Naavik Gaming Podcast

Together with Nexus, one of our Open Gaming Research Initiative partners, today we’re diving into the topic of content creator programs.Content creator programs are designed to incentivize and reward the creators in one’s community for driving attention towards a game. It isn’t the newest of growth strategies, but it's become increasingly popular in recent years. Companies like Ubisoft, Scopely, miHoYo, EA, Bandai Namco, MY.GAMES, and many more all host their own creator programs to drive growth across their product portfolios.At Naavik, we’ve looked into a few content creator programs through our public writings and consulting projects, and we’re constantly amazed at how effective this growth strategy can be when done right. So today, we’re going to focus on breaking down the current state and future of content creator programs.To discuss all this and more, host Abhimanyu Kumar, co-founder of Naavik, is joined by Justin Sacks, CEO of Nexus. Please also make sure to check out our article on creator revenue attribution as additional reading.Also, big thanks to ZEBEDEE for making this episode possible! ZEBEDEE provides a plug-and-play API and SDK for seamless integration of instant, borderless, and low-fee payments using the Bitcoin Lightning Network. Want to better engage and monetize your global user base? Start for free at https://zebedee.io/ We hope you enjoy the conversation, and do send us your thoughts, feedback and questions on [email protected]. And as always, you can help others find us by leaving a rating or review!Watch the episode: YouTube videoRead more: Naavik DigestLearn more: Naavik’s Open Gaming Research InitiativeWork with us: Naavik ConsultingFollow us: Twitter | LinkedIn | WebsiteSound design by Gavin Mc Gabe.

Serial entrepreneurs that always win are a rare breed worth learning from, and we’re hosting one of those special people today as our guest. Dylan Collins is currently an investor but was the founder and CEO of DemonWare, Jolt, and SuperAwesome, which sold to Activision Blizzard, GameStop, and Epic Games, respectively. In this conversation, we explore a few of Dylan’s lessons learned from running and selling so many companies. We then take a detour to discuss the current and future state of the kid-tech market, including what video game companies should consider in the coming years. Lastly, we touch on the early days of UEFN, Roblox’s expanding moat, and what the next generation of founder-creators could bring to the table within UGC, before closing with some exciting trends and book recommendations.If you want to follow Dylan’s musings, make sure to follow his blog: https://dylancollins.com/ We’d also like to thank Nexus for making this episode possible! Nexus’s creator program in-a-box makes it easy for game devs to build and manage a world-class creator program, driving significant growth in conversion, ARPPU, retention, and LTV. To learn more, go to http://nexus.gg/naavikIf you like the episode, please help others find us by leaving a 5-star rating or review! And if you have any comments, requests, or feedback shoot us a note at [email protected]. Watch the episode: YouTube ChannelFor more episodes and details: Podcast WebsiteFree newsletter: Naavik DigestFollow us: Twitter | LinkedIn | WebsiteSound design by Gavin Mc Cabe.

In this week's Roundtable, the squad dives into the unexpected early leak and subsequent official release of the GTA VI trailer, which has taken the internet by storm. We then shift gears to discuss the burgeoning success of hybridcasual games, which surpassed $2B in revenue in 2023, and how Voodoo's bold claim of "hypercasual is dead" is playing out in the market. The conversation heats up as we explore the upcoming Fortnite and Lego collaboration, questioning the fit of audience and moderation tools for the Lego brand. We also uncover new details from the Epic Games vs Google lawsuit, revealing a once-proposed alliance with Supercell to create a new app store and whether Microsoft is in a good place to try that. Finally, we delve into the emerging African gaming market, analyzing its potential as a huge developing audience and comparing it to previous expansions in other developing regions. Join us for all the latest games business news with Dave Elton, Matt Dion and host Devin Becker.We’d also like to thank Lightspeed Venture Partners for making this episode possible! With its dedicated gaming practice, "Lightspeed Gaming," the firm is investing from over $7B in early- and growth-stage capital — the by far largest fund focused on gaming and interactive technology. If you’re interested in learning more, go to https://gaming.lsvp.com/.If you like the episode, please help others find us by leaving a 5-star rating or review! And if you have any comments, requests, or feedback, shoot us a note at [email protected]. Watch the episode: YouTube ChannelFor more episodes and details: Podcast WebsiteFree newsletter: Naavik DigestFollow us: Twitter | LinkedIn | WebsiteSound design by Gavin Mc Cabe.

UEFN is gunning to be the next major Roblox competitor, but just how competitive is it? Today, your host, Alexandra Takei, Director at Ruckus Games, sits down with the founder of Bungie, Alex Seropian, now the current CEO of Look North World, and Amy Wu, the partner heading up the games and consumer practice at Menlo Ventures. Fortnite Creative 2.0 has drawn in a lot of committed creators: Snoop Dog and his son, 100 Thieves, and many more. In this episode, we talk about building in the UEFN ecosystem, how the tools have evolved over time (and what’s still missing), what healthy business models might look like for UGC / UEFN based studios, and the ultimate showdown of Roblox vs. UEFN. As a primer for our discussion, make sure to look back at our Naavik Digest by David Taylor on Fornite’s Long Creative Road ahead. We’d also like to thank Overwolf for making this episode possible! Whether you're a gamer, creator, or game studio, Overwolf is the ultimate destination for integrating UGC in games! You can check out all Overwolf has to offer at https://www.overwolf.com/.If you like the episode, please help others find us by leaving a 5-star rating or review! And if you have any comments, requests, or feedback shoot us a note at [email protected]. Watch the episode: YouTube ChannelFor more episodes and details: Podcast WebsiteFree newsletter: Naavik DigestFollow us: Twitter | LinkedIn | WebsiteSound design by Gavin Mc Cabe.

In this week's Roundtable, the squad unpacks ByteDance's decision to wind down its gaming arm, Nuverse, and divest popular titles like Marvel Snap. The conversation then pivots to the legal drama at Neon Machine, where the directors of Shrapnel are suing its controlling shareholder in a contentious battle for control over the web3 FPS developer. We also highlight a recent study on League of Legends, revealing surprising insights about player motivation, especially the urge to play more after losing matches. Finally, we spice things up with a series of nominations for a theoretical 2023 Business of Gaming awards, reflecting on the industry's biggest winners and losers, strategic moves, and turnarounds, blending expected outcomes with some hot takes. Join us for all the latest games business news with Aaron Bush, Matt Dion, Sebastian Park and host Devin Becker.We’d also like to thank Coda Payments for making this episode possible! Coda helps developers collect some of their revenues outside the app stores, keeping more of the income they generate for themselves. To learn more, head to https://www.codapayments.com/naavik?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=webpage&utm_campaign=naavikIf you like the episode, please help others find us by leaving a 5-star rating or review! And if you have any comments, requests, or feedback, shoot us a note at [email protected]. Watch the episode: YouTube ChannelFor more episodes and details: Podcast WebsiteFree newsletter: Naavik DigestFollow us: Twitter | LinkedIn | WebsiteSound design by Gavin Mc Cabe.

Welcome to the third and final part in our series covering all things Savvy Games Group, the Saudi-backed gaming giant in the making. In this episode, Aaron Bush sits down with Brian Ward, the CEO of Savvy Games Group, to discuss the company’s ambitions, including its goal of becoming the world’s largest gaming company and its plans to turn Saudi Arabia into a more prominent gaming hub. We also dive into how Savvy makes investment decisions, manages a decentralized culture, works with the Saudi government, and thinks very long-term. We wrap up with breakdowns of Savvy’s core subsidiaries and chat through what else Brian is excited about for the future.Also, if you missed our previous interviews with ESL FACEIT Group and Scopely, the two largest acquired parts of Savvy Games Group, make sure to check those out.We’d also like to thank Windwalk for making this episode possible! Windwalk builds digital communities and the technologies necessary to accelerate them through their flagship software, Harbor. To learn more, simply head to https://www.harbor.gg/ If you like the episode, please help others find us by leaving a 5-star rating or review! And if you have any comments, requests, or feedback shoot us a note at [email protected]. Watch the episode: YouTube ChannelFor more episodes and details: Podcast WebsiteFree newsletter: Naavik DigestFollow us: Twitter | LinkedIn | WebsiteSound design by Gavin Mc Cabe.

In this week's Roundtable, we welcome Taylor Hurst from Konvoy Ventures, bringing a fresh investment perspective to our discussions. We kick off by dissecting the startling 68% YoY decrease in games VC funding reported by PitchBook for Q3, pondering the implications and where the funding might be redirected. The conversation then shifts to Epic Games' intensified focus on child safety in Fortnite, following the spinoff of SuperAwesome and a significant FTC lawsuit settlement, as we explore the complexities and potential solutions. We delve into the recent OpenAI drama, analyzing how Microsoft nearly poached key executives and most of the staff, leading to a dramatic board reshuffle and what this power play means for Microsoft and AI. Expanding on last week's topic, we dive deeper into the nuances of Live Operations in gaming, unpacking why it's a challenging yet crucial aspect that’s now being questioned. Finally, we examine the recent layoffs at Embracer Group, affecting 900 employees or 5% of its workforce, and discuss the potential sale of Gearbox amidst broader restructuring efforts. Join us for all the latest games business news with Dave Elton, Anil Das-Gupta, Taylor Hurst and host Devin Becker.We’d also like to thank Lakestar - one of the leading European venture capital firms - for making this episode possible!. If you're interested in learning more or getting in contact with the Lakestar’s Games and Media team, simply go to https://lakestar.com/If you like the episode, please help others find us by leaving a 5-star rating or review! And if you have any comments, requests, or feedback, shoot us a note at [email protected]. Watch the episode: YouTube ChannelFor more episodes and details: Podcast WebsiteFree newsletter: Naavik DigestFollow us: Twitter | LinkedIn | WebsiteSound design by Gavin Mc Cabe.

Game7, a community formed to accelerate the adoption of Web3 gaming, recognized that there had to date not been a comprehensive overview of the entire Web3 ecosystem, and decided to do something about. On November 13th, they released the very first truly comprehensive study that covers the past 6 years of Web3 gaming, using objective and neutral primary research methods. The report captured and examined data from almost two thousand Web3 games, over one thousand funding rounds, and almost two hundred blockchain ecosystems. What can this data tell us about the state of Web3? To answer all our questions your host, Niko Vuori, talks with one of the primary authors of the report, George Isichos from Game7, with additional insights from Naavik’s own Web3 analyst, Devin Becker. To download the free 61-page report, make sure to visit https://research.game7.io/state-of-web3-gaming-2023. You can find George Isichos on LinkedIn.Also, big thanks to ZEBEDEE for making this episode possible! ZEBEDEE provides a plug-and-play API and SDK for seamless integration of instant, borderless, and low-fee payments using the Bitcoin Lightning Network. Want to better engage and monetize your global user base? Start for free at https://zebedee.io/.If you like the episode, please help others find us by leaving a 5-star rating or review! And if you have any comments, requests, or feedback shoot us a note at [email protected]. Watch the episode: YouTube ChannelFor more episodes and details: Podcast WebsiteFree newsletter: Naavik DigestFollow us: Twitter | LinkedIn | WebsiteSound design by Gavin Mc Cabe.

Neil Long used to be responsible for app rankings on the Apple iOS Store before founding Mobilegamer.biz, a site aimed at increasing mobile games coverage. Jason Schreier is a long-standing games journalist with a career spanning Wired, Kotaku, and now Bloomberg News; he's famous for exposing industry crunch, lobbying on behalf of the developer, and depending on who you ask, exposing unofficially announced games. Your host, Alexandra Takei Director at Ruckus Games, and her guests debate the role of journalism in games: how the processes and structures of what seat you are writing from influences what you choose to cover, what standards and bylaws do you develop as a journalist to ensure high quality reporting, and how the gaming industry has been impacted by the reporting done by both guests. Finally, we discuss whether gaming journalism itself can survive as a business, and if so, how. This episode is brought to you by CleverTap Gaming, the all-in-one platform for creating personalized player experiences. Visit https://clevertap.com/gaming/ for more details. If you like the episode, please help others find us by leaving a 5-star rating or review! And if you have any comments, requests, or feedback shoot us a note at [email protected]. Watch the episode: YouTube ChannelFor more episodes and details: Podcast WebsiteFree newsletter: Naavik DigestFollow us: Twitter | LinkedIn | WebsiteSound design by Gavin Mc Cabe.

In this week's Roundtable, the squad tackles the contentious release of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, scrutinizing Activision's bold pricing strategy for what many see as DLC-sized content. We then shift gears to the evolving stances of various companies regarding live service games, including noting where we are in the trend's hype cycle. The conversation pivots to Valve's unveiling of the Steam Deck OLED and what kind of platform the resurgence of handhelds could morph into. We next cover Roblox's recent earnings release and discuss both the tailwinds and headwinds the company faces. The discussion then takes a serious turn with Blizzard shuttering the Overwatch League due to financial woes, leading us to speculate on the future of other esports leagues and why ESL may be in a superior position. Finally, we examine Ubisoft's announcement of a new skin marketplace for the eight-year-old Rainbow Six: Siege and ponder its potential compared to Steam's established marketplace. Join us for all the latest games business news with Aaron Bush, Jonathan Anastas, and host Devin Becker.We’d also like to thank Nexus for making this episode possible! Nexus’s creator program in-a-box makes it easy for game devs to build and manage a world-class creator program, driving significant growth in conversion, ARPPU, retention, and LTV. To learn more, go to http://nexus.gg/naavikIf you like the episode, please help others find us by leaving a 5-star rating or review! And if you have any comments, requests, or feedback, shoot us a note at [email protected]. Watch the episode: YouTube ChannelFor more episodes and details: Podcast WebsiteFree newsletter: Naavik DigestFollow us: Twitter | LinkedIn | WebsiteSound design by Gavin Mc Cabe.

Together with Windwalk, one of our Open Gaming Research Initiative partners, we’re diving into the topic of community building within game building.The reason for talking about all things community is simple: not only has community building always been important, but it has never been more important, especially when thinking about where the industry is moving from a discoverability, distribution, product roadmapping, UGC, Web3, or AI perspective. There are so many interesting angles to this topic, and we cover a lot of ground on this episode.To discuss all this and more, your host, Abhimanyu Kumar, Co-founder of Naavik, is joined by Colin Feo, CEO of Windwalk, and Richard Warren, Head of Community at Windwalk.We’d also like to thank Gamesight for making this episode possible! Gamesight provides full-service campaign management, taking charge of consulting, influencer discovery, relationship management, billing, and reporting, leaving you free to focus on your core business. To learn more, simply visit https://i.try.games/gamesight/fzjked We hope you enjoy the conversation, and please send us any thoughts, feedback, or questions to [email protected]. And as always, you can help others find us by leaving a rating or review!Watch the episode: YouTube videoRead more: Naavik DigestLearn more: Naavik’s Open Gaming Research InitiativeWork with us: Naavik ConsultingFollow us: Twitter | LinkedIn | WebsiteSound design by Gavin Mc Gabe.

In this week's Roundtable, the squad unpacks Bungie's recent layoffs and the implications for Destiny 2 and Marathon’s future. We then shift gears to Azur Games' acquisition of Good Job Games' entire portfolio, sparking an exploration of the merits of portfolio vs. talent acquisition strategies in the gaming industry. Next, the announcement of a Legend of Zelda movie sparks a discussion comparing its potential as a live action film against the CG-animated Mario movie. We also touch on the breaking news that a GTA VI trailer will be released soon and the potential impact on Take-Two Interactive. We jump over to analyzing the sustainability and impact of the news that Epic Games' OG Fortnite event is pulling in massive concurrent player numbers, including returning players. We also delve into Epic's lawsuit against Google, now uniquely set for a jury decision, and contrast it with the case against Apple. Wrapping up, we dissect EA Sports' success with FC 24 outperforming FIFA 23 and consider the broader implications for other licensed franchises in the gaming world. Join us for all the latest games business news with Felipe Mata, Dave Elton, Maria Gillies, and host Devin Becker.We’d also like to thank Lightspeed Venture Partners for making this episode possible! With its dedicated gaming practice, "Lightspeed Gaming," the firm is investing from over $7B in early- and growth-stage capital — the by far largest fund focused on gaming and interactive technology. If you’re interested in learning more, go to https://gaming.lsvp.com/.If you like the episode, please help others find us by leaving a 5-star rating or review! And if you have any comments, requests, or feedback, shoot us a note at [email protected]. Watch the episode: YouTube ChannelFor more episodes and details: Podcast WebsiteFree newsletter: Naavik DigestFollow us: Twitter | LinkedIn | WebsiteSound design by Gavin Mc Cabe.

How do you build a dedicated Roblox studio? The answer: “hire your customer” according to the Co-Founders of Tiny Comet Emily Tierney and Anca Agapi. Your host, Alexandra Takei, Director at Ruckus Games, alongside the Tiny Comet team discusses building and running a studio where the average employee is under twenty years old, acquiring users on a platform that has 40M games and a notorious algorithm that’s largely responsible for surfacing your game, and the mission Tiny Comet has to build games that are not only fun, but, as they say, are “learnified” experiences. The pandemic set back education tenfold, and this team is not only on a mission to build where the future of gamers (and game developers) are growing up, but also to boldly tackle a long-standing societal problem. We hope you’ll tune in. We’d also like to thank Overwolf for making this episode possible! Whether you're a gamer, creator, or game studio, Overwolf is the ultimate destination for integrating UGC in games! You can check out all Overwolf has to offer at https://www.overwolf.com/.If you like the episode, please help others find us by leaving a 5-star rating or review! And if you have any comments, requests, or feedback shoot us a note at [email protected]. Watch the episode: YouTube ChannelFor more episodes and details: Podcast WebsiteFree newsletter: Naavik DigestFollow us: Twitter | LinkedIn | WebsiteSound design by Gavin Mc Cabe.

In this week's Roundtable, the squad delves into the fresh UK sales numbers, highlighting top hits like Super Mario Bros. Wonder and Spider-Man 2. Then we discuss why YTD video game spend in the US is actually down compared to last year (when accounting for inflation) despite it being a notable year of great hits. We pair that discussion with insights from the latest Drake Star and Konvoy Q3 reports, which cover funding and M&A data, and discuss why we're hesitant to project a strong rebound heading into 2024. Next, we hit on Microsoft's major leadership reorg and discuss how emerging technologies (like AI) and new business models (like subscription) could further affect broader industry-wide reorgs in the future. Lastly, as earnings season kicks off, we dive into the latest numbers from Xbox and Ubisoft, and Aaron offers keen analysis about the unspoken and less obvious narratives hidden between the lines. Join us for all the latest games business news with Aaron Bush, Sebastian Park, Tammy Levy and host Devin Becker.We’d also like to thank Coda Payments for making this episode possible! Coda helps developers collect some of their revenues outside the app stores, keeping more of the income they generate for themselves. To learn more, head to https://www.codapayments.com/naavik?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=webpage&utm_campaign=naavikIf you like the episode, please help others find us by leaving a 5-star rating or review! And if you have any comments, requests, or feedback, shoot us a note at [email protected]. Watch the episode: YouTube ChannelFor more episodes and details: Podcast WebsiteFree newsletter: Naavik DigestFollow us: Twitter | LinkedIn | WebsiteSound design by Gavin Mc Cabe.

Together with Gamesight, one of our Open Gaming Research Initiative partners, we’re exploring various go-to-market (GTM) strategies and insights, specifically for PC games.Currently, there is a growing curiosity surrounding the topic, particularly as observed in the development of new mobile games designed for cross-platform compatibility and the introduction of PC versions of existing mobile games. For example, Supercell recently released PC versions of Clash of Clans and Clash Royale. In short, the need to understand how the PC platform behaves from a go-to-market perspective is becoming increasingly important for developers across gaming verticals.To discuss all this and more, we’re joined by Adam Lieb, CEO of Gamesight, and your host, Abhimanyu Kumar, Co-founder of Naavik.We’d also like to thank Pragma for making this episode possible! Pragma is a Backend Game Engine that powers services like accounts, matchmaking and player data for the world’s most ambitious live service games. To learn more, head to https://pragma.gg/ We hope you enjoy the conversation, and do send us your thoughts, feedback and questions on [email protected]. And as always, you can help others find us by leaving a rating or review!Watch the episode: YouTube videoRead more: Naavik DigestLearn more: Naavik’s Open Gaming Research InitiativeWork with us: Naavik ConsultingFollow us: Twitter | LinkedIn | WebsiteSound design by Gavin Mc Gabe.

Welcome to part two in our series covering all things Savvy Games Group. In this episode Aaron Bush chats with Javier Ferreira, the co-CEO of Scopely, which was acquired by Savvy earlier this year for $4.9 billion – the sixth largest gaming acquisition of all time. Scopely is now the #2 largest North American mobile games company (as measured by global IAPs), and it serves over 100 million players across its portfolio of games.In this episode, Javier walks us through how the company has grown, what does and doesn’t change now that Scopely is owned by Savvy, and updates us on Scopely’s approach to creating great games. We also dive into Monopoly Go (how did Scopely create the #1 mobile game in the US?), Stumble Guys (and what it says about Scopely’s cross-platform ambitions), GSN (including how to get better at M&A), and more. We also discuss the tensions between managing creativity and systems at scale, Scopely’s view on UGC, and wrap up with a few things Javier is excited about for the future.Also, if you missed our first interview with Javier, which shares great insights into how Scopely operates, check it out here: https://naavik.co/podcast/javier-ferreira/ We’d also like to thank Dive for making this episode possible! Dive is a fully outsourced BI-as-a-Service solution that provides an enterprise-grade data platform and services for gaming studios on all platforms. It also saves studios hundreds of thousands of dollars yearly. To learn more, go to: https://bit.ly/3NRlX3i If you like the episode, please help others find us by leaving a 5-star rating or review! And if you have any comments, requests, or feedback shoot us a note at [email protected]. Watch the episode: YouTube ChannelFor more episodes and details: Podcast WebsiteFree newsletter: Naavik DigestFollow us: Twitter | LinkedIn | WebsiteSound design by Gavin Mc Cabe.

In this week's Roundtable, the squad kicks off by discussing what to make of Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella's pay no longer being driven by Xbox Game Pass growth targets. We then navigate the waters of FaZe Clan's acquisition by Gamesquare for a largely deflated $17M, especially in the wake of its previous SPAC and esports as a struggling industry. Pivoting to streaming giant Netflix, we dissect its Q3 investor call, where the company outlined its 'crawl, walk, run' approach to gaming, and chat about whether the future for Netflix's gaming ambitions are mobile-first or not. Join us for all the latest games business news with Maria Gillies, Dave Elton, and host Devin Becker.We’d also like to thank Lakestar - one of the leading European venture capital firms - for making this episode possible!. If you're interested in learning more or getting in contact with the Lakestar’s Games and Media team, simply go to https://lakestar.com/If you like the episode, please help others find us by leaving a 5-star rating or review! And if you have any comments, requests, or feedback, shoot us a note at [email protected]. Watch the episode: YouTube ChannelFor more episodes and details: Podcast WebsiteFree newsletter: Naavik DigestFollow us: Twitter | LinkedIn | WebsiteSound design by Gavin Mc Cabe.

As "metaverses" gain in prominence, and more and more gameplay happens inside these digital worlds, brands, advertisers, and IP owners are naturally going to want to be there. Wherever there is consumer attention and engagement, there will always be brands wanting to get in front of these engaged audiences. But how should brands, which typically know nothing about gaming, engage with consumers in these spaces that are still fairly alien to them? What does a successful transmedia IP strategy look like? Does every brand need a transmedia strategy? To answer these questions your host, Niko Vuori, talks with Joe Ferencz, the founder and CEO of Gamefam, one of the largest metaverse developers that works with brands to bring their IP into the metaverse. To learn more, make sure to visit https://gamefam.com/. You can find Joe Ferencz on LinkedIn.We’d also like to thank Gamesight for making this episode possible! Gamesight provides full-service campaign management, taking charge of consulting, influencer discovery, relationship management, billing, and reporting, leaving you free to focus on your core business. To learn more, simply visit https://gamesight.io/ If you like the episode, please help others find us by leaving a 5-star rating or review! And if you have any comments, requests, or feedback shoot us a note at [email protected]. Watch the episode: YouTube ChannelFor more episodes and details: Podcast WebsiteFree newsletter: Naavik DigestFollow us: Twitter | LinkedIn | WebsiteSound design by Gavin Mc Cabe.

Hybridcasual is a buzzword of late, but what exactly does it mean, and where is it going? As hypercasual continues declining, many games teams are experimenting with either converting their existing hypercasual games to hybridcasual (by adding more casual features) or are building hybridcasual games from the ground up. It’s a rapidly shifting environment with many moving pieces.To help make sense of the evolution, Niek Tuerlings, lead game designer at Moonlit Games and long-time Naavik contributor, joins host Aaron Bush to share his research and takeaways. The duo dives into examples from Say Games (Dreamdale), Voodoo (Mob Control + Collect ‘Em All), Madbox (Pocket Champs), and Habby (Survivor.io), shares overarching takeaways, and discusses where the trend is going next.This discussion is also based on Niek’s excellent essay, which covers similar ground. Check it out for even more context and insight: https://naavik.co/deep-dives/evolution-of-hybridcasual-deepdive/ This episode is brought to you by CleverTap Gaming, the all-in-one platform for creating personalized player experiences. Visit https://clevertap.com/gaming/ for more details. If you like the episode, please help others find us by leaving a 5-star rating or review! And if you have any comments, requests, or feedback shoot us a note at [email protected]. Watch the episode: YouTube ChannelFor more episodes and details: Podcast WebsiteFree newsletter: Naavik DigestFollow us: Twitter | LinkedIn | WebsiteSound design by Gavin Mc Cabe.

In this week's Roundtable, the squad delves into Microsoft's completed acquisition of Activision Blizzard and speculates on the future landscape of gaming acquisitions. We then touch upon the continued trend of layoffs, this time spotlighting Frontier, and discuss when the tide may shift the other way. Lastly, as the holiday season approaches, we share our predictions on which games are likely to dominate the charts and become festive favorites. Join us for all the latest games business news with Anil Das-Gupta, Aaron Bush, and host Devin Becker.We’d also like to thank Dive for making this episode possible! Dive is a fully outsourced BI-as-a-Service solution that provides an enterprise-grade data platform and services for gaming studios on all platforms. It also saves studios hundreds of thousands of dollars yearly. To learn more, go to: https://bit.ly/3NRlX3iIf you like the episode, please help others find us by leaving a 5-star rating or review! And if you have any comments, requests, or feedback, shoot us a note at [email protected]. Watch the episode: YouTube ChannelFor more episodes and details: Podcast WebsiteFree newsletter: Naavik DigestFollow us: Twitter | LinkedIn | WebsiteSound design by Gavin Mc Cabe.

In 2022, ESL Gaming and FACEIT merged to create one of esports’ most important companies: ESL FACEIT Group (EFG). This operating group, fully owned by Saudi Arabia’s Savvy Games Group, manages esports tournaments (via ESL), gaming festivals (via Dreamhack), a platform for superior PvP play (via FACEIT), and gaming audience management tools (via Vindex, acquired this year).In this episode, we chat with EFG’s co-CEOs, Craig Levine and Niccolo Maisto, about how this company came together, how esports has evolved in recent years, and what it’s like operating within Savvy Games. We also discuss how merging has unlocked a larger vision with new growth opportunities, EFG’s aspiration to grow “beyond play,” and what both leaders learned from integrating different teams and managing esports’ never-ending change over the past few years.This episode is also part one in a three part series about Savvy Games Group, which continues to deploy its $38 billion in dedicated capital. In Part 2, we’ll chat with Javier Ferreira, co-CEO of Scopely, which was acquired by Savvy in July, and Part 3 will be a discussion with Brian Ward, Savvy Games Group’s CEO. Stay tuned!We’d also like to thank Windwalk for making this episode possible! Windwalk builds digital communities and the technologies necessary to accelerate them through their flagship software, Harbor. To learn more, simply head to https://www.harbor.gg/ If you like the episode, please help others find us by leaving a 5-star rating or review! And if you have any comments, requests, or feedback shoot us a note at [email protected]. Watch the episode: YouTube ChannelFor more episodes and details: Podcast WebsiteFree newsletter: Naavik DigestFollow us: Twitter | LinkedIn | WebsiteSound design by Gavin Mc Cabe.

In this week's Roundtable, the squad kicks things off by discussing the resignation of Unity's CEO John Riccitiello and the introduction of the company's new interim CEO. We then delve into the latest on our favorite Swedish aggregators, including Embracer's ongoing setbacks and MTG's acquisition of Warhammer Tacticus developer, Snowprint Studios. Next, we explore the strategy behind Diablo IV announcing its Season 2 launch on Steam and the revelation that Activision Blizzard titles will hit Xbox Game Pass by 2024. We then discuss EA's triumphant launch of its rebranded FC 24 franchise post-FIFA. Lastly, we touch on the unfortunate trend of layoffs sweeping across the gaming industry and ponder its implications. Join us for all the latest games business news with Dave Elton, Tammy Levy, Matt Dion, and host Devin Becker.We’d also like to thank Lightspeed Venture Partners for making this episode possible! With its dedicated gaming practice, "Lightspeed Gaming," the firm is investing from over $7B in early- and growth-stage capital — the by far largest fund focused on gaming and interactive technology. If you’re interested in learning more, go to https://gaming.lsvp.com/.If you like the episode, please help others find us by leaving a 5-star rating or review! And if you have any comments, requests, or feedback, shoot us a note at [email protected]. Watch the episode: YouTube ChannelFor more episodes and details: Podcast WebsiteFree newsletter: Naavik DigestFollow us: Twitter | LinkedIn | WebsiteSound design by Gavin Mc Cabe.

Together with Dive, one of our Open Gaming Research Initiative partners, we’re exploring the topic of data and games through a limited podcast series called the “Data Corner”.Today’s episode is Part 2 of Driving ROI with Data Analysis. It’s a broad topic that many understand has a lot of value, but not so many know how to engineer it in their gaming studios.In Part 1, we talked about how game teams should think about setting up their data pipelines, data teams, processes and relationships with other teams, and budgets. Today, we’re going a little deeper into some more tactical questions around initiating and conducting data analyses, which should result in some actionable takeaways for listeners.To discuss all this and more, we’re joined by Elad Levy, founder and CEO of Dive, Tammy Levy, Chief Games Officer at Captain.tv, and your host, Abhimanyu Kumar, Co-founder of Naavik.We’d also like to thank Pragma for making this episode possible! Pragma is a Backend Game Engine that powers services like accounts, matchmaking and player data for the world’s most ambitious live service games. To learn more, head to https://pragma.gg/ And as always, if you like the episode, you can help others find us by leaving a rating or review! Also, send us your thoughts, feedback, and questions on [email protected] the episode: YouTube videoRead more: Naavik DigestLearn more: Naavik’s Open Gaming Research InitiativeWork with us: Naavik ConsultingFollow us: Twitter | LinkedIn | WebsiteSound design by Gavin Mc Gabe.

On September 13th, Zynga minted its first NFT collection, the Oras, and announced its entry into the Web3 gaming space with Sugartown. There have not been many large, established developers who have taken the plunge into the Web3 waters, especially in the Western markets, and those that have tried to incorporate NFTs or other Web3 elements into their existing games (looking at you, Ubisoft and Ghost Recon Breakpoint) have met with significant player backlash. So to have a big player like Zynga “validate” Web3 by building a native experience from the ground up is a big deal, and could reflect a major milestone for Web3 gaming. To discuss what this means for the Web3 movement, and learn more about Zynga’s Web3 strategy, your host, Niko Vuori, talks with Zynga’s VP of Web3 Gaming, Matt Wolf. To learn more, make sure to visit https://visitsugartown.com/. You can find Matt Wolf on LinkedIn.We’d also like to thank Nexus for making this episode possible! Nexus’s creator program in-a-box makes it easy for game devs to build and manage a world-class creator program, driving significant growth in conversion, ARPPU, retention, and LTV. To learn more, go to nexus.gg/naavikIf you like the episode, please help others find us by leaving a 5-star rating or review! And if you have any comments, requests, or feedback shoot us a note at [email protected]. Watch the episode: YouTube ChannelFor more episodes and details: Podcast WebsiteFree newsletter: Naavik DigestFollow us: Twitter | LinkedIn | WebsiteSound design by Gavin Mc Cabe.

How red is the ocean of shooters and is there room for innovation in what most consider a wildly competitive and oversaturated space? Roby John, CEO and Co-Founder at Supergaming (a studio building an indo-futurism mobile battle royale called Indus, check out their beta here) and Nikolaj Nyholm, CEO and Co-Founder at Scattershot (a studio building a competitive PvP battle royale shooter called Project Athena) both believe there’s disruption yet to come. Your host Alexandra Takei, Director of Business at Ruckus Games, and her crew discuss the macro-state of the shooter market across PC, console, and mobile as well as the pockets of opportunities across sub genres, demos, geos, economics, and development processes. We also take a trip down memory lane, and ask our guests if they were to have one feature in their game that defined generations of shooters to come (i.e. a modern day push forward combat), what might it be, and why is it important? A kingpin genre of the video game industry, this is not an episode to miss! We’d also like to thank Overwolf for making this episode possible! Whether you're a gamer, creator, or game studio, Overwolf is the ultimate destination for integrating UGC in games! You can check out all Overwolf has to offer at overwolf.com.If you like the episode, please help others find us by leaving a 5-star rating or review! And if you have any comments, requests, or feedback shoot us a note at [email protected]. Watch the episode: YouTube ChannelFor more episodes and details: Podcast WebsiteFree newsletter: Naavik DigestFollow us: Twitter | LinkedIn | WebsiteSound design by Gavin Mc Cabe.

In this week's Roundtable, the squad starts with covering the successful mobile launch of Monster Hunter Now, giving Niantic another win in location-based gaming. Then we touch on Luda's recent $7M funding for its AI training sim, spotlighting real-time reinforcement training and UGC elements. That's followed up with a conversation around Activision/Blizzard's decision to shut down and revamp the Overwatch League. We also dive deep into the launch of CS:GO 2, its impressive crate opening numbers, and the surprising removal of CS:GO 1 from Steam. Lastly, we end with a riveting games business trivia quiz. Join us for all the latest games business news with Felipe Mata, Aaron Bush, and host Devin Becker.We’d also like to thank Coda Payments for making this episode possible! Coda helps developers collect some of their revenues outside the app stores, keeping more of the income they generate for themselves. To learn more, head to https://www.codapayments.com/naavik?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=webpage&utm_campaign=naavikIf you like the episode, please help others find us by leaving a 5-star rating or review! And if you have any comments, requests, or feedback, shoot us a note at [email protected]. Watch the episode: YouTube ChannelFor more episodes and details: Podcast WebsiteFree newsletter: Naavik DigestFollow us: Twitter | LinkedIn | WebsiteSound design by Gavin Mc Cabe.

We’ve all played match 3 games, but the genre itself has seen limited innovation in recent years. However, Candivore and its hit game Match Masters – which features PvP and new monetization mechanics – are changing the narrative. In this episode, we talk to Candivore’s co-founder and CEO Gal Goldstein about the multi-year journey in developing Match Masters, scaling up its success, and raising money (most recently in a ~$100M round led by Haveli). Gal also holds unique perspectives on keeping teams lean, Candivore’s end goal, and how the match 3 genre will evolve in the future.If you’re interested in innovating, iterating, and scaling mobile games, you’ll enjoy this episode.Also, big thanks to ZEBEDEE for making this episode possible! ZEBEDEE provides a plug-and-play API and SDK for seamless integration of instant, borderless, and low-fee payments using the Bitcoin Lightning Network. Want to better engage and monetize your global user base? Start for free at zebedee.io.If you like the episode, please help others find us by leaving a 5-star rating or review! And if you have any comments, requests, or feedback shoot us a note at [email protected]. Watch the episode: YouTube ChannelFor more episodes and details: Podcast WebsiteFree newsletter: Naavik DigestFollow us: Twitter | LinkedIn | WebsiteSound design by Gavin Mc Cabe.

In this week's Roundtable, the squad starts off by reflecting on Unity’s business model changes and Jim Ryan’s retirement after a strong 30 year run at PlayStation. Then we discuss comments from both Xbox’s Phil Spencer and Capcom’s Haruhiro Tsujimoto that put into question AAA games’ pricing and the evolving role of publishers. We also touch on the breaking news of Epic Games’ major layoffs and divestments before digging into 2023’s biggest winners and losers so far. Lastly, we close with a quick bonus round of hidden gems that is sure to surprise. Join us for all the latest games business news with Mario Stefanidis , Aaron Bush, and host Devin Becker.We’d also like to thank Lakestar - one of the leading European venture capital firms - for making this episode possible!. If you're interested in learning more or getting in contact with the Lakestar’s Games and Media team, simply go to lakestar.comIf you like the episode, please help others find us by leaving a 5-star rating or review! And if you have any comments, requests, or feedback, shoot us a note at [email protected]. Watch the episode: YouTube ChannelFor more episodes and details: Podcast WebsiteFree newsletter: Naavik DigestFollow us: Twitter | LinkedIn | WebsiteSound design by Gavin Mc Cabe.

Amitt Mahajan, co-creator of cultural icon and Internet treasure Farmville, has been working at the intersection of gaming and technology for his entire career. Now, Amitt has set his sights on web3, and more specifically, building true fully on-chain “forever games” and the technical tools to power them, in order to facilitate autonomous worlds, ensure game longevity, and create a more immersive player experience. His company, Proof of Play, recently announced a $33 million seed round led by a16z, as well as the Free-to-Play release of their first game, Pirate Nation, a fully on-chain pirate-themed RPG. Amitt joins your host, Niko Vuori, to talk about how the blockchain is like the digital version of cave drawings, allowing digital art to last forever. He also covers why gamers and developers should care about fully on-chain games, why he chose Ethereum + Arbitrum Nova as his tech stack, and how much harder it is to build games without centralized servers. To learn more, make sure to visit https://piratenation.game/. You can find Amitt Mahajan on LinkedIn.We’d also like to thank Gamesight for making this episode possible! Gamesight provides full-service campaign management, taking charge of consulting, influencer discovery, relationship management, billing, and reporting, leaving you free to focus on your core business. To learn more, simply visit https://gamesight.io/ If you like the episode, please help others find us by leaving a 5-star rating or review! And if you have any comments, requests, or feedback shoot us a note at [email protected]. Watch the episode: YouTube ChannelFor more episodes and details: Podcast WebsiteFree newsletter: Naavik DigestFollow us: Twitter | LinkedIn | WebsiteSound design by Gavin Mc Cabe.

India’s gaming market is well known for its betting and gambling companies, including unicorns like Dream11 and Mobile Premier League, but what does the next decade of gaming behavior in India look like? Salone Sehgal, founder and GP of Lumikai, one of India’s first dedicated games and interactive media funds, and Abhaas Shah, co-founder of Studio Sirah, join us to talk about the size of India’s gaming market, their conviction in the untapped potential of Hindu and Indian lore and mythology, educate us on what’s really going on with all the regulatory headwinds we see in the news regarding online gaming taxes and tight regulatory regimes, and explain some of the production challenges for developing for the India market. If you think the future of gaming in India is only RMG, think again, and hit play!This episode is brought to you by CleverTap Gaming, the all-in-one platform for creating personalized player experiences. Visit https://clevertap.com/gaming/ for more details. If you like the episode, please help others find us by leaving a 5-star rating or review! And if you have any comments, requests, or feedback shoot us a note at [email protected]. Watch the episode: YouTube ChannelFor more episodes and details: Podcast WebsiteFree newsletter: Naavik DigestFollow us: Twitter | LinkedIn | WebsiteSound design by Gavin Mc Cabe.

In this week's Roundtable, the squad shares some personal updates including a recap of Korea Blockchain Week, streetball with Fat Joe, and two new Naavik deep dives. Then we cover the latest in Unity's evolving monetization saga, including why the company got itself into this situation in the first place and why it’s (perhaps partially) backpedaling on its monetization policy announcements. We also cover Playtika’s acquisition of Innplay Labs, and dig into the court document leaks that highlight much of Xbox’s next-generation plans. Join us for all the latest games business news with Anil Das-Gupta, Jonathan Anastas, Aaron Bush, and host Devin Becker.Also, a big thanks to data.ai for supporting all of Naavik's mobile data needs. If your team requires a market and competitive intelligence tool for tracking the mobile games industry, monitoring KPIs, and spotting opportunities across games, check out data.ai's robust platform.If you like the episode, please help others find us by leaving a 5-star rating or review! And if you have any comments, requests, or feedback, shoot us a note at [email protected]. Watch the episode: YouTube ChannelFor more episodes and details: Podcast WebsiteFree newsletter: Naavik DigestFollow us: Twitter | LinkedIn | WebsiteSound design by Gavin Mc Cabe.

Together with Dive, one of Naavik's Open Gaming Research Initiative partners, we’re exploring the topic of data and games through a limited podcast series called the “Data Corner”.Today’s episode is about “Driving ROI with Data Analysis” — a broad topic that everyone understands is valuable but most don't know how to effectively engineer into their game studios. After all, ROI from data analysis goes beyond simply analyzing the data and also covers the entire activity funnel. For example, it's not ROI-effective when product teams don't know how to talk to data teams or when data teams don't know how to showcase results to marketing teams. ROI-effectiveness also can't happen if budgets aren’t allocated properly or if the proper data tooling doesn't exist across various teams.It's a big topic! So we decided to split this conversation into two parts. Today, in part 1, we explore various parts of the data analysis value chain with Elad Levy, founder and CEO of Dive, Tammy Levy, Chief Games Officer at Captain.tv, and host Abhimanyu Kumar, co-founder of Naavik.Make sure to send your thoughts, feedback, and questions to [email protected], so that we can address it all later in this limited series.We’d also like to thank Dive for making this episode possible! Dive is a fully outsourced BI-as-a-Service solution that provides an enterprise-grade data platform and services for gaming studios on all platforms. It also saves studios hundreds of thousands of dollars yearly. To learn more, go to: https://bit.ly/3NRlX3iAnd as always, if you like the episode, you can help others find us by leaving a rating or review!Watch the episode: YouTube videoRead more: Naavik DigestLearn more: Naavik’s Open Gaming Research InitiativeWork with us: Naavik ConsultingFollow us: Twitter | LinkedIn | WebsiteSound design by Gavin Mc Gabe.

User generated content is a multi-decade wave that continues to grow and transform the games industry. One company pioneering this future is Overwolf, which is creating an all-in-one platform for creating, sharing, and monetizing in-game apps, mods, and game servers. As is laid out in the episode, Overwolf is looking to help creators earn billions of dollars over time by essentially enabling all game studios to build their own versions of UEFN for their games. It’s a big, exciting vision, and Overwolf is making steady progress toward its goals.To help catch us up to speed on Overwolf, Naavik co-founder Aaron Bush is joined by Uri Marchand, the company’s co-founder and CEO. This is Uri’s third time on The Naavik Gaming Podcast, but the discussion dives into new territory. We discuss what new projects Overwolf is working on, how modding and game servers are destined to evolve, and take a step back to learn how Uri has grown as a leader in his 13 years at Overwolf.We’d also like to thank Windwalk for making this episode possible! Windwalk builds digital communities and the technologies necessary to accelerate them through their flagship software, Harbor. To learn more, simply head to https://www.harbor.gg/ If you like the episode, please help others find us by leaving a 5-star rating or review! And if you have any comments, requests, or feedback shoot us a note at [email protected]. Watch the episode: YouTube ChannelFor more episodes and details: Podcast WebsiteFree newsletter: Naavik DigestFollow us: Twitter | LinkedIn | WebsiteSound design by Gavin Mc Cabe.

In this week's Roundtable, the squad discusses a wide range of fun topics. We start by digging into the potential sales of Jagex and Gearbox, YouTube’s new Playables feature for instant gaming, and Story Protocol's $54M raise for its unique web3 take on IP. Then we dive into the week's main headline: Unity’s major installs-based monetization addition, which is sparking a major backlash from game developers. Lastly, we wrap up by discussing takeaways from the Roblox Developers Conference, chatting about VR and PlayStation support, and sharing some predictions. Join us for all the latest games business news with Felipe Mata, Dave Elton, Matt Dion and host Devin Becker.We’d also like to thank Lightspeed Venture Partners for making this episode possible! With its dedicated gaming practice, "Lightspeed Gaming," the firm is investing from over $7B in early- and growth-stage capital — the by far largest fund focused on gaming and interactive technology. If you’re interested in learning more, go to gaming.lsvp.com.If you like the episode, please help others find us by leaving a 5-star rating or review! And if you have any comments, requests, or feedback, shoot us a note at [email protected]. Watch the episode: YouTube ChannelFor more episodes and details: Podcast WebsiteFree newsletter: Naavik DigestFollow us: Twitter | LinkedIn | WebsiteSound design by Gavin Mc Cabe.

In 2011, Sean Ryan was hired to build out Facebook’s nascent gaming business just as Zynga and other social gaming start-ups were gaining traction on the platform. A decade later, Sean’s responsibilities eventually encompassed numerous other initiatives, including Facebook’s forays into blockchain. In this episode, Sean explains why he felt compelled to leave Facebook to start his own web3 gaming company, why he believes the notion of digital ownership is as big of a watershed moment as free-to-play mobile or the move from physical to digital, who he thinks will prevail in the blockchain wars, and how he sees the web3 ecosystem evolving.To learn more, make sure to visit https://aqua.xyz. You can find Sean Ryan on LinkedIn.We’d also like to thank Nexus for making this episode possible! Nexus’s creator program in-a-box makes it easy for game devs to build and manage a world-class creator program, driving significant growth in conversion, ARPPU, retention, and LTV. To learn more, go to nexus.gg/naavikIf you like the episode, please help others find us by leaving a 5-star rating or review! And if you have any comments, requests, or feedback shoot us a note at [email protected]. Watch the episode: YouTube ChannelFor more episodes and details: Podcast WebsiteFree newsletter: Naavik DigestFollow us: Twitter | LinkedIn | WebsiteSound design by Gavin Mc Cabe.

“Show me how you play, and then I’ll tell you who you are”, says Joe Schaeppi, CEO and Co-Founder of AI powered studio Solsten. Today, Joe, Alex, and Kishen Patel, the author of “The Infinite Power of Play” in collaboration with our partners at Lightspeed, talk about the use cases of AI in games (#1: Cost and Time Reduction, #2: New Genres of AI Powered Games), what it means to understand not only player behavior but the psychographics of your player demo, and where we actually are in any of this becoming a day to day reality. Are AI NPCs really a game changer? Are using GAN and diffusion models actually more cost effective? What moral obligation do gaming companies have to diagnose and alert players about their well being? That and more when you hit play! *As a bonus, learn what going for the military victory in Civilization really says about you.* This episode is brought to you by Overwolf. Whether you're a gamer, creator, or game studio, Overwolf is the ultimate destination for integrating UGC in games! You can check out all Overwolf has to offer at overwolf.com.If you like the episode, please help others find us by leaving a 5-star rating or review! And if you have any comments, requests, or feedback shoot us a note at [email protected]. Watch the episode: YouTube ChannelFor more episodes and details: Podcast WebsiteFree newsletter: Naavik DigestFollow us: Twitter | LinkedIn | WebsiteSound design by Gavin Mc Cabe.

In this week's Roundtable, the squad highlights data.ai’s new 2023 Gaming Spotlight Report (link below) and adds more details around PlayStation’s decision to raise subscription prices. Then we cover Starfield’s launch, including its impact on Game Pass and the viability of its windowing strategy, followed by discussion on how the writers and actors strike could impact the games industry. Lastly, we wrap up by exploring Humble Bundle's quiet yet interesting expansion strategies. Join us for all the latest games business news with Aaron Bush, Dave Elton, and host Maria Gillies.Data.ai’s 2023 Gaming Spotlight Report: https://www.data.ai/en/go/gaming-report-idc-2023?utm_source=naavik&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=ww-referral-202307-gaming-partnership&utm_content=PR-&sfdcid=7016F000002Y6Tj Big thanks to Coda Payments for sponsoring this episode! Coda helps developers collect some of their revenues outside the app stores, keeping more of the income they generate for themselves. To learn more, head to https://www.codapayments.com/naavik?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=webpage&utm_campaign=naavik We’d also like to thank Pragma for making this episode possible! Pragma is a Backend Game Engine that powers services like accounts, matchmaking and player data for the world’s most ambitious live service games. To learn more, head to https://pragma.gg/If you like the episode, please help others find us by leaving a 5-star rating or review! And if you have any comments, requests, or feedback, shoot us a note at [email protected]. Watch the episode: YouTube ChannelFor more episodes and details: Podcast WebsiteFree newsletter: Naavik DigestFollow us: Twitter | LinkedIn | WebsiteSound design by Gavin Mc Cabe.

AI is all the rage right now, but unless you’re in the thick of it, it can be hard to make perfect sense of what’s possible today and where we’re headed. Will AI be a sustaining or disruptive innovation for the gaming industry? Why is the "open source vs. closed source" conversation so important? How will business models change as technology evolves? What role will humans play as AI takes over more workflows? What’s overhyped right now?To help navigate all of these questions, Aaron Bush is joined by Ilya Gelfenbeyn, co-founder and CEO of Inworld AI (the pioneers of AI NPCs), and George Ng, co-founder and CTO of GGWP (AI-driven moderation solutions). Both guests are also serial entrepreneurs, so we also discuss their current businesses as well as explore lessons learned over time.This episode is brought to you by CleverTap Gaming, the all-in-one platform for creating personalized player experiences. Visit https://clevertap.com/gaming/ for more details. If you like the episode, please help others find us by leaving a 5-star rating or review! And if you have any comments, requests, or feedback shoot us a note at [email protected]. Watch the episode: YouTube ChannelFor more episodes and details: Podcast WebsiteFree newsletter: Naavik DigestFollow us: Twitter | LinkedIn | WebsiteSound design by Gavin Mc Cabe.

In this week's Roundtable, the squad delves into Supercell's cancellation of Floodrush and highlights from Gamescom 2023, including NetEase’s Project Mugen and Ubisoft’s Assassin's Creed Jade. We examine Sony's rationale for acquiring Audeze alongside a notable PlayStation Plus price hike. Then we unpack the advantages and target audience of Epic's new First Run exclusivity program for revenue enhancement. Lastly, we explore both the potential and challenges associated with Embracer and Sandsoft's expansion strategies. Join us for all the latest games business news with Abhimanyu Kumar, Tammy Levy, Mario Stefanidis, and host Devin Becker.We’d like to thank Windwalk for making this episode possible! Windwalk builds digital communities and the technologies necessary to accelerate them through their flagship software, Harbor. To learn more about this end-to-end community software product, simply head to https://www.harbor.gg/We’d also like to thank Lakestar - one of the leading European venture capital firms - for making this episode possible!. If you're interested in learning more or getting in contact with the Lakestar’s Games and Media team, simply go to lakestar.comIf you like the episode, please help others find us by leaving a 5-star rating or review! And if you have any comments, requests, or feedback, shoot us a note at [email protected]. Watch the episode: YouTube ChannelFor more episodes and details: Podcast WebsiteFree newsletter: Naavik DigestFollow us: Twitter | LinkedIn | WebsiteSound design by Gavin Mc Cabe.

Just about every game that integrates blockchain technology in some way is either on Ethereum, most likely via a Layer 2 solution such as Polygon or Immutable X, or is building on a more scalable but less decentralized Layer 1 chain such as Solana or Binance Smart Chain. Bitcoin, the granddaddy of blockchains, has not attracted much attention from game developers, and for good reason — on-chain transactions on Bitcoin are very, very slow. This is where the Bitcoin Lightning Network comes in. Originally conceived in 2015, the Lightning Network is designed to overcome the scalability issues inherent with Bitcoin by opening up a series of bidirectional payment channels without delegating custody of funds. In this episode, host Niko Vuori talks with Ben Cousens, the chief strategy officer at Bitcoin Lightning Network payment solutions provider Zebedee, about what the technology can offer game developers. To learn more, make sure to visit https://lightning.network/ and https://zebedee.io. You can find Ben Cousens on LinkedIn.We’d also like to thank Gamesight for making this episode possible! Gamesight provides full-service campaign management, taking charge of consulting, influencer discovery, relationship management, billing, and reporting, leaving you free to focus on your core business. To learn more, simply visit https://gamesight.io/If you like the episode, please help others find us by leaving a 5-star rating or review! And if you have any comments, requests, or feedback shoot us a note at [email protected]. Watch the episode: YouTube ChannelFor more episodes and details: Podcast WebsiteFree newsletter: Naavik DigestFollow us: Twitter | LinkedIn | WebsiteSound design by Gavin Mc Cabe

The House of Blueberry is creating its own line of digital fashion, addressing a market that is expected to grow to $2.5 billion by 2028. It began via character customization in RPGs, took center stage in design and life simulation games like The Sims, and exploded with the onset of the pandemic and UGC platforms like Roblox and Zepeto. TLDR: Drip is going digital. House of Blueberry Chief Creative Officer Ashley Hopkins and Head of Business Development Emily Eitches join us to discuss the trends of self-expression, the importance of brands and communities, and lifestyle and fashion in digital worlds — as well as how the House of Blueberry plays a role in this space, its recent partnership with the Clueless IP, and how they support platforms like Roblox, Zepeto, and Second Life.This episode is brought to you by ZEBEDEE, which provides a plug-and-play API and SDK for seamless integration of instant, borderless, and low-fee payments using the Bitcoin Lightning Network. You too can unlock the potential of borderless transactions to better engage and monetize your global user base. Start for free at zebedee.io.If you like the episode, please help others find us by leaving a 5-star rating or review! And if you have any comments, requests, or feedback shoot us a note at [email protected]. Watch the episode: YouTube ChannelFor more episodes and details: Podcast WebsiteFree newsletter: Naavik DigestFollow us: Twitter | LinkedIn | WebsiteSound design by Gavin Mc Cabe.

In this week’s Roundtable, the squad gives an update on Baldur’s Gate 3's success metrics and Dark and Darker’s continuing renegade journey. We explore the seeming free fall of Free Fire through Sea Limited’s expansion struggles. We dig into cloud streaming, with an update on the PlayStation Portal and Microsoft handing streaming rights for Activision Blizzard games over to Ubisoft to appease regulators. Finally, we dive into strategic reasons why NetEase continues to acquire Western game developers. Join us for all the latest games business news with Anil Das-Gupta, Matt Dion, Aaron Bush, and host Devin Becker.We’d also like to thank Dive for making this episode possible! Dive is a fully outsourced BI-as-a-Service solution that provides an enterprise-grade data platform and services for gaming studios on all platforms. It also saves studios hundreds of thousands of dollars yearly. To learn more, go to: https://bit.ly/3NRlX3i If you like the episode, please help others find us by leaving a 5-star rating or review! And if you have any comments, requests, or feedback, shoot us a note at [email protected]. Watch the episode: YouTube ChannelFor more episodes and details: Podcast WebsiteFree newsletter: Naavik DigestFollow us: Twitter | LinkedIn | WebsiteSound design by Gavin Mc Cabe.

100 Thieves is a premier lifestyle brand and gaming organization that’s building a highly unique ecosystem of products and services. This now includes esports, content creators, apparel, premium keyboards and peripherals (via Higround), energy drinks (via Juvee), and even game development (on UEFN and with Project X).In this episode, Naavik co-founder Aaron Bush is joined by John Robinson, 100 Thieves’ President and COO, to discuss why the organization’s aspirations are so wide and how they manage this “business of businesses.” They dive into how esports will become more sustainable, how the company is uniquely positioned for game development, the broader branding strategy, and lessons learned from running so many unique business lines.This episode is brought to you by Overwolf. Whether you're a gamer, creator, or game studio, Overwolf is the ultimate destination for integrating UGC in games! You can check out all Overwolf has to offer at overwolf.com.If you like the episode, please help others find us by leaving a 5-star rating or review! And if you have any comments, requests, or feedback shoot us a note at [email protected]. Watch the episode: YouTube ChannelFor more episodes and details: Podcast WebsiteFree newsletter: Naavik DigestFollow us: Twitter | LinkedIn | WebsiteSound design by Gavin Mc Cabe.

In this week’s Roundtable, the squad discusses Play Ventures raising at least $78 million for its third venture fund and Savvy Games Group as the financier behind the $2 billion Embracer deal that fell apart. We dive into the early international reception for the new Gran Turismo movie and where it falls under Sony's ongoing transmedia strategy. We dissect the information Zynga released about its new web3 gaming ecosystem, Sugartown, and whether Zynga is really a good fit. Finally, we dig into Netflix’s newest gaming test, which uses a phone as a virtual controller. Join us for all the latest games business news with Jonathan Anastas, Dave Elton, and host Devin Becker.This episode is brought to you by Lightspeed Venture Partners. With its dedicated gaming practice, "Lightspeed Gaming," the firm is investing from over $7B in early- and growth-stage capital — the by far largest fund focused on gaming and interactive technology. If you’re interested in learning more, go to gaming.lsvp.com.Also, a big thanks to data.ai for supporting all of Naavik's mobile data needs. If your team requires a market and competitive intelligence tool for tracking the mobile games industry, monitoring KPIs, and spotting opportunities across games, check out data.ai's robust platform.If you like the episode, please help others find us by leaving a 5-star rating or review! And if you have any comments, requests, or feedback, shoot us a note at [email protected]. Watch the episode: YouTube ChannelFor more episodes and details: Podcast WebsiteFree newsletter: Naavik DigestFollow us: Twitter | LinkedIn | WebsiteSound design by Gavin Mc Cabe.

Together with Dive, one of our Open Gaming Research Initiative partners, we’re exploring the topic of data and games through a limited podcast series called "The Data Corner." Today’s episode covers the topic of “the data nightmare that the gaming industry faces." Games, in general, generate tons of player data every day, and within that data exists a ton of harvestable insight that can be used to drive better decision-making so as to drive more revenue and eventually drive better game-making. But such large data pools also require time, money, and people to analyze and harvest from it, and that keeps many game developers from spending their resources on data analysis to help them make better games. This tension is at the heart of the data nightmare the gaming industry faces today, and this conversation with Elad Levy, founder and CEO of Dive, is focused on unpacking that tension a bit more. It is a wide-ranging conversation that covers what the nightmare is all about, why the gaming industry is unique in facing it versus other industries, how game developers should navigate the problem, what developers are leaving on the table if they don’t navigate the problem and more.So hope you enjoy episode #1 of the Data Corner, and do send me, host Abhimanyu Kumar, your thoughts, feedback, and questions so that I can address it all as I continue to build out this limited series.This episode is brought to you by Nexus. Nexus’s creator program in-a-box makes it easy for game devs to build and manage a world-class creator program, driving significant growth in conversion, ARPPU, retention, and LTV. To learn more, go to nexus.gg/naavikAnd as always, if you like the episode, you can help others find us by leaving a rating or review!Watch the episode: YouTube videoRead more: Naavik DigestLearn more: Naavik’s Open Gaming Research InitiativeWork with us: Naavik ConsultingFollow us: Twitter | LinkedIn | WebsiteSound design by Gavin Mc Gabe

There are more than 3 billion gamers in the world, but the number of gaming professionals interested in business and development content pales in comparison, with approximately 300,000 people employed in the U.S. games business, according to market researcher IBIS World. Niche content curation and content creation companies like Deconstructor of Fun, GameMakers, Elite Game Developers, Naavik, and more cover the space and, importantly, compete with each other for mindshare across this small pool of professional game developers. Is it possible to build a profitable enterprise off this type of organization, and if so, how and through what revenue streams? We bring together a super team of games podcasting and blogging: Joakim Achrén, Joseph Kim, and our very own Aaron Bush to discuss.This episode is brought to you by Pragma. Pragma is a Backend Game Engine that powers services like accounts, matchmaking, and player data for the world’s most ambitious live service games. To learn more, head here. And as always, if you like the episode, you can help others find us by leaving a rating or review!TLDListen?: Episode summaryWatch the episode: YouTube video Join the discussion: Naavik DiscordRead more: Naavik DigestWatch more: YouTube channelGo premium: Naavik ProFollow us: Twitter | LinkedIn | Facebook | WebsiteSound design by Gavin Mc Gabe.

In this week’s Roundtable, the squad discusses the massively successful launch of Baldur’s Gate 3. Sebastian shares a story around monetizing Dota 2 Arcade mods under the nose of Valve’s lawyers in light of the recent Arcade shutdown. We also have an earnings discussion covering Playstudios and Playtika that leads to a deep exploration of the future of the social casino genre on mobile. Finally, we dig into the new web3 fighting game Wreck League from Animoca Brands subsidiary nWay, and discuss whether it has a chance in the market. Join us for all the latest games business news with Manyu Kumar, Maria Gillies, Sebastian Park, and host Devin Becker.This episode is brought to you by Coda Payments. Coda helps developers collect some of their revenues outside the app stores, keeping more of the income they generate for themselves. To learn more, head to https://www.codapayments.com/naavik?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=webpage&utm_campaign=naavikThis episode is also brought to you by our partners at Gamesight, which provides full-service campaign management, taking charge of consulting, influencer discovery, relationship management, billing, and reporting, leaving you free to focus on your core business. To learn more, simply visit https://gamesight.io/If you like the episode, please help others find us by leaving a 5-star rating or review! And if you have any comments, requests, or feedback, shoot us a note at [email protected]. Watch the episode: YouTube ChannelFor more episodes and details: Podcast WebsiteFree newsletter: Naavik DigestFollow us: Twitter | LinkedIn | WebsiteSound design by Gavin Mc Cabe.

As virtual worlds become more immersive and widespread, how we all represent ourselves — via avatars — becomes all the more important. That’s why Naavik co-founder Aaron Bush sat down with Genies founder and CEO Akash Nigam to discuss the future of avatars and Genies’ rising role in it. The two of them discuss Genies’ history and focus, why XR will unleash a new wave of avatar use cases, what avatar ecosystems will ultimately look like, what the games industry underrates regarding avatars, and how the team is looking to kickstart avatar interoperability.This episode is brought to you by CleverTap Gaming, the all-in-one platform for creating personalized player experiences. Visit clevertap.com/gaming for more details. If you like the episode, please help others find us by leaving a 5-star rating or review! And if you have any comments, requests, or feedback shoot us a note at [email protected]. Watch the episode: YouTube ChannelFor more episodes and details: Podcast WebsiteFree newsletter: Naavik DigestFollow us: Twitter | LinkedIn | WebsiteSound design by Gavin Mc Cabe.

In this week’s Roundtable, the squad discusses Inworld AI raising $50+ million for AI NPCs in games, plus Playtika's acquisition of Youda Games. Then after a short discussion on EA’s earnings report, we discuss the demise of physical games and retail outlets like GameStop. Finally, we peel apart the success of BattleBit Remastered to figure out what other game developers can learn from this surprise hit and discuss how much graphic fidelity really matters for success. Join us for all the latest games business news with Aaron Bush, Tammy Levy, and host Devin Becker.This episode is brought to you by our partners at Windwalk. Windwalk builds digital communities and the technologies necessary to accelerate them through their flagship software, Harbor. To learn more about this end-to-end community software product, simply head to https://www.harbor.gg/If you like the episode, please help others find us by leaving a 5-star rating or review! And if you have any comments, requests, or feedback, shoot us a note at [email protected]. Watch the episode: YouTube ChannelFor more episodes and details: Podcast WebsiteFree newsletter: Naavik DigestFollow us: Twitter | LinkedIn | WebsiteSound design by Gavin Mc Cabe.

Mythical Games is one of the busiest operators in the web3 ecosystem, with a finger in many pies. The company is the creator of the licensed mobile football game NFL Rivals, which crossed 1 million downloads just a couple of months after its launch earlier this year, and Blankos Block Party, a ​​multiplayer universe available on the Epic Games Store. In addition, Mythical operates the Mythos Foundation, on which it partners with other traditional game developers, web3 developers, and esports and guild operators. It also operates its own Mythical Platform, through which Mythical publishes third-party games.There’s also the $MYTH ecosystem token, and the small matter of about $300 million raised in venture funding over the past couple of years, including $37 million in a Series C extension announced in late June of this year. In this episode, host Niko Vuori talks with Mythical founder and CEO John Linden about the company's various initiatives, its roadmap going forward, and how web3 hooks drive improved monetization and retention.To learn more, make sure to visit https://mythicalgames.com. You can find John Linden on LinkedIn.This episode is brought to you by Lakestar - one of the leading European venture capital firms. If you're interested in learning more or getting in contact with the Lakestar’s Games and Media team, simply go to lakestar.comIf you like the episode, please help others find us by leaving a 5-star rating or review! And if you have any comments, requests, or feedback shoot us a note at [email protected]. Watch the episode: YouTube ChannelFor more episodes and details: Podcast WebsiteFree newsletter: Naavik DigestFollow us: Twitter | LinkedIn | WebsiteSound design by Gavin Mc Cabe.