Deconstructor of Fun

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

In this week’s episode of This Week in Games, Jen Donahoe makes her triumphant return—joined by Eric Kress and special guest Stan Kwan from BetaHat—to break down the news We dig into: Battlefield 6 — corrections, marketing takeaways, and what EA’s getting rightAndroid’s new payment-link era — how it changes monetization forever Unity’s cross-platform payments — a quiet but big move for developers AI in games — what General Intuition’s $134 M seed means for spatial reasoning and game data Rovio’s restructuring — what’s behind the layoffs and Sega’s integration plan Football Manager - signs deal with FIFA 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 (PBX 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 PBX 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

This week, we cover Google’s latest courtroom headaches, the evolution of KPIs in gaming analytics, and the incoming Call of Duty live-action movie. We unpack Rec Room’s layoffs, compare Roblox vs Rec Room head-to-head, and dig into Microsoft’s IP bets from Perfect Dark to Halo. Plus, we debate Star Wars: The Old Republic, break down Roblox’s latest monetization trends, and ask what the rise of real-money gaming in India means for the global market. 00:00 Introduction and Hosts’ Banter 02:38 Upcoming Gaming News Highlights 03:35 Cress’s Personal Update 05:39 Phil’s Podcast Review 07:16 Debate on Star Wars: The Old Republic 10:32 Google’s Legal News and Impact 12:58 New KPIs in Gaming Analytics 20:19 Call of Duty Live Action Movie Discussion 29:15 Google Play’s New Public Profiles 31:15 Rec Room Layoffs and Analysis 34:05 Capital Deployment and Venture Capital Concerns 34:47 Roblox vs. Rec Room: A Comparison 38:12 Perfect Dark and Microsoft’s IP Strategy 39:11 Halo and Hell Divers Collaboration 44:29 Destiny Rising and the Mobile Shooter Market 55:26 Roblox’s Monetization and UGC Trends 01:03:57 Real Money Gaming in India 01:07:00 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Phillip Black and Michail Katkoff break down why they left the Nordics, trading modesty-maxxing for Mediterranean chaos and a bit more sun. The two dive into the quiet conservatism baked into Scandinavian life, the erosion of hunger that comes with too much comfort, and the calculus behind moving to Cyprus and Greece. 00:00 The Conservative Psyop of Scandinavia 04:31 Cultural Reflections and Personal Experiences in Sweden 09:07 Transitioning to Cyprus: Opportunities and Challenges 13:37 Understanding the Swedish Welfare State 18:03 Career Reflections and the Consulting Path 24:30 Navigating the Gaming Industry's Landscape 26:54 The Challenges of Client Management 29:51 Decisiveness in Consulting 32:41 The Emotional Rollercoaster of Consulting 34:36 Building a Sustainable Deal Flow 37:26 Establishing Expertise vs. Personality 41:39 Life Choices and Career Reflections 42:34 Balancing Work and Personal Life 46:13 Relocation and Family Decisions 48:58 Cultural Differences and Education Challenges 55:28 Economic Growth and Finland's Future 61:04 Reflections and Future Aspirations

TWIG crew dives into Gamescom chaos, funding trends, and post-Ibiza IV drips. From Supercell’s leadership addition, to IP-powered collabs (Raid x TMNT) and the EU’s regulatory squeeze on F2P, this episode cuts through the noise with sharp insights, hard takes, and a few too-real laughs. 02:07 Gamescom Highlights and Industry News 02:50 PlayStation Portal and American Football 06:45 DOF Talent Network and Scopely Controversy 10:39 EU Regulation Impact on Free-to-Play Games 14:43 Gamescom Vibes and Funding Trends 27:33 Raid: Shadow Legends x Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 31:51 The Risks and Rewards of Using IPs 36:09 King’s Internal Struggles and Solutions 39:51 Severance Packages and Labor Laws 45:15 Supercell’s New Leadership and Strategy 49:12 Innovative Game Concepts and Licensing 55:48 Twitch’s Crackdown on View Botting 56:32 Debate on Game Innovation and Industry Growth

This one’s for the shooter heads. Host Phil Black (ex-DICE) is joined by Chris Sides (ex-Bungie) and longtime strategist Chris Anjos (ex-Activision) to dig into the decade-long arms race between Battlefield and Call of Duty. The muzzles are off. Chapters: 02:01 Meet the Experts 03:54 Historical Context: Battlefield and Call of Duty Sales 13:04 Battlefield’s Comeback: Beta Impressions 16:06 Gameplay Mechanics: Evolution and Innovations 32:21 Progression Systems: Challenges and Solutions 43:31 Core Gameplay and Player Feedback 44:55 Product Management in Gaming 52:25 UGC and Portal in Battlefield 01:02:04 Mobile Gaming and Its Impact 01:08:09 The Future of FPS Games 01:16:41 Final Thoughts and Recommendations