Deconstructor of Fun TWiG #367: A Certain IPO, 2026's 1st Cozy Launch & When CEOs Get Sued
Jan 22, 2026
The hosts dive into the dramatic launch of the cozy game Heartopia, exploring its monetization challenges. Bobby Kotick faces a lawsuit from a Swedish pension fund, raising eyebrows about his motives in the Activision sale. Liftoff files for an IPO, revealing insights into the ad tech industry. The podcast analyzes Roblox trends, including the rise of brain-rot meme games. Krafton’s strategy focuses on boosting PUBG franchises, while the hosts discuss the evolving landscape of game monetization. It's an insightful mix of industry gossip and future predictions!
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Kotick Sale Might Have Been Hastened
- The AP7 lawsuit argues Bobby Kotick rushed the Activision sale partly to protect his payout and legacy amid misconduct fallout.
- Phillip Black says discovery should show whether the board shopped the asset or acted as a rubber stamp.
Ensure Independent Board Oversight
- Form an independent board and show evidence of shopping deals to avoid shareholder suits.
- Phillip Black urges stronger corporate governance and independent monitoring of CEOs.
Ad Tech IPOs Ride AI, Face Giant Competitors
- Liftoff's IPO riders on ad-tech AI momentum but competes against giants and faces heavy debt.
- Eric Kress calls it AppLovin FOMO and cautions about long-term competitiveness versus Facebook and AppLovin.