Deconstructor of Fun

Chris Sides, a passionate games industry analyst, joins Feras, an insightful co-commentator, to dissect the recent downfall of Call of Duty and the unexpected rise of Battlefield 6. They explore how poor marketing and competition impacted Black Ops 7’s launch. Dive into the extraction genre’s evolution with Arc Raiders, seen as a potential game-changer. The duo also debates skill-based matchmaking's economic implications and warns about retention risks while discussing strategies for sustaining player interest.

The hosts dive into Ubisoft's identity crisis and explore the surprising partnership between Unity and Epic Games. A heated discussion unfolds around Roblox CEO David Baszucki's controversial podcast appearance amid debates over facial age verification. They dissect the baffling nominations for The Game Awards and tackle Saudi Arabia's gaming investments and its financial strategies. Additionally, Turkey's flourishing gaming scene is analyzed, highlighting its rapid growth and potential overheating. The episode wraps up with insights from the Slush Conference and thoughts on European tax benefits.

In this engaging discussion, Chris, Mo, and Andre, the co-founders of Heroic Labs, share their journey from struggling for funding to building a successful company quietly powering game studios. They delve into their bold pivot to open source, recount their intense experiences at Y Combinator, and reflect on the challenges of remote work dynamics. The trio also discusses the value of persistence, company culture, and the lessons learned from setbacks, showcasing how innovation can arise from necessity and friendship.

Amazon Game Studios faces layoffs while Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 struggles to regain its momentum. Valve is teasing a new Steam Machine, raising questions about its potential success. The podcast delves into the impressive rise of Eastern games, highlighting their superior design and market performance compared to Western studios. Cozy games are becoming cultural staples, and the live-action Zelda adaptation stirs excitement and concern. With shifting industry dynamics, the future promises to be intriguing for gamers.

Join Barak Witkovsky, Chief Product Officer at AppsFlyer, as he shares insights on transforming a company by pausing regular goals for an intensive AI training initiative for all 1,300 employees. Discover how AppsFlyer evolved from a measurement platform to a modern marketing cloud, embracing autonomous AI agents. Barak discusses building trust in AI among marketers, the challenges of omnichannel measurement, and the importance of an open AI ecosystem. This bold experiment sets a new standard for fostering an AI-first culture in the workplace.

Nikolaj Allberg Peterson, Co-founder and Chief Product Officer at Game Analytics, shares his deep insights into game monetization strategies. He emphasizes the importance of understanding player motivation for sustainable revenue. The discussion covers crucial topics like LTV curves, retention metrics, and the significance of cohort analysis. Nikolaj reveals how fake ads can drive installs but may harm retention and urges careful evaluation of A/B testing results. His expert advice helps developers understand when to iterate or abandon projects for success.

Stephanie Zhang, head of product growth at Game Analytics, and Frederik V, CMO of Trophy Games, dive into the intricacies of game marketability. They discuss the importance of metrics beyond CPI, emphasizing product-channel fit and audience insights. Frederik shares practical strategies for testing prototypes and soft launches, highlighting how community feedback influences early validation. Plus, they debunk common marketability myths and explore how AI can enhance creative production. A must-listen for those wanting to scale confidently in the gaming industry!

In this insightful discussion, Alison Biles, COO at Game Analytics and seasoned game analyst, shares her expertise on the evolving role of analytics in game development. She explores how data maturity hinges on building infrastructures aligned with decision-making. Alison emphasizes avoiding analysis paralysis by focusing on crucial metrics and highlights the balance between data-led and intuition-led choices. She also discusses AI's supportive role in analytics and urges developers to leverage third-party tools early for efficiency.

Teis Mikkelsen, a Senior Director of Revenue with 20 years in the games industry, shares his insights on player retention and monetization strategies. He reveals that retention issues stem from mismatched expectations rather than flawed features. Teis emphasizes the importance of early planning for monetization and warns against short-sighted tactics. He discusses the significance of segmentation, balancing ad and IAP models, and the surprising relationship between engagement and spending. His advice? Players value rewarding purchases and thoughtful monetization enhances their experience.

Dive into the latest on legal battles with Epic vs. Google, highlighting the judge's concerns over their settlement. Discover why Duolingo faces challenges with its gamification approach and the implications for learning. Square Enix is restructuring, raising questions about cultural expertise in gaming. Royal Match's staggering $200M ad budget shows the high stakes in casual gaming. Meanwhile, Arc Raiders stirs controversy over its AI-generated voice work, opening debates on ethics and innovation in the modern games industry.