

Naavik Gaming Podcast
Naavik
The Naavik Gaming Podcast is a business-focused exploration of the companies, trends, strategies and leaders that are defining the future of games. To learn more and see other great content visit www.naavik.co.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jan 24, 2023 • 60min
Understanding Web3 Player Behavior - Crypto Corner
What makes web3 players different from web2 players? Why is it so hard to get actionable insights in web3? How can you combine on-chain and off-chain data? To answer these questions, and many more, your host Niko Vuori is joined by Nathan Snell, founder of web3 data analytics company Raleon, who brings a wealth of experience to the key question: “how can I understand my web3 player behavior better”? Raleon: https://raleon.io If you would like us to discuss any other blockchain gaming-related topics, do reach out at metacast@naavik.co. We’d love to hear your general thoughts and feedback too! And as always, if you like the episode, you can help others find us by leaving a rating or review!TLDListen?: Episode summaryWatch the episode: YouTube video Join the discussion: Naavik DiscordRead more: Naavik DigestWatch more: YouTube channelGo premium: Naavik ProFollow us: Twitter | LinkedIn | Facebook | WebsiteSound design by Gavin Mc Gabe.

Jan 20, 2023 • 1h 1min
Voodoo Blockchain & Hybrid Casual / Ubisoft’s Underperformance - Roundtable
Why is Voodoo uniquely positioned to pursue blockchain gaming and are they likely to succeed? What’s next for Ubisoft and why are they underperforming? We dive into the latest game business news with Aaron Bush, Anil Das-Gupta, and your host Maria Gillies.00:00 - Start00:50 - Latest Regulatory ATVI/MSFT Concerns05:06 - Amazon Game Services First-Party IPs11:20 - Last of Us Transmedia Success13:55 - Ubisoft’s Underperformance Analysis35:25 - Voodoo Enters Blockchain Gaming59:45 - OutroAlso, a big thanks to data.ai for supporting all of Naavik's mobile data needs. If your team requires a market and competitive intelligence tool for tracking the mobile games industry, monitoring KPIs, and spotting opportunities across games, check out data.ai's robust platform.If you would like us to discuss any other gaming-related topics, reach out at podcast@naavik.co. We’d love to hear your feedback! And as always, if you like the episode, you can help others find us by leaving a rating or review!Go premium with Naavik Pro to access an ever-growing library of deep exclusive research including free-to-play and blockchain game deconstructions, and market analysis. Use the promo code METACAST to save 10%.TLDListen?: Episode summaryWatch the episode: YouTube video Join the discussion: Naavik DiscordRead more: Naavik DigestWatch more: YouTube channelGo premium: Naavik ProFollow us: Twitter | LinkedIn | Facebook | WebsiteSound design by Gavin Mc Cabe.

Jan 18, 2023 • 51min
Moritz Baier-Lentz: The State of Gaming VC
In this episode, Moritz Baier-Lentz – Partner and the Head of Gaming at Lightspeed Venture Partners (LSVP) – joins Naavik co-founder Aaron Bush to discuss:#1 His move to LSVP and the team’s revamped ambitions to invest across the games industry#2 Lessons learned as a VC, including how he’s grown as an investor #3 The current state of the venture market and his advice to founders on how to navigate tougher times#4 Insights on investing in web3, AI, game studios, and more!To learn more, make sure to visit Lightspeed’s website, and you can find Moritz on LinkedIn.As always, if you like the episode, you can help others find us by leaving a rating or review!Go premium with Naavik Pro to access an ever-growing library of deep exclusive research including free-to-play and blockchain game deconstructions, and market analysis. Check out the link to request a demo. TLDListen?: Episode summaryWatch the episode: YouTube channelJoin the discussion: Naavik DiscordFree newsletter: Naavik DigestGo premium: Naavik ProFollow us: Twitter | LinkedIn | Facebook | WebsiteSound design by Gavin Mc Cabe.

Jan 13, 2023 • 1h 3min
NetEase’s SkyBox Acquisition / Square Enix Analysis / Meta UA - Roundtable
Why are NetEase and Tencent diversifying into Western AAA game development? How could EU regulations affect Meta’s performance as a UA channel? We dive into the latest game business news with Aaron Bush, Matt Dion, and your host Maria Gillies00:00 - Start04:25 - China Issues Licences for International Games09:12 - YouTube Policies Demonetize Gaming Content15:10 - PSVR2 Soon!20:32 - NetEase’s SkyBox Acquisition: Why?33:44 - EU Personalised Ads Regulation (GDPR Fun)47:03 - Square-Enix President’s New Year’s Letter Analysis01:01:36 - OutroAlso, a big thanks to data.ai for supporting all of Naavik's mobile data needs. If your team requires a market and competitive intelligence tool for tracking the mobile games industry, monitoring KPIs, and spotting opportunities across games, check out data.ai's robust platform.If you would like us to discuss any other gaming-related topics, reach out at metacast@naavik.co. We’d love to hear your feedback! And as always, if you like the episode, you can help others find us by leaving a rating or review!Go premium with Naavik Pro to access an ever-growing library of deep exclusive research including free-to-play and blockchain game deconstructions, and market analysis. Use the promo code METACAST to save 10%.TLDListen?: Episode summaryWatch the episode: YouTube video Join the discussion: Naavik DiscordRead more: Naavik DigestWatch more: YouTube channelGo premium: Naavik ProFollow us: Twitter | LinkedIn | Facebook | WebsiteSound design by Gavin Mc Cabe.

Jan 10, 2023 • 1h 12min
Web3 Predictions for 2023 - Crypto Corner
2022 was a rollercoaster year for web3 gaming - what does 2023 have in store? To find out, your host Niko Vuori talks to Justin Hulog, Chief Studio Officer at Immutable. Immutable: https://www.immutable.com/ If you would like us to discuss any other blockchain gaming-related topics, do reach out at metacast@naavik.co. We’d love to hear your general thoughts and feedback too! And as always, if you like the episode, you can help others find us by leaving a rating or review!TLDListen?: Episode summaryWatch the episode: YouTube video Join the discussion: Naavik DiscordRead more: Naavik DigestWatch more: YouTube channelGo premium: Naavik ProFollow us: Twitter | LinkedIn | Facebook | WebsiteSound design by Gavin Mc Gabe.

Jan 8, 2023 • 44min
Christian Facey: Building on the Cutting Edge of AdTech
In this episode, Christian Facey – co-founder and CEO of Audiomob – joins Naavik co-founder Aaron Bush to discuss:#1 The current state of audio ads, and how non-intrusive in-game audio ads can play a larger role in the future#2 Why Audiomob exists, how it’s scaled so far, and what it’s plans are for the future#3 Christian’s lessons learned as an entrepreneur, including how to plan for an IPO so early on, how to build a diverse recruiting pipeline, and how to prepare for the worst while also preparing for the bestTo learn more, make sure to visit Audiomob’s website, and you can find Christian on LinkedIn and Twitter.If you would like us to interview any other gaming leaders, do reach out at podcast@naavik.co. We’d love to hear your general thoughts and feedback too!As always, if you like the episode, you can help others find us by leaving a rating or review!Go premium with Naavik Pro to access an ever-growing library of deep exclusive research including free-to-play and blockchain game deconstructions, and market analysis. Check out the link to request a demo. TLDListen?: Episode summaryWatch the episode: YouTube channelJoin the discussion: Naavik DiscordFree newsletter: Naavik DigestGo premium: Naavik ProFollow us: Twitter | LinkedIn | Facebook | WebsiteSound design by Gavin Mc Cabe.

Jan 3, 2023 • 1h 5min
Web3 Investing with Animoca Brands - Crypto Corner
Happy New Year from The Metacast We are ringing in 2023 with Yat Siu, the founder of the Crypto & Blockchain titan Animoca Brands. We focus the Animoca origin story, how they found Crypto Kitties, their investment strategy (and why it’s totally different than a traditional VC), digital property rights, and more. It’s a new year, a fresh start for crypto, and there’s no better place to begin than the OGs. Yat Siu: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yatsiu/If you would like us to discuss any other blockchain gaming-related topics, do reach out at metacast@naavik.co. We’d love to hear your general thoughts and feedback too! And as always, if you like the episode, you can help others find us by leaving a rating or review!TLDListen?: Episode summaryWatch the episode: YouTube video Join the discussion: Naavik DiscordRead more: Naavik DigestWatch more: YouTube channelGo premium: Naavik ProFollow us: Twitter | LinkedIn | Facebook | WebsiteSound design by Gavin Mc Gabe.

Dec 23, 2022 • 1h 18min
2022 Gaming Deals Review / Game of the Year & Unicorn Awards - Roundtable
What are the trends when looking back at 2022’s gaming deals? What were our highlights of the year? We dive into the latest game business news with Abhimanyu Kumar, Anthony Pecorella, Matt Dion, Anton Gorodetsky, and your host Maria Gillies.00:00 - Start07:30 - 2022 Gaming Deals Trends Review17:40 - Highlights Awards: Game of the Year37:15 - Highlights Awards: The Good51:03 - Highlights Awards: The Bad01:01:02 - Highlights Awards: The Unicorn01:16:49 - OutroAlso, a big thanks to data.ai for supporting all of Naavik's mobile data needs. If your team requires a market and competitive intelligence tool for tracking the mobile games industry, monitoring KPIs, and spotting opportunities across games, check out data.ai's robust platform.If you would like us to discuss any other gaming-related topics, reach out at metacast@naavik.co. We’d love to hear your feedback! And as always, if you like the episode, you can help others find us by leaving a rating or review!Go premium with Naavik Pro to access an ever-growing library of deep exclusive research including free-to-play and blockchain game deconstructions, and market analysis. Use the promo code METACAST to save 10%.TLDListen?: Episode summaryWatch the episode: YouTube video Join the discussion: Naavik DiscordRead more: Naavik DigestWatch more: YouTube channelGo premium: Naavik ProFollow us: Twitter | LinkedIn | Facebook | WebsiteSound design by Gavin Mc Cabe.

Dec 20, 2022 • 54min
Wen Metaverse? - Crypto Corner
There is a ton of hype around the notion of the metaverse, with no shortage of companies trying to build it. We have legacy operations that have been around for years like Second Life. We have huge tech giants like Meta trying to brute force their way to the metaverse by spending billions on it. We have medium sized players that target a particular consumer like Roblox does for kids. We have newer start ups like Decentraland and The Sandbox that are building on blockchain and embracing web3. But what, really, is the promise of the metaverse? What does that term even mean? In this episode, your host Niko Vuori talks to one of the best thinkers, writers, podcasters and operators on the subject of the metaverse, Yonatan Raz-Fridman. He is the founder & CEO of Supersocial, which develops content and games for the metaverse, and is also the creator of Into the Metaverse, a Substack newsletter and a podcast that - surprise surprise - covers the metaverse in depth.Supersocial: https://www.supersocialinc.com/ Into the Metaverse: https://www.intometamedia.com/ If you would like us to discuss any other blockchain gaming-related topics, do reach out at metacast@naavik.co. We’d love to hear your general thoughts and feedback too! And as always, if you like the episode, you can help others find us by leaving a rating or review!TLDListen?: Episode summaryWatch the episode: YouTube video Join the discussion: Naavik DiscordRead more: Naavik DigestWatch more: YouTube channelGo premium: Naavik ProFollow us: Twitter | LinkedIn | Facebook | WebsiteSound design by Gavin Mc Gabe.

Dec 16, 2022 • 1h 12min
End-of-Year Learnings & Predictions - Roundtable
What’s the funding environment going into 2023? Can mobile be conquered by studios with short runways? We dive into the latest game business news with Aaron Bush, Anil Das-Gupta, Joakim Achrén, and your host Maria Gillies.00:00 - Start10:20 - Console Acceleration20:26 - Mobile Growth or Decline38:35 - Multi-Core-Gameplay Genre45:00 - Mainstream Blockchain Gaming59:24 - M&A and Funding Environment01:05:30 - Generative AI01:10:43 - OutroAlso, a big thanks to data.ai for supporting all of Naavik's mobile data needs. If your team requires a market and competitive intelligence tool for tracking the mobile games industry, monitoring KPIs, and spotting opportunities across games, check out data.ai's robust platform.If you would like us to discuss any other gaming-related topics, reach out at metacast@naavik.co. We’d love to hear your feedback! And as always, if you like the episode, you can help others find us by leaving a rating or review!Go premium with Naavik Pro to access an ever-growing library of deep exclusive research including free-to-play and blockchain game deconstructions, and market analysis. Use the promo code METACAST to save 10%.TLDListen?: Episode summaryWatch the episode: YouTube video Join the discussion: Naavik DiscordRead more: Naavik DigestWatch more: YouTube channelGo premium: Naavik ProFollow us: Twitter | LinkedIn | Facebook | WebsiteSound design by Gavin Mc Cabe.


