The upcoming ninth season of Dropout's comedy competition series, Game Changer, is set to feature games that are "unexplainable," according to Dropout CEO Sam Reich. Speaking with Polygon, Reich revealed that the team has greenlit concepts for season 9 that were previously deemed too unconventional, describing the new season as "an acid trip" and "surreal."
Filming for season 9 is scheduled to begin in October. Reich highlighted that while the show has always pushed boundaries, these new games will particularly test the audience's tolerance for the bizarre. He also noted that while season 9 may lean more into performance art, the core element of games will remain central.
Reich reflected on the lessons learned from producing eight seasons of Game Changer, emphasizing his commitment to authenticity. He recalled an instance in season 8's "What's the Catch" episode where he and contestant Jacob Wysocki debated faking a trip to Topeka, Kansas, for a comedic bit. Ultimately, Reich insisted on the real journey, stating, "I want for us to put on screen what actually happened." Despite the inconvenience of a real trip impacted by tornadoes, Reich viewed it as essential to the show's integrity.
Other highlights from season 8 mentioned by Reich include Lou Wilson's interactions in "Don't Wake Standards & Practices," Josh's elimination in "Rulette 2," Ron Perlman's guest appearance in "Night Shift," and the entirety of "Count the Rice," which he considers one of the show's best episodes.
Reich, who also hosts Game Changer and Make Some Noise, described the constant demand for content as "feeding the beast at all times." He finds Game Changer particularly freeing due to its inherent unpredictability, which counters his own perfectionist tendencies. "If I had a career in scripted [entertainment], I would be holding on so much more tightly to like the idea of perfection. Here, I just can't," he explained. "The reason why the show is good for me is because it can't be perfect."
The evolution of Game Changer has seen it balance performance art with game design. Episodes like "Don't Cry" and "Who Wants to Be Jacob Wysocki" are cited as performance art pieces disguised as games. For season 8, Reich aimed to leverage his growing understanding of game design, evident in "Count the Rice," which introduces layered mechanics requiring players to lose elements before ultimately winning the game.
Reich sees the show's experimental nature as a strength, allowing for unique and often off-the-wall game concepts that may challenge viewers' expectations for comedy content on the platform.