Monetization in hybridcasual is a balancing act: ads for early players, IAP for the committed ones. Maayan Eshkol dives into player segmentation, the real role of a game economist, and why monetization has to be part of the design loop from day one.👉 Learn how to integrate ads and IAP without sacrificing retention.
Pim De Witte, founder of General Intuition and Medal.tv, turned down a deal reportedly worth $500 million from OpenAI, and instead raised $134 million to build an AI lab rooted in games, not words.In this conversation, Michail Katkoff (Deconstructor of Fun) dives deep into:1) How world models could replace game engines2) Why games are the best simulation layer for developing intelligence3) What “AI-native” really means for future studios4) And the paradox of ther AI bubble
00:00The Decision to Walk Away from OpenAI
02:24Building for the Games Industry
05:24The Future of Game Development and AI
08:06 Understanding World Models and Their Impact
10:38 Talent Acquisition in AI and Gaming
13:17 Strategic Risks of AI Integration
16:11 The Role of AI in Game Design
18:52 Navigating the Future of Game Engines
26:31 The Future of Game Distribution and Economics
30:06 Generative Systems in Game Design
36:29 The Role of Game Designers in AI
40:18 AI Integration in Game Studios
52:02 AI's Impact on the Economy and Employment
We unpack Apple’s $2B legal battle, Halo’s surprise move to PlayStation, and EA’s latest earnings reality check, alongside Amazon Game Studios’ restructuring, AI’s growing impact on gaming investments, and a one-year look back at Pokémon TCG Pocket. From corporate chaos to console crossovers, it’s a packed week of insights, strategy, and sharp takes on the business of games.00:00 Welcome 03:09 Family Updates and Personal Stories04:22 Deconstructor of Fun Roundtable Events08:16 Apple's $2 Billion Legal Trouble12:03 EA's Earnings Report and Industry Insights14:17 Halo's PlayStation Debut and Console Wars34:24 Amazon Game Studios Restructuring37:41 Challenges and Missteps in Game Selection41:53 AI and the Future of Gaming Investments49:16 Battlefield 6: Competing with Call of Duty01:01:58 Pokemon TCG Pocket: A Year in Review
Great creatives don’t guarantee great traffic. Karen Levy unpacks how to scale UA with structured testing, controlled volume, and ruthless iteration. We explore the rise of AI-driven pipelines, why UGC-style ads dominate TikTok and Reels, and why authenticity outperforms glossy fakes.
👉 https://supersonic.com/
What makes a hybridcasual hit? Guy Agiv explains how to design a core loop that hooks instantly but also unfolds depth over time. We cover the milestones from prototype to scale, how publishers and developers shift roles across the journey, and why “simplicity beats complexity” when it comes to retention.👉 Discover why elegant design—not clutter—is the secret to replayability.
Hybridcasual isn’t just “hypercasual with IAP.” Igor Beraslavski (GM at Supersonic) breaks down how publishing has evolved from testing prototypes to becoming a full-stack partner in design, monetization, and live ops. We discuss what publishers look for, how to spot market trends before the herd, and why most me-too products never scale.👉 Learn how to build lasting partnerships and survive in the most competitive corner of mobile.
Ben Feder has done it all: CEO of Take-Two Interactive during the GTA and Red Dead years, President of Tencent’s International Partnerships, and board member at Epic Games and Bad Robot. Now he’s turned investor, running Tirta Ventures, a fund at the intersection of AI and gaming.
In this conversation, Ben and Michail Katkoff explore what makes a great founder, why “operational VC” is a myth, and where the next billion-dollar gaming companies will come from. They discuss how AI is reshaping creativity, why talent is shifting away from the West, and what the next Walt Disney of interactive entertainment might look like.
🎮 Topics include:
00:00 From GTA to Venture Capital
06:00 VC vs. Private Equity in Games
15:00 The AI Bubble (or Opportunity?)
25:00 The Myth of the “Operational VC”
32:00 Where the Next Great Studios Will Emerge
45:00 The Future of Creativity and Intelligent NPCs
56:00 What the Next Wave of Gaming Giants Will Look Like
Jen Donahoe makes her triumphant return. She's joined by Eric Kress and special guest Stan Kwon from BetaHat.
We dig into:
Unity’s cross-platform payments
00:00 Welcome
03:12 Jen's Update
09:17 Industry Insights and Trends
14:56 Battlefield Six Analysis
23:05 Marketing Strategies and Success
26:12 Marketing Choices and Target Audience
27:13 Epic vs Google: Legal Battle Update
36:42 Unity's New Commerce Management Product
41:53 AI and Gaming: General Intuition's Ambitious Plans
49:16 Rovio's Restructuring and Industry Trends
52:40 Football Manager's Success and Future Plans
Mishka Katkoff is joined by Daniel Ahmad (Director of Research & Insights, Niko Partners) and Lisa Hanson (CEO & Founder, Niko Partners) for a deep dive into the latest trends and insights from the Asian, MENA, and Indian gaming markets. We cover regulatory changes in China, the rise of India as a gaming powerhouse, the evolving MENA landscape, and much more. If you want to stay ahead in the global games industry, this episode is packed with actionable intelligence!01:30 China’s Gaming Market: Policy Shifts & Opportunities09:00 Entering the Chinese Market: Risks & Strategies23:39 India’s Gaming Market: Growth & Monetization25:36 Western Success in India & Market Insights41:33 MENA Region: Female Gamers & Genre Trends42:50 GTA V & Mature Content in MENA44:15 Southeast Asia: Monetization & Generative AI1:10:02 Closing Thoughts
Supercell’s CEO releases a rare open letter calling for more industry collaboration, while Ubisoft’s nepotism controversy reignites debates around leadership culture. Netflix Games kicks off its Battle for the Living Room with a push into Smart TV party games, and early buzz around PlayStation 6 points to an AI-driven leap in graphics and efficiency. Meanwhile, Battlefield’s launch performance goes head-to-head with Call of Duty once again, and Disney enters the overcrowded match-3 market with Magic Match. All that and more, as we unpack the business behind the biggest moves in games this week.00:00 - Intro & Guest Welcome07:17 - China’s Gaming Policy Shifts & Market Access22:00 - Sponsor: Sensor Tower23:55 - China’s Game Development & Publishing Landscape38:35 - India’s Gaming Market: Growth & Monetization55:00 - Sponsor: AppCharge55:45 - India: Western Success Stories & Localization1:12:20 - MENA Region: Female Gamers & Genre Trends1:28:10 - Sponsor: AppsFlyer1:28:45 - MENA: Cultural Sensitivities & Mature Content1:47:30 - Southeast Asia: Monetization & Payment Trends2:05:00 - Southeast Asia: Generative AI in Gaming2:15:00 - Final Thoughts & How to Access Asian/MENA Markets2:20:00 - Outro & Community Call-to-Action
This week in games: Ilke’s open letter to the EU stirs the industry pot, AppLovin faces an SEC probe, and Epic drops its new Web Shops like it’s 2012 all over again. Ubisoft’s management drama continues, Istanbul’s gaming boom is no joke, and we wrap with a spicy take on the new wave of AI business slop.
00:00 Welcome
01:00 Intro & Shills
07:58 Ilke's Open Letter on EU Regulations
21:38 AppLovin Under Fire: SEC Probe and Stock Volatility
29:19 Epic Games' Web Shops Launch
36:50 Ubisoft's Management and Future
41:47 Istanbul's Gaming Industry Boom
51:32 AI Business Slop
01:01:00 EOS
A one-person poker roguelike sold seven million copies and outperformed studios with hundred-million-dollar budgets. In this episode, Playstack CEO Harvey Elliott joins Michail Katkoff to break down how they discovered Balatro, what makes a modern indie publisher truly valuable, and why the next wave of hits will come from focus—not funding.
02:07 Understanding Bellatro's Success: Metrics and Engagement
04:50 The Indie Developer vs. Publisher Dynamic
08:11 Finding the Right Fit: Indie Publishers and Developers
17:20 Standing Out in a Crowded Market: Indie Publishing Strategies
23:22 AI in Game Development: Opportunities and Challenges
33:26 Post-Launch Support: Keeping Games Alive
38:15 Creative Game Integrations and Developer Relationships
41:05 Royalty Structures and Developer Support
47:09 Negotiating Publisher Agreements and Revenue Shares
50:41 Funding Models and Developer Financial Security
56:27 Budgeting for Indie Games and Financial Viability
A new guest host, Josh Chandley, is stepping into the arena as we dig into Microsoft’s latest controversial moves and what they signal for the company’s long-term gaming strategy. Then, we unpack the historic $55B acquisition of EA by Saudi Arabia, the largest leveraged buyout in gaming history. What does this mean for EA, for the industry, and for the shrinking pool of public gaming companies? Finally, we explore AppLovin’s surprising push into e-commerce, and why it might be more disruptive than you think.
Timestamps
00:52 Guest Star Host: Josh Chandley
06:23 Microsoft’s Controversial Moves
13:35 The EA Acquisition: A Historic Deal
17:31 Industry Reactions and Analysis
29:12 Saudi Arabia’s Gaming Ambitions
31:39 Financial Concerns and Debt Management
40:16 AppLovin’s E-commerce Expansion
50:58 Unity’s Challenges and Opportunities
No Jen this week — just the boys. Phil loses it on Supercell and Google Play, we wade into the “brain rot” panic, and Simon Hay somehow still gets a shoutout. From Newzoo’s latest report to Supercell’s IPO pipe dreams, Discord going offline, Xbox hiking prices, and Epic trying to AI their way out of irrelevance…Chapters00:00 Introduction00:27 Jen's Neuralink Update00:41 Phil's Rant on Supercell and Google Play01:48 Brain Rot Controversy03:59 Shoutout to Simon Hay and Space Ape04:52 New Zoo Gaming Market Report05:22 Upcoming Events and Conferences09:07 Supercell's Struggles and IPO Speculations18:52 Discord's Decline and Google Play's New Features27:15 Xbox Game Pass and Price Hikes29:35 Microsoft's Struggles and FTC Concerns31:15 Epic Games' Monetization Shift35:52 Epic's New Announcements and AI Integration38:54 European Lottery Giant Acquires Prize Picks45:55 Lingo Kids' Funding and Strategy50:51 Take-Two's Puzzle Game Success54:28 Borderlands 4 Release and Performance Issues
Mobile gaming is slowing down, and the question isn’t if, but who still wins.
www.newzoo.com/resources/trend-reports/newzoo-global-games-market-report-2025
In this conversation, Michail Katkoff and Emmanuel Rosier from Newzoo break down Newzoo’s latest forecast, projecting the industry to hit $103B in 2025 with growth slipping below 3%. The duo explores what this slowdown means for developers, platforms, payment intermediaries, and a new wave of tech financing companies that are quietly reshaping the ecosystem.
Chapters
00:00 The State of Gaming in 2025
05:26 Player Demographics and Engagement Trends
10:22 Regional Growth and Market Dynamics
15:14 Revenue Distribution and Market Focus
22:18 Mobile Gaming Challenges and Opportunities
27:11 Genre Evolution and Player Preferences
38:23 The Shift from Console Wars to Nostalgia
42:06 The Balance of Remakes and Creativity
45:31 Understanding Remakes vs. Remasters
48:35 The Mobile Gaming Landscape
53:37 Roblox's Rise and Its Impact
58:34 The Future of Gaming Platforms and Trends
01:08:58 Outro.mp4
The TWIG crew dives into Unity’s latest missteps and what they signal for the future of game development, breaks down Discord’s push toward a blockbuster IPO, and unpacks how Nintendo’s big announcements could reshape the company’s next chapter. We also examine TikTok’s potential U.S. acquisition, Apple’s quiet but bold moves to redefine its gaming app strategy, the explosive rise of AI-driven apps, and go behind the scenes of Diablo Immortal’s development, while debating what Supercell must do to navigate a turbulent year ahead.
Chapters
01:21 Community Engagement & Updates
02:38 Game Economist Podcast Highlights
07:01 Unity’s Strategic Missteps
11:23 Diablo Immortal Dev Insights
16:04 Apple’s Gaming App Strategy
28:18 TikTok’s US Acquisition Talks
30:59 The Rise of AI-Driven Apps
33:31 Discord’s Upcoming IPO
42:57 Nintendo’s Big Announcements
54:24 Supercell’s Struggles & Future
What really happens when brands collide with games? Mishka Katkoff sits down with Bastian Bergmann, COO of Solsten, to break down why gaming is the most transformative medium of our time, how consumer psychology shapes player engagement, and why authenticity in games runs circles around social media.
00:20 The Power of Reading and Writing
01:12 Video Games as a Medium for Transformation
02:57 Parenting and Gaming: Finding Balance
08:25 Understanding Consumer Psychology
13:39 The Importance of Human Connection in Marketing
19:50 Gaming and Emotional Engagement
23:09 Games Driving Social Change
28:37 The Business Impact of Gaming on Brands
30:42 Navigating Risks in Gaming Investments
32:56 Starting Small: Testing the Waters in Gaming
36:08 Key Performance Indicators for Gaming Initiatives
39:26 Authenticity in Gaming vs. Social Media
43:49 Integrating Brands into Games: Challenges and Opportunities
45:47 Myth Busting: Data, Creativity, and Gaming Audiences
From Roblox’s RDC bombshells to Destiny Rising’s flop, this week’s DoF crew breaks down the biggest shifts in gaming. We get into NetEase’s bets, China’s growing power, and why analytics from Newzoo’s 2025 report matter more than ever. Plus: Blizzard’s messy leadership shakeups, Roblox’s new monetization tricks, Xbox’s subscription struggles, and the hype around Hollow Knight: Silksong. Oh, and yes, Jen’s got a big personal update too. <3
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Personal Updates
03:55 Shills and Upcoming Events
06:00 Medical Leave and Personal Challenges
10:40 Corrections and Analytics Discussion
15:13 Destiny Rising and Community Reception
18:54 Chinese Developers and Western IPs
23:56 Warframe: A Case Study in Game Development
31:56 Market Trends and Player Demographics
36:26 Blizzard's Mobile Strategy: A Shift in Focus
40:40 Silksong: Success of Indie Games
45:11 Developer Exchange Rate and Its Implications
45:39 Roblox RDC: Key Announcements and Changes
54:33 Monetization Strategies: Rewarded Ads and Developer Insights
58:34 Roblox Moments: The TikTok Integration and Its Impact
01:00:31 Concerns Over Aggregation and Control in the Gaming Industry
Jen Donahoe is joined by Joe Ferencz (GameFam) and Stephen Dypiangco (Max Power Gaming) to break down the biggest takeaways from Roblox Developer Conference (RDC) 2025.
The crew digs into Roblox’s massive milestone of 112M DAUs, the 8.5% bump in the developer exchange rate to lure in more professional talent, and the new “ad flywheel” that streamlines campaigns while adding rewarded video into the mix. They also tackle the tricky business of bringing IP into Roblox, how AI is supercharging UGC, and why the company is doubling down on safety with 100+ new tools and policies.
00:18 Roblox's Growth and Platform Dominance
00:51 Overview of RDC 20250
4:39 RDC Vibes and Attendee Insights
09:48 Roblox's Monetization and Developer Payouts
18:21 Advertising and Rewarded Video Innovations
26:29 Brand Integrations and Campaigns on Roblox
28:34 Integration vs Standalone Brand Experience
30:46 Rewarded Video and Its Benefits
32:22 Challenges with Brand Hubs on Roblox
36:26 New IP Platform and Licensing
42:53 AI Tools for Developers and Players
46:11 Roblox Moments: TikTok Meets Roblox
50:38 Safety Measures and Brand Concerns
53:31 Roblox's Growing Influence
Mishka Katkoff sits down with Pranav Singhvi (General Catalyst, Customer Value Fund) and Joe Wadakethalakal (PVX Partners) to unpack the rise of UA financing, a new capital instrument that lets gaming and app companies scale user acquisition without giving up massive chunks of equity.
We break down:
1. Why traditional VC or debt financing is often a poor fit for customer acquisition.
2. The origins of UA financing and why treating cohorts as “assets” changes the game.
3. The differences between PVX Partners’ gaming-first model and General Catalyst’s broader CVF.
4. Success stories like Superplay’s $2B exit, powered by UA financing.
5. How founders should think about timing, risk, and capital allocation.
6. Why CAC is the new CAPEX, and how EBITCAC could replace EBITDA as the real profitability metric for gaming and app businesses.
00:00 – Guest Intros (Pranav Singhvi & Joe Wadakethalakal)
01:00 – What is UA Financing
05:30 – PVX Partners vs. Customer Value Fund
15:00 – Equity vs. UA Financing: Which Capital Fits Which Stage?
19:15 – Founders as Capital Allocators: Balancing Risk, Growth & Dilution
22:30 – What Returns Look Like in UA Financing (Real Economics)
24:30 – Scaling Beyond Balance Sheet Limits
28:00 – When Is the Right Time to Use UA Financing?
32:00 – LTV Curves, Incremental ROAS & Product Readiness
35:30 – Case Study: How Superplay Used UA Financing to Reach a $2B Exit
38:50 – PVX Success Stories
41:40 – Managing Risk: Oversight & Skin in the Game
48:00 – What Counts as CAC? Influencers, Celebs, and Brand Marketing
49:40 – The Future of UA Financing & Cohorts as a New Asset Class
52:40 – CAC is the New CAPEX: Rethinking EBITDA as EBITCAC
57:30 – Why Tech Companies Look Unprofitable but Aren’t
59:00 – Advice for Founders Considering UA Financing
01:04:00 – Capturing Market Share Before Competitors Catch Up
01:07:00 – Final Takeaways & Closing Thoughts
