Naavik Gaming Podcast

A deep look at action RPGs that prioritize fairness over traditional gacha mechanics. Comparison of three modern titles and how their different monetization choices played out. Analysis of revenue efficiency, retention, and breakeven outcomes. Discussion of community reaction and whether cosmetics-only or direct-purchase models can succeed.

Analysis of SensorTower's State of Mobile 2026 and how AI is reshaping mobile engagement and monetization. A deep dive into Square Enix’s recent financial hits, consolidation moves, and cost-saving plans. Discussion of activist investor pressure and criticisms of large AAA development models. Exploration of near-term release gaps and strategic options like layoffs, AI adoption, or mobile reinvestment.

Vadim Andreev, CEO of Rokky and former founder of PlayKey, delves into the complex world of the PC games gray market. He explains how regional price arbitrage and promo stockpiling drain publisher margins by 20-40%. Vadim discusses the evolution of digital key resale, highlighting its vulnerabilities and the need for strong defenses like API checks. He also critiques common publisher mistakes and suggests that Valve could enhance control over key exploitation. The conversation combines technology with strategy for a deeper understanding of this hidden economy.

Dive into the booming Match-3 and Merge genres of 2025, exploring top titles like Royal Match and Candy Crush. Discover what sets leading publishers apart, including rising challengers and new subgenres like Match Pair and Block. Learn about key strategies driving success, from understanding player demographics to leveraging LiveOps for engagement. Hybrid monetization methods, blending ads and in-app purchases, show how games cater to diverse audiences. Finally, insights on the competitive landscape suggest that innovation will shape the future of puzzle gaming.

Liam Wiltshire, General Manager at Tebex and a key player in its acquisition by Overwolf, dives into the evolving landscape of direct-to-consumer models in user-generated content. He highlights the shift from traditional webshops to tailored monetization strategies for games like Minecraft and Rust. Liam discusses the importance of player relationships, innovative e-commerce tactics like loyalty programs, and the need for studios to adapt to regulatory changes. He also emphasizes the potential of community-driven experiences and self-publishing for enhancing engagement and maximizing revenue.

Dmitri Johnson and Mike Goldberg, co-founders of Story Kitchen, discuss transforming user-generated games into Hollywood franchises. They delve into how nostalgia influences adaptations and what makes a game adaptable, emphasizing emotional depth and timing. The duo reveals insights on the evolving landscape of UGC as a storytelling frontier, stressing the importance of authenticity in adaptations. They share lessons from their journey, advocating for a producer-first approach that nurtures relationships with game developers and communities.

Christoffer Holmgård, CTO of modl.ai, and Julian Togelius, professor and co-founder, explore how generative AI is revolutionizing game QA. They discuss the shift to black-box testing through screen-seeing AI agents, allowing for no-code automation that frees testers from traditional coding. The duo highlights how this technology enhances bug detection and leverages multimodal models for better game feedback. They also delve into the evolving roles of human testers, emphasizing that AI is not a replacement, but an augmentation, streamlining the QA process.

In this lively discussion, Pim de Witte, the tech entrepreneur behind General Intuition and Medal, dives into the exciting realm of world models and embodied AI. He explains how gameplay videos create a fertile training ground for AI, enabling it to simulate real-world interactions. Pim highlights the advantages of using video game data versus platforms like YouTube, and the unique challenges in developing human-like agents. Expect insights into cross-game training and the future of gaming, where bots could enhance player experiences like never before!

On this episode, host David Taylor dives into one of the most eventful stretches the Fortnite Creative / UEFN ecosystem has seen in months. Epic has rolled out a wave of major updates — from monetization changes to discovery shifts — and today we unpack what they mean for creators, studios, and the future of the platform.David is joined by two fantastic guests. Chad Mustard, COO of JOGO Studios, returns to the show after another breakout year as one of the top 10 developers on Fortnite by total plays. Chad brings a studio-level perspective on building hit experiences, navigating updates, and scaling inside a fast-evolving ecosystem. He’s joined by Jon Jungemann, better known as SleightedSloth, a leading creator in the Tycoon genre and one of the most thoughtful voices on systems design, monetization, and the economics of UEFN.Together, the group breaks down the rise of Steal the Brainrot and what that breakout moment signals for developers — from production trends to player behavior to what “success” looks like in today’s marketplace. They also explore the wave of M&A activity beginning to emerge inside Fortnite Creative and what kinds of deals are actually happening behind the scenes.From there, the conversation shifts to the biggest structural changes Epic has introduced: in-island item sales (and why they might be the single biggest unlock for creators to date), the rollout of UA Rewards and Paid Campaigns, and the latest adjustments to Discovery. We dig into how these tools reshape studio strategy, how developers are adapting their designs, and what all of this means for long-term sustainability on the platform.We’d 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/.We’d also like to thank modl.ai for making this episode possible! Using a combination of computer vision, reasoning models, and feedback loops, modl:QA+ autonomously explores builds, detects bugs, and generates actionable reports that sync directly with your existing workflows. To learn more, simply visit https://www.modl.ai/.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 podcast@naavik.co. Watch the episode: YouTube ChannelFor more episodes and details: Podcast WebsiteFree newsletter: Naavik DigestFollow us: Twitter | LinkedIn | WebsiteSound design by Gavin Mc Cabe.

Join Marco van den Heuvel, co-founder of Beam, as he dives into the future of gaming with revolutionary tech like blockchain and AI. He reveals how Beam is building a gaming ecosystem that adapts to frontier technologies and discusses the complexities of tech adoption in gaming. Listen in as Marco explores the potential of programmable economies, the impact of AI in gaming, and exciting trends in esports and digital collectibles. A must-listen for anyone curious about the next wave of gaming innovation!