Naavik Gaming Podcast

This podcast episode discusses the growing impact of user-generated content (UGC) in gaming, including trends and developments on platforms like Roblox and UEFN. It explores successful UGC experiences, game-changing features, and strategies for approaching this market. Additionally, it touches on the changing landscape of the gaming market, challenges faced by Fortnite compared to Roblox, unlocking creativity through UGC, and Novik's offerings.

China's proposed bans on game monetization tactics and their impact on Chinese game stocks; Tencent's CEO's reflections on the company's gaming performance and outlook on AI; EA's and Microsoft's earnings reports including boost from Activision Blizzard acquisition; Microsoft's layoffs at Activision Blizzard and Johanna Faries' new role at Blizzard; Apple's compliance with EU DMA law; smartphones surpassing Nintendo as primary gaming gateway for younger audiences.

Maria Kochmola, Managing Partner at The Games Fund, and Arseny Lebedev, CEO and Co-Founder at Original Games, discuss the challenges and opportunities in Eastern Europe's gaming market. They explore misconceptions about the region, the process of relocating gaming teams, and the advantages of countries like Cyprus. They also address issues such as managing bank accounts, legal challenges, and bureaucratic delays. The speakers predict a promising future for the gaming market in Eastern Europe and provide their contact information for those interested in learning more.

The podcast discusses the popularity of Palworld, the layoff news from Riot, and Newzoo's 2024 market predictions. They also offer their insights on the future of the gaming industry.

Robbie Ferguson and James Ferguson, co-founders of Immutable, discuss their ambitious plans for the web3 gaming space. They touch on topics such as the company's history, the challenges they faced on Ethereum, and the success of their game Gods Unchained. They also discuss the importance of a big hit game for driving adoption in web3 gaming and the challenges and advantages of game distribution in the web3 context. Finally, they share their roadmap for 2024, including the launch of Immutable ZKVM and the upcoming release of Guild of Guardians.

Moritz Baier-Lentz, Head of Gaming at Lightspeed, discusses the state of gaming VC in 2024, including lessons learned as an investor, growth-stage deals, and Lightspeed Gaming's first year. He also highlights areas attracting their attention, such as cross-platform forever games, generative AI, interactive media, 3D innovations, XR, and AI-driven devices. The podcast delves into the evolution of gaming VC, the impact of AI, XR, and sensing devices in gaming, and investment strategy in the competitive landscape.

In this podcast, the hosts discuss Stumble Guys entering the Xbox platform and Valve's new invite-only system for daily deals. They also cover the reconciliation between Activision Blizzard and NetEase, Google's $700M fine, and Apple's implementation of a 27% fee and auditing measures on web stores.

Explore the gaming highlights from the 2024 Consumer Electronics Show. Netflix's alternative ways to monetize games within their subscription tiers. Xbox's strategy of bringing exclusive games to PlayStation 5. Layoffs at Twitch and Unity, and the overall state of the gaming industry. Second Dinner raises $100M in funding. Trends and potential for mergers and acquisitions in the gaming industry.

The podcast explores the state of Web3 Trading Card Games (TCGs), discussing their collectability, rarity, and secondary market. It highlights the challenges and potential of Web3 TCGs, featuring specific games like Splinter Lens and Gods and Chained. The hosts also delve into the controversy surrounding the ESRB rating of Gods on Chain and the challenges of expanding TCGs' audience. They emphasize the importance of innovation and original IP for long-term success in the TCG market.

Nexon's CEO, Owen Mahoney, discusses his legacy at Nexon, succession planning, and the future of AAA publishing. They also explore the impact of AI-driven software on game development and the importance of learning from other industries. Owen compares himself to the next CEO and highlights their shared view of delivering fun games. The podcast concludes with a discussion on the future of the games industry, focusing on deflationary innovation and the benefits of smaller teams.