
Naavik Gaming Podcast
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.
Latest episodes

Apr 19, 2024 • 59min
TikTok: Gaming’s New Discovery Platform
Head of Global Gaming at TikTok Assaf Sagy, Head of Global Gaming Marketing at TikTok Rema Vasan, and Director at Ruckus Games Alexandra Takei discuss the impact TikTok has on consumer behavior and the essential elements of its value proposition for game developers, including discovery, cultural relevance, and performance. They share success stories on the platform, emphasize the power of TikTok in the gaming industry, and provide insights into how developers can create successful games through content, community-building, and culture promotion.

Apr 16, 2024 • 35min
Tactical Advice for Building Healthy Player Relationships
Solomon-Ruiz Lichter, Senior Director of Global Gaming at CleverTap, discusses the future of gaming technology with a focus on personalized offers, player segmentation, and the importance of live ops. The conversation delves into AI and machine learning's potential to revolutionize player interactions, strategies for engaging non-spenders, and the impact of user-generated content on the gaming landscape.

5 snips
Apr 12, 2024 • 1h 11min
The Bleeding Edge: Building Games on Discord, ChatGPT, and Beyond
Discussing the future of gaming platforms and technologies, including the impact of AI and changes in the economy. Exploring the evolution of UEFN, challenges in game development, Discord's role as a gaming hub, and the use of generative tools like Genii. Also touching on evolving trends in esports, the importance of diverse reading, and the liberal arts of business and game development.

Apr 2, 2024 • 57min
Guild of Guardians on Immutable + Web3 Pulsecheck
Guild of Guardians, Immutable’s second major game after Gods Unchained, is one of the most anticipated web3 games of 2024. The game recently pivoted from a real-time RPG to an auto-battler, and is set for a May 15th global release. Guild of Guardians is one of the first games on Immutable’s new ZK-EVM blockchain, which Naavik covered in the January 24, 2024 episode of the podcast with Immutable founder, Robbie Ferguson. In the second half of the episode your host, Niko Vuori, and Naavik’s own web3 analyst, Devin Becker, spend some time reflecting on the state of web3 gaming now that a fresh crypto bull run is well underway. What does that mean for web3 games? Has the industry learned any lessons from the 2021-2022 rise and fall? Or is it all just tulip mania all over again? Check out Devin’s piece on Guild of Guardians at https://naavik.co/digest-updating-web3-2024/ and Niko’s interview with Immutable founder Robbie Ferguson at https://naavik.co/immutables-web3-roadmap-for-2024.We’d also like to thank Nefta for making this episode possible. Nefta has created an advertising network that pays game publishers higher eCPMs on their iOS opt-out users and drives better results for advertisers. Learn more about how Nefta can boost your results at http://nefta.io/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.

Mar 29, 2024 • 1h 1min
GDC Vibes / data.ai x Sensor Tower / Epic Announcements / US v. Apple
This podcast delves into the unique atmosphere of GDC, Sensor Tower's acquisition of data.ai, Epic Games' announcements including a mobile Epic Store, the US v. Apple lawsuit, and a survey predicting a downturn in mobile spending by high-value users

Mar 26, 2024 • 1h 4min
Century Games: How a Top 20 Mobile Publisher Found Success on Roblox
Xiang Shen, CTO of Century Games, discusses how the company found success on Roblox with hits like Whiteout Survival. They delve into the challenges of UGC games, experimenting on new platforms, advantages of data access and AB testing, building trust with existing games, innovative features, art style influence, IP development, and exploring new horizons in user-generated content.

Mar 19, 2024 • 59min
P2E is Dead? Long Live P2E! With Pixels.xyz
Discussing the rise and fall of Play-to-Earn in the crypto winter, Pixels.xyz's success with 500,000 Daily Active Users, their belief in sustainable P2E, $PIXEL token utility, and partnership with Yield Guild Games. Insights on Web3 gaming, in-game economies, guild dynamics, player engagement, and scaling strategies for Pixels.xyz. Vision for Web3 gaming and transitioning from web two to web three.

Mar 15, 2024 • 47min
A Mario Movie Sequel / Activision's New Union / Apple's EU Troubles / Toys x Games
Discussing a Mario movie sequel and the gaming industry's unionization, exploring Microsoft's recognition of Activision Blizzard's union. Examining Apple's new rules for developers, potential impacts on consumers and relationships. Delving into Mattel's shift towards self-publishing games, blending iconic brands with gaming trends.

Mar 13, 2024 • 59min
The Past, Present, & Future of Live Service Games
The podcast discusses the evolution and challenges of live service games, featuring insights from the CEO of Hi-Rez Studios. Topics include player engagement, recurring revenue models, community engagement, and future gaming technologies like AI and VR.

Mar 12, 2024 • 57min
Esports Infrastructure, by the Numbers
Discover how GRID is revolutionizing esports with data from major games, empowering gamers and organizations. Explore the growth of Rainbow Six esports through data partnerships, player bans, and business models. Dive into the impact of betting, fantasy esports, and the evolution of game data access and innovation initiatives.