to PUBG, and eventually to ZeniMax Online Studios, Nick’s journey reflects a constant drive to connect technical engineering skills with creative design. Along the way, Call of Duty Online introduced him to an entirely different cultural lens on games—an experience that reinforced his appreciation for diverse perspectives.

Most of all, Nick’s story is about empathy. Having experienced firsthand what it felt like to be othered in school, he carried that awareness into his work, championing accessibility long before it was an industry-wide conversation. At ZeniMax, that passion became a full-time role—bringing his journey full circle. Nick’s reflections highlight how game development isn’t just about code or design, but about people. His story is a reminder that games can and should be for everyone.

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• (00:00:00) - Dev to Dev: Nick Heindle
• (00:00:54) - What Was The First Video Game You Played?
• (00:04:25) - Coming soon: Living in Wisconsin
• (00:06:17) - Growing Up With My Half-Brother
• (00:12:18) - Stardew 2: Harvest Moon
• (00:14:32) - How Did You Become a Game Developer?
• (00:21:12) - Making a Game in Computer Science
• (00:25:20) - Making Video Games Was Never my Goal
• (00:31:58) - The battle for equality
• (00:32:09) - Starting at Activision as an Intern
• (00:36:11) - Mixing Cultures: Call of Duty Online
• (00:42:40) - Call of Duty Online: The Weird Side
• (00:52:35) - Pushing the issue of game accessibility
• (00:54:09) - Disability in the Making of Minecraft
• (00:59:25) - How Does Your Family Understand Your Work?
• (01:05:30) - Dota 2's Story
• (01:06:34) - Making Ready for Dark Souls