Deconstructor of Fun TWIG #344 Battlefield’s Big Comeback, AppLovin’s Record Quarter and Moon Active’s New Games
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Aug 14, 2025 Dive into the controversies surrounding Tencent and their latest gaming dramas. AppLovin celebrates a record quarter, while Blizzard navigates significant leadership changes. Explore the challenges of launching Storm Gate and the reasons good games sometimes flop. Duolingo ventures into music games, and Playtika bets on direct-to-consumer strategies. Get excited for Battlefield’s anticipated comeback, and discover Moon Active's fresh gaming portfolio with innovative titles on the horizon.
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Midlife Transition And Personal Change
- Eric Kress described multiple midlife crises, including buying a Porsche and getting back in shape after family health scares.
- He said his daughter's move to college triggered an existential transition that he finds hardest so far.
Western Spend Is Highly Concentrated
- The western games market earns ~50% of global spend from only ~20% of players, concentrated in North America and Europe.
- North American payers spend ~2.5x more annually than European payers, making the US the primary target for Western-made games.
Target The US First For Market Signals
- When sizing TAM for Western-made games, prioritize the US market first and use it as the primary proxy for trends.
- Build for US payers first because successful US performance often predicts European traction.