Naavik Gaming Podcast

In this engaging discussion, Justin Stolzenberg, co-founder of Metica and veteran of King and Apple, dives into the future of gaming analytics. He shares insights on how Metica is leveraging AI to deliver personalized experiences, moving beyond mere data collection to actionable insights. The conversation touches on the evolving landscape of personalization in gaming and the critical role of AI in enhancing user engagement. Justin also talks about the challenges faced in the saturated analytics market and shares exciting upcoming initiatives in the industry.

Kyu Lee, Chief Business Development Officer at Com2Us and Partner at CRIT Ventures, discusses the company's impressive evolution from Gamevil to a mobile gaming giant, best known for Summoners War. He shares insights on their strategic focus on licensing Western IPs, particularly in sports, and the rising importance of blockchain in gaming. Kyu also explores the unique challenges of expanding into global markets, the untapped potential of Korean content, and future innovations set to reshape gaming trends. A fascinating dive into the industry's dynamic landscape!

In this episode, host Niko Vuori speaks with Jeff Zirlin, co-founder of Sky Mavis and the play-to-earn OG, Axie Infinity, about the significant developments in the web3 gaming space, particularly the transition of the Ronin blockchain to a permissionless model.They discuss Jeff's background and journey into web3, the origin story and wild ride of Axie Infinity, the evolution of the Ronin blockchain, the introduction of the Ronin Developer Console, and the impressive growth metrics of the Ronin ecosystem. The conversation touches on the current state of the Axie Infinity economy and the future of third-party gaming projects on the Ronin chain. We also explore the balance between quality and openness in game development, the incentives for developers, and the potential for future growth as more games launch on the Ronin network.We’d also like to thank TikTok for making this episode possible. In a dynamic gaming market where a majority of games fail within three years, TikTok has become a critical partner in helping games achieve long-term player retention and substantial revenue growth. Learn more: https://bit.ly/LiveOpsProgramNAVPodcast 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.

In this engaging discussion, Anand Agarawala, Founder and CEO of Spatial, shares his journey from AR collaboration to creating the top-earning VR game, Animal Company. He reveals how to pivot effectively as a founder and tackle competition from Roblox. Anand discusses the importance of community engagement and unique monetization strategies in VR gaming. He also dives into the significance of affordable gaming hardware and the evolving dynamics between developers and players in the VR landscape, all while exploring the future of user-generated content.

Jacob Rapoport, CEO of Evil Plan, and Nico Vereecke, strategy expert at the same company, dive into the revolutionary world of AI-powered unscripted fantasy entertainment. They discuss how AI can solve the content shortage in the industry by enabling dynamic, community-influenced storytelling. The duo highlights the shift towards interactive narratives, where audience participation shapes plots in unpredictable ways. They also touch on the exciting intersection of technology and gaming, redefining how stories are created and experienced.

Cloud technology is transforming the way games are developed, hosted, and maintained. In this episode, host Devin Becker is joined by Chris Melissinos, AWS Principal Evangelist for video games, to discuss the growing role of cloud services in game development. Chris highlights how Amazon Web Services (AWS) is empowering developers with tools that reduce production costs, streamline workflows, and enable innovations like off-client AI processing. We also explore how AWS helps address challenges such as scalability, user-generated content moderation, and matchmaking for player-driven experiences.The conversation dives into real-world examples of cloud-driven advancements, and Chris shares insights into how cloud servers can help preserve game history, handle complex computing tasks, and improve collaboration across distributed teams. The discussion also touches on how cloud services support developers facing today’s rising production costs and how cloud infrastructure is shaping the future of game development. Whether you're a developer, designer, or producer, this episode offers a practical look at how cloud tech is unlocking new possibilities for the game industry.We’d also like to thank Neon – a merchant of record with customizable webshops optimized for conversion – for making this episode possible! Neon is trusted by some of the biggest names in gaming and can help you sell direct without the typical overhead. To learn more, visit https://www.neonpay.com/?utm_source=naavik 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.

In this episode, host Alexanda Takei, Director at Ruckus Games, sits down with Spike Laurie, Partner at Hiro Capital, to dissect gaming finance's grim reality in 2025. The conversation starts with a discussion on the industry's downturn, marked by studio closures and a reduction in funding, particularly at the Series A level. Venture capital, once a goldmine for game studios, is now retreating, and if not retreating, shifting many of their investments to infrastructure. The duo discuss hard questions such as founders' frustrations that VCs have set the bar too high for the products they are making, whether investing in infrastructure actually sidesteps content risk (given the clients of ‘picks and shovels’ are venture-backed gaming studios), and whether a fund would ever return raised capital back to their LPs given the recent market’s low returns. They discuss what options founders have in 2025 and what Hiro may be looking for as they deploy Fund II ($340M USD). They also discuss Snowprint Studios' sale to MTG and how that relates to fund strategy in games. The episode concludes with a look at what the future holds for gaming VC in 2025, with a focus on the importance of backing resilient teams and innovative IP.We’d also like to thank AWS for Games for making this episode possible. AWS for Games aligns purpose-built game development capabilities — including AWS services like Amazon GameLift as well as solutions from AWS Partners — to help game developers build, run, and grow their games. For more information, visit https://aws.amazon.com/gametech/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.

Luke Barwikowski, Founder and CEO of Pixels.xyz, dives into the sustainability of Play-to-Earn gaming. He shares the remarkable growth of Pixels, boasting 10 million users and over $20 million in revenue. The discussion covers innovative monetization strategies that enhance player engagement without traditional ads. Luke also highlights shifting player demographics in Web3 and the challenges faced in maintaining user retention. The conversation even touches on creative community initiatives, including virtual weddings, showcasing the strong bonds formed within the gaming ecosystem.

The intersection of anime, games, and technology takes center stage in this episode. Host Aaron Bush is joined by Kun Gao, a serial entrepreneur known for co-founding Crunchyroll, the world’s leading anime streaming platform, and now charting new paths in the games industry with GGWP, an AI-driven moderation platform, and Forge, which is enabling direct-to-consumer loyalty programs for games teams. In this conversation, we explore the many lessons Kun learned from scaling Crunchyroll and navigating high-profile dealmaking with IP companies and stakeholders like The Chernin Group and Sony. We then dive into the founding stories of GGWP and Forge, unpack the big ideas behind both companies, and dig into how more interconnected loyalty programs can empower game developers to create deeper, more valuable connections with their players. This episode is packed with insights into Kun’s entrepreneurial process, so make sure to tune in!We’d also like to thank Lightspeed Venture Partners for making this episode possible! With its dedicated gaming practice, "Lightspeed Gaming," the firm is investing from over $7B in early- and growth-stage capital — the by far largest fund focused on gaming and interactive technology. If you’re interested in learning more, go to https://gaming.lsvp.com/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.Who’s On:Guest - Kun Gao: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kungao/ Host - Aaron Bush: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-bush-846b8185/ Watch the episode: YouTube ChannelFor more episodes and details: Podcast WebsiteFree newsletter: Naavik DigestFollow us: Twitter | LinkedIn | WebsiteSound design by Gavin Mc Cabe.

In this engaging discussion, Ran Mo, Founder and CEO of Proxima and former EA executive, shares insights from his successful game 'Suck Up!', where players charm AI citizens to gain entry into their homes. He delves into the fusion of AI and user-generated content (UGC), revealing the potential for enhancing player engagement. Ran discusses the evolving challenges of game development, the importance of grassroots marketing, and the innovative strategies needed to navigate today's gaming landscape, stressing the value of creativity and humor.