Podcasts about Playtika

Direct-to-consumer is finally out of the shadows. Eight public studios just revealed how much revenue they drive through D2C — and the numbers make the case better than any pitch could. But there's a window closing, and the studios moving now are the ones who'll win.We are joined by Chip Thurston (FastSpring) for a D2C deep-dive built around the Pocket Gamer report aggregating publicly disclosed D2C revenue. They break down the three cohorts (social casino, mid-core, casual) and what each tells us, the standout data points (Playtika at 39% of revenue, Fishing Clash at 33%, Double Down at 44%), the difference between direct-checkout links and web stores and why you need both, Google's new External Content Links policy, the still-unapproved Epic v. Google settlement and its 20% linked-payment fee, where Apple's appeals stand after the Supreme Court declined to hear them, and the single most actionable takeaway: maximize US D2C traffic today, while you can still steer without fees.⏱️ TIMESTAMPS00:00 Cold open — maximize US D2C traffic today01:35 The Pocket Gamer D2C report and why it matters05:35 The three cohorts — social casino, mid-core, casual11:50 Direct checkout vs web store — the frictionless path16:00 Google's External Content Links policy explained21:20 The Epic v. Google settlement and the 20% fee30:10 Where Apple stands after the Supreme Court36:20 Casual works too — Playtika and the playbook

Connected TV advertising is growing fast—but can it actually outperform mobile user acquisition?In this episode of Growth Masterminds, host John Koetsier sits down with Michal Schwartz, Head of Growth at YouAppi, to explore how CTV is evolving from a branding channel into a serious performance marketing platform.Michal shares lessons learned from both the advertiser side at Playtika and the platform side at YouAppi, including where CTV is delivering lower CPIs, reaching audiences mobile campaigns miss, and opening new opportunities for app marketers.They discuss:• When CTV can outperform traditional mobile advertising• Which app categories are seeing the strongest results• Why gaming, fintech, rewards, and travel are embracing CTV• Creative best practices for connected TV campaigns• QR codes, voiceovers, subtitles, and effective calls-to-action• Global opportunities beyond the U.S., including LATAM, Europe, and Japan• Attribution, measurement, and privacy challenges• The rise of CTV retargeting and cross-device marketing• How Amazon, Netflix, Roku, and other streaming platforms are shaping the future of advertising• Why CTV may become a standard performance channel for growth marketersIf you're responsible for app growth, user acquisition, performance marketing, or mobile advertising, this conversation offers a practical look at one of the fastest-growing channels in digital marketing.#CTV #ConnectedTV #GrowthMarketing #UserAcquisition #MobileMarketing #AppMarketing #PerformanceMarketing #AdTech #StreamingTV #YouAppi

A top-5 mobile game with 60-70 million daily active users just disappeared from Google Play for 24 hours and came back. Nobody from Hungry Studios is saying anything. That's the headline.Jakub Remiar flies solo this week with nine stories from the May 23-29 news cycle. The Block Blast Android outage is the biggest shock — a game that big going dark on a major platform for an entire day with zero public explanation. The Monopoly Go licensing story is the most quietly important: Scopely paid Hasbro $41M last quarter alone, confirming the $168M/year run-rate that puts Monopoly Go in genuinely different stratosphere from everything else in social casino. And Valve raised the Steam Deck OLED 1TB from $649 to $949 — a 40% hike that prompted Tim Sweeney to publicly joke about Gabe Newell's $500M super-yacht.Plus: Playtika layoffs as social casino keeps declining, Unreal Engine 6 teased via Rocket League, NetEase posts 7% YoY growth, CD Projekt Red announces a new Witcher 3 expansion called Songs of the Past, IO Interactive's James Bond game hits 1.5M copies in 24 hours, Fortnite returns to iOS to a 3.4M download spike, and the GDC 2026 trend report confirms generative AI is the only thing anyone in the industry is talking about.━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━⏱️ TIMESTAMPS00:00 Cold open — the Steam Deck mega-yacht joke00:30 Block Blast vanished from Google Play (and came back)02:00 Playtika layoffs + Monopoly Go's $41M Hasbro license fee03:30 Unreal Engine 6, NetEase Q1, Witcher 3 + James Bond05:24 Sponsor — Potensus06:32 GDC 2026 trend report — generative AI dominates07:30 Fortnite iOS return drives 3.4M downloads in 8 years08:30 Steam Deck +40% price hike + the mega-yacht punchline

Are you losing customers because AI marketing is changing faster than your business can keep up? If you're trying to grow your company in a world where ChatGPT, LinkedIn algorithms, YouTube, and AI-powered search are reshaping how buyers discover brands, this episode gives you a practical roadmap to stay visible and competitive. You'll hear how modern companies are using AI marketing to win attention, dominate search results, improve customer acquisition, and build trust across multiple platforms before competitors even know what changed. What You'll Learn: How AI marketing is transforming search visibility — and why ranking #1 on Google no longer guarantees customers Ways to reverse engineer AI-driven platforms like ChatGPT, Gemini, LinkedIn, and YouTube to increase authority and attract better leads Practical strategies for creating authentic, high-performing content that drives engagement, retention, and long-term business growth Play this episode now to discover how AI marketing can help you attract higher-value customers before your competitors figure out the new rules of digital growth. Check out: 08:45 – Gilad breaks down how AI marketing is changing search forever and explains why ranking on Google alone is no longer enough to win customers. 19:20 – A fascinating look at how LinkedIn's algorithm now rewards authentic, value-driven content while punishing AI-generated "filler" posts. 34:10 – The conversation shifts to YouTube, influencer marketing, and how AI tools can turn hours of content into actionable business insights and growth opportunities. About Gilad Bechar Gilad Bechar is the visionary founder and CEO of Moburst, a world-renowned, mobile-first digital agency that has become a trusted growth partner to some of the most recognizable tech brands on the planet. Over the last eleven years, Gilad has scaled Moburst into a global powerhouse, working with industry leaders such as Google, YouTube, Uber, Discovery, Robinhood, Playtika, Dropbox, and Samsung to unlock breakthrough results in user acquisition, retention, and mobile innovation. With more than 14 years of hands-on experience in brand management, media strategy, consultancy, and startup ecosystems, Gilad is a force in digital marketing. He combines creative ingenuity with deep technical insight. His approach to full-funnel mobile growth is comprehensive, encompassing strategy and creative content as well as performance marketing, product optimization, and growth hacking.

Dream Games swore they would never add ads to Royal Match or Royal Kingdom. In February 2026, they quietly did it. Here's the proof — and what it means for the rest of the industry.Felix Braberg flies solo this week to break down the three biggest stories in mobile gaming: Playtika officially walking away from social casino to chase Disney Solitaire (with D2C revenue now at 62% of their IAP), Mistplay's acquisition of Mychips as the rewarded UA M&A wave begins, and the most interesting story of the week — Dream Games caught adding ads to Royal Kingdom via Wayback Machine forensics, generating an estimated $170-190K/day in interstitial and rewarded revenue while 6x'ing downloads in markets like Brazil.If Dream Games breaks, Playrix is next.━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━⏱️ TIMESTAMPS00:00 Cold open — Royal Kingdom's $190K/day ad revenue01:25 Playtika exits social casino, casual is now 76% of business03:10 The D2C dark pool — Playtika now at 62% off-platform04:45 Mistplay acquires Mychips — the rewarded UA M&A wave07:00 Royal Kingdom's secret ads — Wayback Machine forensics08:30 The Brazil test — 25K to 150K downloads/day, IAP also up09:30 Top charts wrap — Magic Sword, Grand Games, Monopoly Go━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

Supercell enters the toy business, Playtika fully embraces casual games, and Turkey's puzzle game machine keeps printing hits and billion-dollar studios.In this episode of TWIG, Jen is joined by Adam, Phill, and LT to break down the biggest stories in mobile games, from Grand Games' massive $70M raise to the deeper economics behind hybrid casual, DTC monetization, and why puzzle games are evolving beyond traditional match-3 design.Topics Covered:● Grand Games raises $70M, and why Turkey has become the world's most concentrated puzzle game ecosystem● How government subsidies, repeat founders, and UA rebates are fueling Turkey's gaming flywheel● Why hybrid casual puzzle games are breaking classic casual game design rules and still winning● Playtika shifts away from social casino and doubles down on casual hits like Disney Solitaire● Royal Kingdom's aggressive celebrity UA campaign and whether it actually moved the needle● Royal Match quietly launches web shop payments and new event monetization systems● Why DTC revenue is becoming critical for casual mobile games● The “worldification” of live service games after Genshin Impact and whether open worlds are sustainable● Sega and Rovio are restructuring after disappointing mobile performance and failed synergy bets● Supercell partners with Spin Master for Clash and Brawl Stars toys● Angry Birds teams up with Subway Surfers in a new crossover event● Wordle gets a TV show because apparently everything becomes IP nowCHAPTERS: 00:13 Welcome and Episode Lineup02:08 Health Updates and Travel Plans03:03 Adam Check-In and AI RAG Tool05:25 DOF Roundtables Announcement08:55 Gran Games Funding Breakdown09:49 Turkey Puzzle Flywheel12:04 Hybrid Casual Design Debate23:47 Emotional States in Puzzle Play26:30 Playtika Shifts to Casual28:30 Playtika pivots casual29:55 D2C Mix hits 40%30:47 Royal Kingdom check-in32:44 Cannibalization and UA blitz35:11 Match 3 needs weird38:01 Royal Match goes web shop42:54 Worldification debate49:41 AI and open worlds50:50 Quick hits Wordle and toys54:18 Rovio Sega restructure59:40 Wrap-up and goodbye

PocketGamer.biz head of content Craig Chapple, deputy editor Paige Cook and news editor Aaron Astle talk through the latest games industry news on the 89th episode of the Week in Mobile Games Podcast.On this week's show we discuss:- Supercell CEO Ilkka Paananen's BAFTA Fellowship award.- Is BAFTA taking mobile gaming seriously?- Direct-to-consumer revenue hits record highs in Q4- Playtika up for sale.- The Super Mario Galaxy Movie's blockbuster Box Office numbers.- Game of Thrones Dragonfire gears up for launch.- The Division Resurgence's opening salvo.- What a power shift from West to East means for the games industry.Chapters00:00 Introduction and Pokemon Champions05:47 BAFTA Games Awards and Recognition for Mobile Games12:40 The Division Resurgence's Opening Salvo17:47 Super Mario Galaxy Movie Success22:17 Record D2C revenue25:59 The West to East shift29:44 Game of Thrones Dragonfire33:20 Playtika up for sale36:08 Wrap-Up** Let's Connect **

What happens when state AGs decide that predictive markets, casino apps, and loot boxes look a lot more like gambling than gaming? In this episode, we unpack a fast-moving wave of state enforcement as attorneys general scrutinize Kalshi's predictive markets, Washington's lawsuit against casino app operators Playtika and Aristocrat, and New York's suit against Valve over loot boxes—signaling that companies offering chance-based online games, especially those involving virtual currency, item value, or youth audiences, may face growing legal risk under state gambling and consumer protection laws. Hosted by Simone Roach. Based on a blog post by Paul L. Singer, Beth Bolen Chun, Abigail Stempson, and Andrea deLorimier.

We discuss Turkey's new government subsidies for game developers and why the country may become one of the most attractive places to build a studio, the uncertain future of WB Games following major media consolidation, and Discord delaying its global age-verification rollout after backlash and regulatory pressure. We also discuss the Misfits seed round from an ex-Supercell/King team, a correction around Tilting Point's recent deal, Playtika surpassing $1B in direct-to-consumer revenue, and Ubisoft reshuffling leadership on Assassin's Creed, along with broader conversation around monetization, web shops, and the state of the games industry heading into GDC.CHAPTERS01:53 LA Dinner and Downtown Vibes02:44 Mishka London Detour04:10 GDC Shilling and Events07:59 Tilting Point Deal Debate11:34 Appcharge Web Store Ad12:27 Misfits Seed Round Breakdown20:45 Turkey Subsidies Update23:17 Paramount Buys WB Fallout28:16 Assassins Creed Leadership Shuffle30:58 Discord Age Verification Backlash34:33 Roblox Lawsuits And Regulation36:25 Playtika DTC Numbers Breakdown38:51 Supercell Web Shop Playbook43:48 Marathon Server Slam Impressions45:07 Sales Forecasts And Sony Stakes50:58 Retention Wipes And Monetization55:23 Skate Layoffs And F2P Trap01:00:39 Gundam Collab And Sony PC Pivot01:03:57 Wrap Up And GDC Plans

У свіжому дайджесті DOU News обговорюємо гучне призначення Михайла Федорова міністром оборони та свіжий звіт про зарплати айтівців зими 2026. Також у випуску: чому MacPaw закриває Setapp Mobile, як таксі працюватимуть у комендантську годину та великі скорочення в Playtika. Дивіться ці та інші новини українського IT та глобального тек-сектору. Таймкоди 00:00 Інтро 00:24 Верховна Рада призначила Михайла Федорова новим міністром оборони 01:35 Зарплати українських розробників — зима 2026 05:40 Зарплати українських тестувальників — зима 2026 07:03 MacPaw закриє магазин застосунків Setapp Mobile у лютому 2026 09:01 Bolt, Uklon та Uber просять дозволу на роботу в Києві під час комендантської години 10:03 Playtika скорочує близько 15% співробітників у першому кварталі 10:53 Apple Siri працюватиме на базі Google Gemini 15:11 Іран вперше повністю заблокував Starlink Ілона Маска 17:09 Маск заперечує обізнаність про те, що генерує Grok AI 20:17 Claude випустили Cowork: новий ШІ-інструмент для автоматизації задач 24:00 Anthropic вдвічі знижує прогнози продуктивності ШІ 26:52 «It's over»: Лінус Торвальдс випробував вайб-кодинг 29:09 Користувачі ChatGPT невдовзі побачать таргетовану рекламу 31:34 Що цього тижня рекомендує Женя: статтю та Time Travel Map

PocketGamer.biz head of content Craig Chapple, news editor Aaron Astle, and deputy editor Paige Cook talk through the latest games industry news on the 79th episode of the Week in Mobile Games Podcast.On this week's show we take a look at:- What's in store for Pocket Gamer Connects London on January 19th and 20th!- Playtika's latest round of layoffs across the company and the role of AI.- Deep cuts at Meta Reality Labs and what it means for the future of Meta's VR plans.- Ubisoft's Abu Dhabi redundancies and the publisher's continued turmoil.- The Paramount and Netflix battle for Warner Bros. heats up with a legal battle.- Meanwhile, fate decided to cut out Aaron's recording after 15 minutes. Curious what the universe's grand plans for those lost segments are.** Let's Connect **

PocketGamer.biz head of content Craig Chapple talks through the latest games industry news on the 72nd episode of the Week in Mobile Games Podcast.On this week's show we take a look at:Our investigation into how Epic and Google plans to police how the top grossing mobile games monetise on Android and exactly who the newly proposed Play store policies impact.The Top 30 MENA Game Makers.Playtika's direct-to-consumer growth.Supercell's FAQ shining a light on why it closed Squad Busters.The plethora of new mobile games with big IP attached.** Let's Connect **

In 2025, over 22,000 technology workers have been laid off in the first half of the year, following more than 150,000 job cuts in 2024. Major companies including Microsoft, Intel, Google, Amazon, Meta, Atlassian, and Salesforce have announced substantial workforce reductions. Startups and mid-sized firms such as Kaltura, Yotpo, Rivian, Klue, Playtika, Zeen, and Beam have also implemented layoffs or shut down. Many companies attribute these actions to increased adoption of artificial intelligence and automation, restructuring for efficiency, and shifting business strategies. Affected roles span engineering, product management, marketing, and support functions.Learn more on this news by visiting us at: https://greyjournal.net/news/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We kick things off with “midlife Kress-ises” before diving into the headlines you can't ignore: Tencent's latest controversy, AppLovin's monster quarter, and Blizzard's leadership shuffle.From Storm Gate's rough launch runway to the brutal math of market fit, we unpack why good games still fail. We break down Duolingo's surprise move into music games, and why Playtika's doubling down on direct-to-consumer could be the smartest—or riskiest—bet they've made yet.Then it's guns out for Battlefield's comeback, a hard look at Moon Active's new portfolio plays. As always, plenty of spicy takes, questionable analogies, and insights you won't find anywhere else.00:00 Introduction and Host Introductions01:34 Upcoming Game Releases and Industry Updates02:58 Midlife Kress-is06:05 Event Announcements + DOF Talent Acquisition08:19 Data Analysis and Market Trends09:22 Tencent's Game Controversy17:16 AppLovin's Impressive Growth21:12 Blizzard's Leadership Changes25:19 Storm Gate's Launch Challenges27:19 Financial Engineering and Tim's Struggles28:28 Market Fit and Game Quality Issues33:32 Duolingo's Acquisition of Beat Star36:50 Playtika's Direct-to-Consumer Strategy43:20 Battlefield's Comeback and Market Impact54:58 Moon Active's New Games and Portfolio

Following strong financial performance in its gaming division, Microsoft is taking a machete to its work force and its future as a serious competitor. Is this the brand's Red Ring of Death? Also, Bungie runs from Marathon, Warner Bros. goes all-in on safe IP, and the labor report hurts even more than usual. You can support Virtual Economy's growth via our Ko-Fi and also purchase Virtual Economy merchandise! TIME STAMPS [00:03:59] - Sony Games & Network Services Update [00:16:09] - Marathon Delayed Indefinitely [00:27:51] - Sony Brings Four Games Back to 177 Countries [00:30:18] - Cleer Arc 3 Gaming Review [00:37:52] - Investment Interlude [00:42:27] - Quick Hits [00:59:46] - Labor Report SOURCES Game & Network Services Segment | Sony Marathon Development Update | Bungie Sony removes regional restrictions on four of its biggest games on Steam | PC Gamer Tencent owns 15% of Helldivers 2 studio Arrowhead, it has emerged | VGC INVESTMENT INTERLUDE Sensor Tower Acquires Playliner to Expand Live Ops Intelligence Across Mobile Gaming | Sensor Tower Warner Bros. Games Restructures Into Divisions Based on ‘Game of Thrones,' Harry Potter, ‘Mortal Kombat' and DC Universe | Variety LABOR REPORT Microsoft Begins Deep Job Cuts Across Xbox Division | Bloomberg (Paywall) Microsoft to lay off as many as 9,000 employees in latest round | Seattle Times Lost Records and Jusant developer Don't Nod is laying off staff | Eurogamer Bloodlines 2 developer The Chinese Room has laid off employees, but Paradox says the game is still coming in October | PC Gamer Hypixel Studios has Canceled Hytale and Will Wind Down | Hypixel Studios on Twitter MindsEye Developer Build a Rocket Boy Begins Layoff Process Amid Disastrous Launch, Studio Sources Say | IGN MindsEye Dev's UK Workforce of Around 300 Receive At-Risk Emails as Former GTA Lead Leslie Benzies Finally Addresses Staff | IGN Cyan Worlds Has Gone Through Another Round of Layoffs | Cyan Worlds on Bluesky Studio Camelia has Closed | Studio Camelia on LinkedIn Star Wars: Hunters Publisher Shutters Studio Founded by Torchlight, Diablo Creator Before It Could Announce Its New Game | IGN People Can Fly Undergoes Layoffs | People Can Fly on LinkedIn Major layoffs at Playtika with up to 160 jobs cut on Best Fiends and Redecor teams | MobileGamer.biz Subway Surfers Blast developer Outplay Entertainment has laid off 21 workers | Game Developer RuneScape studio Jagex lays off an undisclosed number of 'non-player facing' staff | Game Developer Cult of the North Shutting Down | Adam Schaub on LinkedIn Report: Return to Moria developer Free Range Games lays off 80 people | Game Developer Sony is making layoffs at Days Gone developer Bend Studio | Game Developer French court convicts ex-Ubisoft bosses for workplace harassment | AFP Video Game Workers Reach Historic Tentative Contract Agreement with Microsoft | CWA

MAU Events:May 20, Tuesday Pre-Game 4pm PT https://lu.ma/919nx0pqMay 21, Wednesday brunch 11am PT https://lu.ma/krnfc16qMay 2,1 Wednesday Gaming Soiree 4pm PT https://lu.ma/il21m7r7Disney Solitaire is scaling fast. Today, we break down how SuperPlay + Playtika + Disney IP = one of the smartest casual game executions in years.From a familiar Domino Dreams-style template to a scaling UA strategy (with estimated $1.5M/day in spend), Disney Solitaire targets nostalgia-rich audiences with high production polish, deep progression systems, and sneaky monetization.

ALL upcoming events in our newsletter:https://www.deconstructoroffun.com/subscribeSupercell had a monster year with €2.8B in revenue, proving that bigger live ops teams and aggressive marketing can still drive growth—but let's be real, Squad Busters flopped hard despite the hype. Meanwhile, Unity continues its slow-motion train wreck, losing key talent and scrambling to fix its ad tech, while AppLovin is absolutely crushing it, with stock up 700% thanks to AI-powered ads. Now, in a power move, AppLovin is dumping its entire games portfolio for $900M—so who's buying? Scopely? Zynga? Playtika? Drop your bets in the comments.

How do Playtika and Wooga nail their Live Ops strategies? What does GameRefinery say you're missing? In this episode, Nadav Moshes (Product & Market Insights Lead at Playtika), Maxime Graux (Head of Product Management at Wooga), and Erno Kiiski (Chief Game Analyst at GameRefinery) sit down with our very own Jen Donahoe to dissect the art and science of Live Ops. From mobile to PC/console gaming, we break down the latest trends driving social, engagement, and monetization events. Discover how understanding player motivations is the key to creating better events and why a holistic event framework is critical to your Live Ops success. We dive into practical strategies around segmentation, iteration, and gamified offers to level up engagement and boost your monetization. Whether you're building your Live Ops muscle or refining your existing strategy, this episode is packed with actionable insights for every game developer. 01:05 Meet the Experts: Nadav, Max, and Erno 07:36 Social LiveOps: Trends and Examples 12:31 Monopoly Go's Collaborative and Competitive Events 15:02 June's Journey: Social Features and Player Motivations 25:11 Engagement LiveOps: Long-Term and Short-Term Events 33:07 The Importance of Long-Term Engagement 36:40 Short-Term Collection Mechanics 38:15 Multi-Stage Mission Events 43:19 Advanced Segmentation in LiveOps 49:54 Challenges in Testing and Iteration 51:19 Monetization Strategies and Bundle Offers 01:01:50 Final Thoughts and Key Takeaways

Kress bites back at Cupcake listeners, while Adam thinks a Space Marine live service is as dead as the Necrons. Phil thinks MoPoGo is groundbreaking, but no one is surfing the waves yet. Laura tells us the real origin story, and Jen has her best Italian accent. 00:00 Intro 01:49 Shills 02:46 AI in Gaming 07:16 EA Strategy 09:28 Adam & Laura: Origins 18:32 Industry Trends and Predictions 31:28 Favorite Podcast Moments 36:36 GDC Memories and Parasocial Relationships 37:55 Nintendo vs. Palworld Legal Battle 40:45 Dreamhaven's First Publishing Partnership 42:57 Microsoft's Game Pass Spending 44:27 Everdale's End and Brawl Stars' Rise 46:40 Space Marine 2's Success 49:10 Raid Shadow Legends' Impressive Run 50:42 Playtika's Acquisition of Superplay 53:17 Monopoly Go: A Social Casino Debate 59:07 Future of IP in Mobile Gaming --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/deconstructoroffun/support

Get the latest dose of game industry news shaken, not stirred. In this episode, Eric Kress, Jen Donahoe, and Laura Taranto debate the merits of VR, discuss Zynga's match-three strategies, and evaluate market trends in the mobile gaming sector. Plus, the crew takes a look at the dreadful reception of the Borderlands movie and the ongoing challenges in launching successful game franchises. To cap the episode off, we take a deep dive into the reason behind Bungie's recent layoffs. 00:00 Intro 02:34 Economic Insights 03:17 Transmedia Failures 4:48 College Tours and Family Updates 06:41 Gaming Events and AWS Support 16:01 Market Reports and Industry Growth 30:32 Exploring Match-Three Puzzle Games 31:27 Harry Potter Hogwarts Mystery 32:42 Playtika's Strategic Shift 35:28 Bungie's Layoffs and Sony's Acquisition Strategy 42:54 Nexon's Earnings and Market Strategy 45:32 Take-Two Interactive's Performance and GTA VI 54:40 Zynga's Portfolio and Market Performance 64:11 Concluding Thoughts and Future Episodes --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/deconstructoroffun/support

In today's episode, Stig Brodersen speaks to Tobias Carlisle and Hari Ramachandra. Stig only owns five individual stocks, and in this episode, he outlines why he has put Burberry on this watchlist. Hari's pick, ICICI Bank Limited, is a solid bet on the rise of India, and Tobias pitches Playtika, a value stock trading at an appealing valuation.  IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN: 00:00 - Intro 01:57 - What are the current economic conditions?  13:37 - Are we entering a world with less disruption? 17:30 - What Stig's bull case is for Burberry (Ticker: BURBY). 35:18 - The bear case for Burberry, including the current deterioration in the luxury sector. 42:35 - Why Toby has invested in Playtika (Ticker: PLTK). 52:23 - The bear case for Playtika, including the lack of moat and switching costs. 56:01 - Why Hari is bullish on ICICI Bank Limited (Ticker: ICICIBANK). 1:12:47 - The bear case of ICICI Bank Limited, including whether the valuation is stretched.  Disclaimer: Slight discrepancies in the timestamps may occur due to podcast platform differences. BOOKS AND RESOURCES Join the exclusive TIP Mastermind Community to engage in meaningful stock investing discussions with Stig, Clay, Kyle, and the other community members. Tune in to the Mastermind Discussion Q1 2024 – TIP610 | YouTube video. Listen to Mastermind Discussion Q4 2023 – TIP586 | YouTube video. Tune in to the Mastermind Discussion Q3 2023 – TIP576 | YouTube video. Listen to Mastermind Discussion Q2 2023 – TIP557 | YouTube video. Tune in to Mastermind Discussion Q1 2023 – TIP528 | YouTube video. Tune in to Mastermind Discussion Q4 2022 – TIP496 | YouTube video. Listen to Mastermind Discussion Q3 2022 – TIP475  | YouTube video. Tune in to Mastermind Discussion Q2 2022 – TIP450 | YouTube video.   Listen to Mastermind Discussion Q1 2022 – TIP418 | YouTube video. Stig Brodersen's portfolio and return.  Understanding IFRS16 on operating leases. Tobias Carlisle's podcast, The Acquirers Podcast. Tobias Carlisle's ETF, ZIG. Tobias Carlisle's ETF, Deep. Tobias Carlisle's book, The Acquirer's Multiple – read reviews of this book. Tobias Carlisle's Acquirer's Multiple stock screener: AcquirersMultiple.com. Tweet directly to Tobias Carlisle. Hari's Blog: BitsBusiness.com. Tweet directly to Hari. Check out all the books mentioned and discussed in our podcast episodes here. Enjoy ad-free episodes when you subscribe to our Premium Feed. NEW TO THE SHOW? Follow our official social media accounts: X (Twitter) | LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook | TikTok. Check out our We Study Billionaires Starter Packs. Browse through all our episodes (complete with transcripts) here. Try our tool for picking stock winners and managing our portfolios: TIP Finance Tool. Enjoy exclusive perks from our favorite Apps and Services. Stay up-to-date on financial markets and investing strategies through our daily newsletter, We Study Markets. Learn how to better start, manage, and grow your business with the best business podcasts. SPONSORS Support our free podcast by supporting our sponsors: River Toyota The Bitcoin Way Vacasa Industrious Meyka AT&T Range Rover Fundrise CI Financial Yahoo! Finance Briggs & Riley iFlex Stretch Studios Public American Express USPS Shopify HELP US OUT! Help us reach new listeners by leaving us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts! It takes less than 30 seconds, and really helps our show grow, which allows us to bring on even better guests for you all! Thank you – we really appreciate it! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://theinvestorspodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm

Jen, Kress, Laura, and Phil continue with the food puns analogies and decide if Apple Arcade is rotting after a mobilegamer.biz article. Also, the cast praises Unity for its newfound transparency, hits some of the Nintendo Direct Highlights (which aren't that high), keeps taking layoffs, and uncovers Playtika's new strategy. Apply to join the Slack Community. https://www.deconstructoroffun.com/slack Event links to apply or register: Think Games Istanbul: https://adsonair.withgoogle.com/events/think-games-istanbul-2024 GDC Beta Hat & DoF Pre-Game Party March 17 - ⁠https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSceighlzx-X0Khv2NMmJom29dtWhAsEpros-1xhBCNQfIqqAA/viewform⁠ Xsolla, DoF, Mattel Party March 19: https://events.xsolla.com/gamenightgdc2024 DoF, AppsFlyer, Data.ai Brunch March 19: http://dataai-gdc-brunch.splashthat.com/DoF Hosts: Michail Katkoff @mkatkoff ⁠www.linkedin.com/in/michailkatkoff/⁠ Eric Kress @ekress ⁠www.linkedin.com/in/erickress/⁠ Laura Taranto @laurataranto ⁠www.linkedin.com/in/laurataranto/⁠ Phillip Black @econosopher ⁠www.linkedin.com/in/phillip-black-economist/⁠ Jen Donahoe @Jen_Donahoe ⁠www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferd⁠ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/deconstructoroffun/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/deconstructoroffun/support

Arthur Trusov and Joseph Kim discuss the latest gaming news from the past week. Layoffs: Unity to lay off 1,800 staff as it continues company reset Twitch is cutting one-third of its staff Playtika to cut 300 - 400 more jobs in latest rounds of layoffs Discord is laying off 17 percent of employees 11 Days Into 2024 And 2700+ Video Game Layoffs Have Been Announced Nacon exec says industry's problem is "too many games" UE5-Powered New Halo Reportedly in Development at 343 Industries – Rumor Epic finally claims top spot for publisher MAU share on console The State of UGC Games (2024) SAG underfire for supporting AI game voice actors AI took stage of CES and was a mess! China easing fears of another video game crackdown Cheating accessory — GameShark — is back. Steam broke its concurrent user record over the weekend --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/gamemakers/message

Bienvenidas y bienvenidos a Recarga Activa, el podcast diario de AnaitGames en el que filtramos lo más relevante de la actualidad del videojuego en pildorazos de 10-15 minutos:1️⃣ Naughty Dog anuncia Grounded II, el documental sobre el desarrollo de The Last of Us Parte II2️⃣ Despidos en Lost Boys Interactive y Playtika3️⃣ Los lanzamientos de la semanaSuscríbete para recibir el siguiente episodio en tu gestor de podcasts favorito. Puedes apoyar nuestro proyecto (y acceder a un montón de contenido exclusivo) en Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/anaitreload♫ Sintonía del programa: Senseless, de Johny Grimes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Together with Dive, one of our Open Gaming Research Initiative partners, we're exploring the topic of data and games through a limited podcast series called “Data Corner.” This episode is the final segment of this mini-series, so we decided to focus it on a fascinating future-facing topic — AI Analytics.According to Gartner's Analytics Ascendancy Model, there are four types of analytics that sharpen hindsight, reveal insight, and create foresight:1. Descriptive analytics, which explain what happened2. Diagnostic analytics, which explain why it happened3. Predictive analytics, which explain what will happen4. Prescriptive analytics, which explain how one can make it happenFrom a gaming analytics standpoint, gaming studios of all sizes and analytics capabilities live on various points of this framework and employ each of the four analytics types to varying degrees. However, AI has the potential to act as an exoskeleton here and elevate all aspects of this framework. To discuss all this and more, we're joined by Elad Levy, founder and CEO of Dive, Daniel Berdichevski, Playtika's ex-VP of Data Science and Products (now a Data Management Consultant), and your host, Abhimanyu Kumar, co-founder of Naavik.We hope you enjoy the last episode of the Data Corner. Please send any thoughts, feedback, and questions to podcast@naavik.co.We'd also like to thank Pragma for making this episode possible! Pragma is a Backend Game Engine that powers services like accounts, matchmaking and player data for the world's most ambitious live service games. To learn more, head to https://pragma.gg/ And as always, if you like the episode, you can help others find us by leaving a rating or review!Watch the episode: YouTube videoRead more: Naavik DigestLearn more: Naavik's Open Gaming Research InitiativeWork with us: Naavik ConsultingFollow us: Twitter | LinkedIn | WebsiteSound design by Gavin Mc Gabe.

Can you play games and save the planet? Maybe, with Dots.eco's new rewarded ad experience that isn't like anything else I've seen. Wooga, Wild Life, and Playtika are using it, so I thought it'd be worth checking out. Maybe you will too :-) In this episode, host John Koetsier chats with Dots.eco chief growth officer Daniel Madrid. Episode summary Dots.eco is a platform that offers real-world environmental rewards to incentivize players in games. The platform allows players to engage in activities such as planting trees, cleaning plastic from the oceans, and saving sea turtle babies while playing their favorite games. The cash for these rewards comes from game publishers and other businesses who pay for the impact. By integrating these environmental rewards into games, publishers can increase engagement, retention, and monetization. Dots.eco has seen significant growth and has partnered with major gaming studios and brands to implement their platform. The results include improved player satisfaction, increased transactions and revenue, and enhanced brand reputation. Takeaways Dots.eco offers real-world environmental rewards to incentivize players in games. Publishers pay for the impact, and the cash comes from game publishers and other businesses. Integrating environmental rewards into games can increase engagement, retention, and monetization. Dots.eco has seen significant growth and has partnered with major gaming studios and brands. Chapters 00:00 Introduction 01:09 Overview of Dots.eco 02:12 Monetization and Business Model 03:06 Implementation in Games 04:34 Engagement and Retention Strategy 08:17 Results and Growth 12:43 Expansion to Other Industries 16:40 Partnership Process 20:38 Metrics and Results 24:48 Conclusion

In this week's Roundtable, the squad shares some personal updates including a recap of Korea Blockchain Week, streetball with Fat Joe, and two new Naavik deep dives. Then we cover the latest in Unity's evolving monetization saga, including why the company got itself into this situation in the first place and why it's (perhaps partially) backpedaling on its monetization policy announcements. We also cover Playtika's acquisition of Innplay Labs, and dig into the court document leaks that highlight much of Xbox's next-generation plans. Join us for all the latest games business news with Anil Das-Gupta, Jonathan Anastas, Aaron Bush, and host Devin Becker.Also, 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 https://www.data.ai/en/?utm_source=naavikIf 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.

In this episode, we interview Jens Begemann, the former co-founder and CEO of Wooga, the Berlin-based casual mobile games company behind the success of Diamond Dash, Jelly Splash, and June's Journey. We cover Jen's journey in the gaming industry and the lessons he learned as an entrepreneur that led him to found Wooga in 2008. We also explore the growth of Wooga, its successful games, and the company's shift to mobile gaming. The conversation touches on the significance of company culture, hiring the right people, and the need for constant adaptation in the ever-changing gaming market. We discuss the difficult decisions and strategic mistakes made along the way, as well as the ultimate decision to sell Wooga to Playtika at the end of 2018. Today, when we observe the company's growth and revenues, Wooga is more successful than it has ever been. Topics covered: - Challenges faced in the dot-com bubble burst in 2000 - Importance of having a network and clear vision before starting a company - Growth of Wooga and its early successful games Brain Buddies, Diamond Dash, Bubble Island, Jelly Splash, Pearl's Perils - Shift from Facebook games to mobile games - Importance of company culture and hiring the right people, from the start - Challenges and mistakes made leading to a difficult year with layoffs in 2017 - Decision to sell Wooga to Playtika in 2018 - Why Playtika was the right choice for Wooga, post-acquisition

In this week's Roundtable, the squad discusses the massively successful launch of Baldur's Gate 3. Sebastian shares a story around monetizing Dota 2 Arcade mods under the nose of Valve's lawyers in light of the recent Arcade shutdown. We also have an earnings discussion covering Playstudios and Playtika that leads to a deep exploration of the future of the social casino genre on mobile. Finally, we dig into the new web3 fighting game Wreck League from Animoca Brands subsidiary nWay, and discuss whether it has a chance in the market. Join us for all the latest games business news with Manyu Kumar, Maria Gillies, Sebastian Park, and host Devin Becker.This episode is brought to you by Coda Payments. Coda helps developers collect some of their revenues outside the app stores, keeping more of the income they generate for themselves. To learn more, head to https://www.codapayments.com/naavik?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=webpage&utm_campaign=naavikThis episode is also brought to you by our partners at Gamesight, which provides full-service campaign management, taking charge of consulting, influencer discovery, relationship management, billing, and reporting, leaving you free to focus on your core business. To learn more, simply visit https://gamesight.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.

In this week's Roundtable, the squad discusses Inworld AI raising $50+ million for AI NPCs in games, plus Playtika's acquisition of Youda Games. Then after a short discussion on EA's earnings report, we discuss the demise of physical games and retail outlets like GameStop. Finally, we peel apart the success of BattleBit Remastered to figure out what other game developers can learn from this surprise hit and discuss how much graphic fidelity really matters for success. Join us for all the latest games business news with Aaron Bush, Tammy Levy, and host Devin Becker.This episode is brought to you by our partners at Windwalk. Windwalk builds digital communities and the technologies necessary to accelerate them through their flagship software, Harbor. To learn more about this end-to-end community software product, simply head to https://www.harbor.gg/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.

Today on bCreator: Serious Influence, Alice Audley (bCreator's founder) is joined by Britt Bagnall, who is the founder of Influencer Marketing Agency Cherry Pick Talent. Britt founded Cherry Pick in 2016 as a way to support brands who wanted to make influencers a part of their marketing day in and day out. Since CPT do not represent any talent, they are in a position to act as an extension of brands' marketing teams and focus on cherry picking the right talent for every activation and moment.  Clients range from Epic Games to HelloFresh to Glasses Direct to Playtika and enlist the help and social power from influencers to celebrities to athletes to pets! 

How do you make games go boom? Balancing pleasure and frustration, says long-time growth expert Elad Levy. In this Growth Masterminds we chat with growth guru Elad Levy, who sold his last game company to Playtika. He's also led growth and marketing and co-founded numerous other tech startups. Our focus: making games growth. We chat about: - data - testing - predictions - generative AI - engagement - live ops - and, of course ... game design

What is Sega's strategy for Rovio? What do the earnings reports for Playtika and Stillfront say about their acquisition methods and growth? Can TreesPlease build a profitable game around planting real life trees? How can Microsoft compete with Sony's recent console success? Join us for all the latest games business news with Abhimanyu Kumar, Tammy Levy, David Kaye, and host Devin Becker.Also, 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.

US futures are pointing to a higher open. European equity markets have opened in the positive territory, following mostly higher levels in Asia. Market focus remains on recession signaling from deeply inverted yield curves, collapsing money supply growth, and tightening bank lending standards. Fed is expected to hike again in May, but markets still price in rate cuts by year-end. Companies Mentioned: Boeing, Playtika

We finally got progress on Microsoft's Activision/Blizzard/King acquisition. Unity joined the mandatory AI bandwagon at GDC. There's yet another web3 organisation of companies bidding for influence. Dark & Darker went from early hype to major controversy. Rovio turned down Playtika's proposal. Tencent shared its earnings report for digging into. The much rumoured Counter-Strike 2 was officially announced. Epic pushed deeper into UGC for Fortnite with big creator economy changes. Dive into the latest games business news with Aaron Bush, Matt Dion, Felipe Mata and your host Devin Becker.00:00 - Start02:28 - CMA comes around on MSFT/ATVI deal09:06 - Unity joins the AI party14.00 - Rovio rejects Playtika's bid18:45 - Some Dark & Darker Controversy24:30 - Tencent earnings report39:24 - Counter Strike 2 announcement 51:07 - Epic's “Creator Economy 2.0”01:08:17 - OutroIf 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.

Why is Krafton hyper-targeting India's mobile market? What does Hogwarts Legacy's massive success tell us about the future of the industry? Why is Playtika stopping new game development? We dive into the latest games business news with Aaron Bush, Anil Das-Gupta, Jonathan Anastas, and your host Maria Gillies.00:00 - Start02:15 - Naavik Pro new verticals05:20 - Call of Duty 2023 Release08:30 - Unity Earnings Analysis16:21 - Playtika Earnings Analysis25:51 - What's Next After Hogwarts Legacy's Success44:58 - Why Krafton Is Hyper-Targeting India's Mobile Market01:01:44 - OutroIf 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.

The crew discusses Neil Long's App Store exposé in The Guardian, Rovio pulling the classic Angry Birds from distribution, Playtika suspending new game development, Street Fighter: Duel's launch and the explosive success of Hogwarts Legacy. Join Laura, Eric, Eric and Ethan and help us settle which Eric is the grumpy one. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/deconstructoroffun/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/deconstructoroffun/support

This week, Eric Kress updates us on the latest on Microsoft's acquisition and Playtika's bear hug of Rovio as well as a summary of earnings. Eric Seufert talks (rants?) about Alex Shea's PCG talk on Hypercasual's demise. Phillip discusses Knockout City's sunsetting and joins Laura in covering Supercell's beta game, Squad Busters. Türkiye was hit with magnitude 7.7 and 7.6 earthquakes. Our thoughts and prayers are with those who have been affected. Join us in helping by following this LINK. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/deconstructoroffun/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/deconstructoroffun/support

What are the highest priority challenges for Microsoft to drive further gaming growth? Why is Metacore well positioned to take on Everdale's mantle? We dive into the latest game business news with Aaron Bush, Tammy Levy, David Kaye, and your host Maria Gillies.00:00 - Start04:52 - Metacore Takes On Everdale's Mantle11:55 - PSVR2 Slashes Sales Expectations15:50 - EA Earnings & Game Sunsets20:29 - Microsoft Earnings Analysis35:36 - eSports Sustainable Business Model54:32 - Playtika's Web3 Slotomania01:00:46 - OutroIf 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.

What problems would Rovio's acquisition solve for Playtika? Why did Champions Ascension spin into Plai Labs? We dive into the latest game business news with Abhimanyu Kumar, Matt Dion, and your host Maria Gillies.00:00 - Start02:09 - Blizzard Games Shutdown in China04:32 - Carry1st Raises $27M Investment10:45 - The Last of Us Serie Drives Game Sales12:30 - Jam City Exits, Plai Labs Raises $32M28:36 - Playtika's Rovio Acquisition Proposal50:14 - Gorilla Tag, VR Market01:11:17 - OutroIf 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.

In a week chock full of games industry news, we've got a full house as Ethan returns from paternity leave and new face Phillip Black makes his second appearance on the pod. We discuss Playtika's unsolicited offer to acquire Rovio and how we expect they'll respond. We discuss the many gaming SPACs of 2021 and 2022 and learn that Ethan bought into many of them and why they've been so disastrous for his retirement savings (wamp wamp). We cover the frayed NetEase/Blizzard relationship, the new spin off studio from the founders of Jam City and more. So put on your headphone and join Kress, Seufert, Laura, Ethan and Phil as we go deep on all the latest news. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/deconstructoroffun/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/deconstructoroffun/support

Múltiples noticias sobre el futuro del trabajo / Las cápsulas son el café más ecológico / Instagram permite silenciar / La UE amenaza a TikTok / Unos casinos comprarán Angry Birds Patrocinador: Vivolt es un gestor energético independiente que te ayuda a ahorrar en tu factura de la electricidad o del gas de tu casa o de tu negocio. No es un algoritmo ni un comparador. Son empleados expertos que analizan tus necesidades, y te explican claramente la empresa que más te conviene. — Yo lo he usado, y ojalá hubiera nacido esta empresa hace tiempo. Increíble. Múltiples noticias sobre el futuro del trabajo / Las cápsulas son el café más ecológico / Instagram permite silenciar / La UE amenaza a TikTok / Unos casinos comprarán Angry Birds

This is the last TWIG of 2022! Closing out the year, Seufert, Kress, and Laura discuss the 2022 Game Awards and what game launches to look forward to in 2023, Apple's concessions on outside the app store payments, a brief FTC vs MSFT update, Playtika's layoffs and Brawl Stars removing Loot Boxes. Have a great end of the year and we look forward to delivering all your game-related news in January. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/deconstructoroffun/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/deconstructoroffun/support

Ethan and Eric S are in the house to talk about all the dramatic news this week! We're talking about massive layoffs across the tech industry and gaming in particular, new mobile game studios from NetEase and Nintendo, Playtika's latest earnings report, the dramatic and sudden collapse of FTX and the ongoing creator royalty debate going on in the world of NFTs. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/deconstructoroffun/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/deconstructoroffun/support

איך, עם כל הקונסולות ומשחקי המחשב, המשחקים בטלפונים הניידים הם בכל זאת אלו שתופסים לנו את העין? האם זה רק בגלל שהנייד כל כך זמין, או שלתעשיית המובייל גיימינג שמגלגלת מיליונים, גם כאן בארץ, יש מרכיב קסם, שלמוצרי גיימינג אחרים פשוט אין?דודו דהן, מנהלת חטיבת משחקי הקז'ואל בPlaytika, הגיע לאולפן לשיחה עם שלומי בן עטר על מה הכי מיוחד במשחקי הטלפון והחיבור של הגיימרים אליהם.

In this week's episode, Xander and Warren really dive into the nitty-gritty of current events. First, we discuss AppLovin's new Vessel app – a marketplace where mobile game developers can integrate NFTs into games to drive engagement and revenue. This sits at the intersection of three huge areas of focus for us: Web3, mobile games, and performance marketing. It's exciting news – and also interesting in the fact that AppLovin has managed to work within Apple's strict policies to bring an NFT marketplace into the App Store. Next we discuss Google's announcement that Stadia will be shutting down in January. The cloud-gaming service has struggled to gain traction, but the company believes the technology will be useful in other areas of its business – such as with industry partners, YouTube, Google Play, etc. Google will be refunding all Stadia hardware, games, and add-ons purchased through Stadia's store. In another gaming goodbye, Playtika is shuttering Best Fiends maker Seriously – supposedly over discord and clashes between the studio and its parent company on aggressive monetization, budgeting, and other issues. Leaks regarding the fallout seem to heavily favor Seriously, which likely indicates they came from sources within the studio. An article from Mobilegamer.biz promises that a new studio will "rise from the ashes" in coming months. Shifting to incoming games, we highlight the release of Overwatch 2 and it's interesting pivot into a completely live-services model. The game is also doing away with loot boxes in favor of a new in-game shop that uses in-game currency. It's been a long time coming, but that's not surprising given everything Blizzard has been through in the last few years. Finally, we end on the news that App Store net revenue declined 5% year-over-year for the month of September – a record low for the store. The news was highlighted by Stephanie Link and retweeted by Eric Seufert, who noted that "ATT wreaked havoc on the mobile gaming market, which comprises the vast majority of App Store revenues. The growth of Apple's ad platform, substantial as it has been, was not sufficient to offset that loss within the broader Services category." SOURCES & MORE: https://upptic.com/applovin-nfts-gaming-goodbyes-overwatch-2-app-store-declines-app-talk-with-upptic/ REGISTER FOR OUR WEB3 GAMES GROWTH WEBINAR: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/1416618928232/WN_nq5y952aSiO0BMmTeKK9dQ

It was after he had worked 3 years as an investment analyst with Bear Stearns and spent more than 2 years inside the corporate strategy bullpen of The Walt Disney Company that Craig Abrahams decided to head to business school. However, Abrahams says that unlike many of his future classmates, he had made up his mind that hedge funds, investment banks, and strategy consulting firms would not be on his preferred menu of postgraduation career opportunities. “I wanted an opportunity to work really hard and stand out but also to go somewhere a little bit different, where I wasn't competing with 10 versions of myself,” explains Abrahams, whose earlier experiences at Bear Stearns and Disney had left the MBA student searching for a less traditional route to career success. Observes Abrahams: “I was looking for a place where I personally could have an impact.” That place became Las Vegas, where upon graduation Abrahams joined Caesars Entertainment as a director of broadcasting and new media. “This was about putting myself in a position where I would be in the right place if an opportunity came along,” comments Abrahams, who within 6 months of joining the gaming giant was tapped to help launch Caesars Interactive Entertainment. “I remember when Gary Loveman, the CEO of Caesars at the time, said to me, ‘There's an opportunity to work on a business plan to create a new entity,' so that opportunity fell into my lap,” remarks Abrahams, who had served in a number of corporate development roles before advancing into the new entity's CFO office. It was as CFO of Caesars Interactive that Abrahams first became acquainted with a small Israeli company that had a megahit mobile game known as Slotomania. Caesars was smitten and in 2011 acquired the Israeli firm, Playtika. Over the next 5 years, Caesars Interactive invested more than $300 million into the business, which allowed Playtika to complete a series of acquisitions that led to the sale of the company for $4.4 billion in 2016. “This was just the first step in the evolution of Playtika,” explains Abrahams, who joined the newly private firm as CFO in 2019 and subsequently spearheaded a debt raise of $2.5 billion. The company was able to pay investors a dividend before management became focused on taking the company public, a goal that would be realized early in 2021. –Jack Sweeney

After five years working for retail industries ranging from fashion and beauty to toys, Tiffanie Chau decided to look for opportunities as a marketer in a new vertical. She landed in the mobile gaming industry, first as the Digital Marketing Specialist at Playtika, and more recently as Senior User Acquisition Manager at Mistplay, a loyalty app for mobile gamers. In this episode, Tiffanie talks about making the switch, the skills she transferred, what she had to learn, and differences in marketing strategy.Questions Tiffanie Answered in this Episode:Do you prefer working on more established games or launching new titles?Did you have any games not make it?Why did you decide to make the shift from the retail industry to gaming?What was the hardest thing for you to pick up moving into the mobile gaming vertical?What skills translated into the mobile gaming space? Do you have to educate your consumer base for Mistplay's loyalty program?What has you most excited about your future at Mistplay?Timestamp:3:30 Tiffanie's background5:11 Big titles vs new titles7:19 When do you let go?8:34 Mistplay11:26 The shift to mobile games13:05 Challenges coming into the industry14:46 What skills and knowledge transfers16:42 Creative strategies for Mistplay20:26 What Tiffanie's excited forQuotes:(7:25-7:37) “In today's world with TikTok where things can instantly become viral without you even trying, I think it makes things exciting but it also makes things hard because there is no recipe to follow.”(13:27-13:49) “If I had any advice for people going into [the mobile gaming industry], it's don't be afraid to ask questions and learn. As much as we read up on it and think you should know it, there's no harm in asking. Everyone works differently and has different definitions of abbreviations. I always just ask. It's better to clear it out and move on from there.”Mentioned in this Episode:Tiffanie Chau's LinkedInMistplay

We discuss the crash of crypto and how it affects blockchain gaming. Dive deep into Space Ape's development process and compare it to the one Wooga used to unsuccessfully follow before the Playtika acquisition. Kress explains why FIFA is the one to lose out after the breakup with EA. Links: Questions and Feedback The Slack Group Hosts: Mishka Katkoff, Eric Kress, Adam Telfer and Ethan Levy, Eric Seufert Sponsors: Google, ironSource, Appsflyer, Xsolla --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/deconstructoroffun/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/deconstructoroffun/support