As our host Brian Baglow always says, “If there’s one constant in the games’ industry, it’s change.” In this episode, we switch gears from talking about how to make winning titles to discussing a winning strategy that will allow you to ride the waves of change—not be crushed by them. Faith Price, Director of Growth Marketing at DoubleDown Interactive, and Gwen Kestrel, digital marketer, educator, and co-founder of Bold Cat Studios, join Peggy Anne Salz and Brian to dive into how to reinvent yourself during a downturn—something both of them have done more than once. Whether you’re facing a layoff, pivoting careers, or future-proofing your skills, learn how to turn setbacks into opportunities—from leveraging your network to building a ‘feel-good book’ and even designing a custom role for yourself. Tune in to discover how to stay resilient, relevant, and ready to thrive, no matter what the market looks like.  CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Intro 03:45 - Gwen's journey 05:21 - Mentally preparing for change 10:20 - Tools to be comfortable with uncertainty 13:44 - Creating a role for yourself 18:12 - Apply for the job you aren't qualified for 21:50 - Identify what brings you joy 27:13 - Feeling lost  29:30 - Leaning on your network 32:51 - Brian's advice  34:29 - How AI can help 41:50 - Advice on starting over 44:45 - Favourite games Q&A * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *  ** Let's Connect ** 👉🏻 Twitter - https://twitter.com/pgbiz  👉🏻 LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/groups/144491/  👉🏻 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/PGbiz  👉🏻 Website - https://www.pocketgamer.biz  Check out more world-class speakers sharing their insights and expertise at one of our events. You can find details of our next event here - https://www.pgconnects.com/next-event

Craig Chapple, Paige Cook and Aaron Astle from the PocketGamer.biz team discuss the latest mobile games industry news from the past week. On this week's episode the team breaks down the recent ruling in the Epic vs Google case that will force Google Play to open up its store. We also speculate wildly on the options open to Scopely for its 'megadeal' in 2025, cover the reports that Ubisoft could go private following a tough few months for the publisher, and talk about an alarming development from Nintendo. ** Let's Connect ** 👉🏻 Twitter - https://twitter.com/pgbiz 👉🏻 LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/company/pocketgamer-biz/ 👉🏻 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/PGbiz 👉🏻 Website - https://www.pocketgamer.biz 👉🏻 Pocket Gamer Connects - https://www.pgconnects.com 👉🏻Pocket Gamer Connects Speaker Submission form - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdoS5n-vdHu6aU-2d_rR7x1FAgewG51y3nlU1aB8RdetiKaGw/viewform 👉🏻Pocket Gamer Mobile Games Awards Winners - https://www.pocketgamer.biz/mga2024/winners/ 👉🏻 The Top 50 Mobile Game Makers 2024 - https://www.pocketgamer.biz/the-top-50-mobile-game-makers-of-2024/ 👉🏻 Google Play’s Judgement Day - Does it matter? - https://www.pocketgamer.biz/google-plays-judgement-day-does-it-matter/

Craig Chapple, Paige Cook and Aaron Astle from the PocketGamer.biz team discuss the latest mobile games industry news from the past week. On this week's episode the team discuss the Top 50 Mobile Game Makers 2024 list and what it tells us about industry trends, takeaways from Pocket Gamer Connects Helsinki and Finnish Games Week, Epic's new fees for Unreal Engine and the Epic Games Store, and more! ** Let's Connect ** 👉🏻 Twitter - https://twitter.com/pgbiz 👉🏻 LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/company/pocketgamer-biz/ 👉🏻 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/PGbiz 👉🏻 Website - https://www.pocketgamer.biz 👉🏻 Pocket Gamer Connects - https://www.pgconnects.com 👉🏻Pocket Gamer Connects Speaker Submission form - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdoS5n-vdHu6aU-2d_rR7x1FAgewG51y3nlU1aB8RdetiKaGw/viewform 👉🏻Pocket Gamer Mobile Games Awards Winners - https://www.pocketgamer.biz/mga2024/winners/ 👉🏻 The Top 50 Mobile Game Makers 2024 - https://www.pocketgamer.biz/the-top-50-mobile-game-makers-of-2024/ 👉🏻 4 takeaways from Pocket Gamer Connects Helsinki and Finnish Games Week 2024 - https://www.pocketgamer.biz/4-takeaways-from-pocket-gamer-connects-helsinki-and-finnish-games-week-2024/ 👉🏻What the Top 50 Mobile Game Makers 2024 tells us about industry trends - https://www.pocketgamer.biz/what-the-top-50-mobile-game-makers-2024-tells-us-about-industry-trends/

This week, the hosts dive into Ubisoft's notable delays and challenges, revealing the impact on their stock prices. They discuss Genshin Impact's monumental achievement, reaching $6.3 billion in just four years while facing some hurdles. The conversation also addresses Netflix's expansion into gaming with a new title related to Lord of the Rings and explores the role of AI in language learning, spotlighting Duolingo's innovative approach. It's a fascinating look at the vibrant yet complex world of mobile gaming.

Safia Dawood, a Senior Data Scientist at Moloco with a rich background at major tech companies like Ubisoft and Meta, dives into the complexities of data in mobile gaming. She highlights how data alone doesn't drive success; context is crucial. Safia discusses market trends, the importance of remarketing, and strategies to boost engagement and repeat purchases. She also reveals insights into what top-performing games are doing differently and identifies emerging trends that developers should watch closely for future growth.

Craig Chapple, a mobile games industry commentator, Paige Cook, an expert analyst on trends, and Aaron Astle, a contributor focused on the latest developments, discuss Playtika's staggering $1.95 billion acquisition of SuperPlay. They shed light on the secretive yet lucrative world of WeChat Minigames, revealing how it generated $2.3 billion in just the first half of 2024. The trio also analyzes the shifting landscape of mobile gaming and why companies are moving away from traditional gaming models.

Patrick McSteen, an App & Game Monetisation Expert with extensive experience, joins the discussion with hosts Peggy Anne Salz and Brian Baglow. They explore how strategic ad monetisation can determine whether an app becomes a unicorn, camel, or hog. Patrick shares insights on optimizing ad revenue without hurting in-app purchases, the importance of integrating monetisation into game design, and overcoming resistance in studios. He also emphasizes leveraging user behavior data for creative ad placements that enhance engagement.

Oscar Clark, CEO of Fundamentally Games, joins the discussion to share insights on Unity's recent decision to cancel its controversial Runtime Fee, a significant shift for developers. The team also dives into Microsoft's job cuts post-Activision Blizzard acquisition and the broader implications on the gaming workforce. They touch on Apple's iPhone 16 announcement and the impact of Dutch Games Garden's closure. Emphasizing the industry's challenges, they reflect on trust issues and innovation dynamics in mobile gaming.

Mariusz Gąsiewski, a leading expert in mobile gaming and apps at Google, known as 'The Insights Guy', discusses the importance of data in game development. He reveals emerging trends in casual and strategy games while highlighting shifts in revenue dynamics, particularly between the UK, Germany, and the declining US market. Gąsiewski emphasizes adapting strategies for different audiences, the rise of hybrid casual games, and opportunities in emerging markets like Brazil and Saudi Arabia, providing invaluable insights for game developers.

Traditionally, studios faced a tough choice: either crank out hypercasual games at speed or concentrate on crafting deeper player engagement with fewer releases. TapNation breaks this mould—and brilliantly—mastering both approaches to top 1 billion downloads just four years after its founding. On this week’s episode of the PocketGamer.biz Podcast, Vincent Février, Chief Marketing Officer at TapNation, returns to share the winning strategies behind the company’s rapid rise and recent acquisition of UA Hero. Vincent unveils how TapNation’s company culture fosters creativity and bold moves, driving the daring shifts in its marketing strategy that spurred a near 10% LTV uplift. He explores how their focus on product-led growth drives long-term engagement, reveals the CMP TapNation chose to power customer-driven privacy policies, and shares the retention and retargeting strategies proven to keep and call back players. CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Intro 03:00 - Hiring at TapNation 06:29 - A shift in marketing 11:02 - Product-led growth 13:28 - Where the success comes from 17:24 - Why the next billion downloads will be harder to get 19:22 - Real-growth retention strategies 22:29 - A win-back reward 27:03 - How TapNation hacks hybrid ad mon 33:25 - CMPs affecting revenue 36:39 - TapNation's main goal in the next 12 months 42:44 - Wrapping up * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *  ** Let's Connect ** 👉🏻 Twitter - https://twitter.com/pgbiz  👉🏻 LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/groups/144491/  👉🏻 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/PGbiz  👉🏻 Website - https://www.pocketgamer.biz  Check out more world-class speakers sharing their insights and expertise at one of our events. You can find details of our next event here - https://www.pgconnects.com/next-event