Best Deconstructor Of Fun Podcasts (2025)

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Shooter Monthly #1: Battlefield Revolution, Arc Raiders Evolution, and the ABI Mystery 1:05:42

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2h ago1:05:42

1:05:42

Welcome to the debut episode of Shooter Monthly, the podcast that’s never out of projectiles. Host Phillip Black (DICE) is joined by shooter Avengers, Christopher Anjos (EA, Timi, ATVI), Chris Sides (Bungie, Capital Games), and Feras Musmar (DICE, TTK Games) for a wide-ranging discussion on the current shooter landscape.We talk:Arena Breakout: Infi…

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TWIG #356 Epic vs Google, Roblox’s Rough Quarter, Supercell Pulls the Plug 59:39

3d ago59:39

59:39

Epic takes another swing at Google and wins, Unity cozies up with Epic in a surprising move, and Roblox continues to puzzle investors after a tough earnings call. We also dive into Arcadia Gaming Partners’ growing influence, and why Supercell pulled the plug on Squad Busters. 0:00 Welcome 01:26 Updates, Announcements, and Shills 07:06 Epic and Goog…

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Cyprus 7: Where Are All The Greek Gaming Studios on Cyprus? 10:40

1d ago10:40

10:40

Alex Siamantas of Holyday Studios reflected on eleven years of building a profitable idle-RPG studio as one of the island’s few Greek founders

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Cyprus 6: The Secret Behind White Nights Conferences with Julia Lebedeva 10:52

1d ago10:52

10:52

Julia Lebedeva of WN Media Group spoke about launching the first Women in Games Cyprus event

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Cyprus 5: How a Metal Band Inspired a Wild Game Idea 11:09

1d ago11:09

11:09

Alexey Morozov of Horns Up Games shifted the tone completely. His project, Lord of Metal, is a festival-management sim built with the Swedish band Sabaton, combining the logistics of live events with the chaos of rock culture. It’s equal parts management game and love letter to heavy music.

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Cyprus 4: GDCy and the Story of the Largest Developer Festival in Cyprus 16:23

1d ago16:23

16:23

GDCy founders Tim Fadeev and Andrey Ivashentsev shared the story of how a single pub meetup evolved into the region’s largest developer festival. They credit the island’s mix of sunlight, low taxes, and openness to business. Cyprus, they say, isn’t just a haven for founders - it’s starting to feel like Europe’s next creative cluster.…

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Cyprus 3: We Relocated our Studio from Ukraine to Cyprus and This Happened... 5:22

1d ago5:22

5:22

Leonid Zhuravskyi, CEO of MysteryTag, said he’s found Cyprus to have a rare sense of openness - competitors who still share notes over coffee or wine.

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Cyprus 2: Cyprus Investment Secrets You Didn’t Know! 7:07

1d ago7:07

7:07

Andrey Feinberg (Kuznetsov), an independent advisor who’s seen the investment side of the story. Despite tougher global conditions, he says Cyprus remains busy, with founders rebuilding after relocation and finding stability in a global business that rarely offers it.

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Cyprus 1: What If Cyprus Becomes The NEXT BIG Tech Powerhouse? Aleksandr Bogdanov, CEO of Studio 42 6:16

1d ago6:16

6:16

Aleksandr Bogdanov, CEO of Studio 42, spoke about Cyprus as a new mixing pot, with veterans from Turkey, Ukraine, and Russia now calling Limassol home. He believes the island could rival Istanbul as the next tech powerhouse.

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Masters of Publishing 5: Scaling is a Grind 34:19

3d ago34:19

34:19

Scaling hybridcasual games is like solving a puzzle with moving pieces: CPI, retention, and platform dynamics constantly shift. Samantha Benjamin explains why profit-sharing doesn’t guarantee profit, how the spray-and-pray era is over, and why scaling is now a perpetual process of adjustment and reinvestment.👉 Understand what it takes to grow effic…

51
Masters of Publishing 4: Secrets to Winning Big with Game Monetization! 23:13

3d ago23:13

23:13

Monetization in hybridcasual is a balancing act: ads for early players, IAP for the committed ones. Maayan Eshkol dives into player segmentation, the real role of a game economist, and why monetization has to be part of the design loop from day one.👉 Learn how to integrate ads and IAP without sacrificing retention.…

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310. Pim De Witte on Turning Down $500 Million from OpenAI... Then Raising $134M. 1:03:46

6d ago1:03:46

1:03:46

Pim De Witte, founder of General Intuition and Medal.tv, turned down a deal reportedly worth $500 million from OpenAI, and instead raised $134 million to build an AI lab rooted in games, not words.In this conversation, Michail Katkoff (Deconstructor of Fun) dives deep into:1) How world models could replace game engines2) Why games are the best simu…

101
TWIG #355 Apple’s $2B Problem, Halo’s PlayStation Leap, and EA’s Reality Check 1:08:40

7d ago1:08:40

1:08:40

We unpack Apple’s $2B legal battle, Halo’s surprise move to PlayStation, and EA’s latest earnings reality check, alongside Amazon Game Studios’ restructuring, AI’s growing impact on gaming investments, and a one-year look back at Pokémon TCG Pocket. From corporate chaos to console crossovers, it’s a packed week of insights, strategy, and sharp take…

101
Masters of Publishing 3: What Makes Game Go Viral in 2026? 38:14

8d ago38:14

38:14

Great creatives don’t guarantee great traffic. Karen Levy unpacks how to scale UA with structured testing, controlled volume, and ruthless iteration. We explore the rise of AI-driven pipelines, why UGC-style ads dominate TikTok and Reels, and why authenticity outperforms glossy fakes. 👉 https://supersonic.com/…

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Masters of Publishing 2: 3 Signs Your Game Will Be a Smash! 16:35

9d ago16:35

16:35

What makes a hybridcasual hit? Guy Agiv explains how to design a core loop that hooks instantly but also unfolds depth over time. We cover the milestones from prototype to scale, how publishers and developers shift roles across the journey, and why “simplicity beats complexity” when it comes to retention.👉 Discover why elegant design—not clutter—is…

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Masters of Publishing 1: Secrets to Getting Signed by a Publisher 37:56

9d ago37:56

37:56

Hybridcasual isn’t just “hypercasual with IAP.” Igor Beraslavski (GM at Supersonic) breaks down how publishing has evolved from testing prototypes to becoming a full-stack partner in design, monetization, and live ops. We discuss what publishers look for, how to spot market trends before the herd, and why most me-too products never scale.👉 Learn ho…

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309. Ex-Take-Two CEO on the Future of Games and the Intersection of AI and Creativity 1:16:58

10d ago1:16:58

1:16:58

Ben Feder has done it all: CEO of Take-Two Interactive during the GTA and Red Dead years, President of Tencent’s International Partnerships, and board member at Epic Games and Bad Robot. Now he’s turned investor, running Tirta Ventures, a fund at the intersection of AI and gaming. In this conversation, Ben and Michail Katkoff explore what makes a g…

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TWIG #354 Google's New Payment-Link Era and Rovio's End of an Era 59:39

18d ago59:39

59:39

Jen Donahoe makes her triumphant return. She's joined by Eric Kress and special guest Stan Kwon from BetaHat. We dig into: Battlefield 6 corrections, marketing takeaways Android’s new payment-link era Unity’s cross-platform payments what General Intuition’s $134 M seed means for spatial reasoning and game data Rovio’s restructuring Football Manager…

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308. The 8 Trends That Will Redefine Gaming in Asia (and Beyond) 1:15:38

17d ago1:15:38

1:15:38

Mishka Katkoff is joined by Daniel Ahmad (Director of Research & Insights, Niko Partners) and Lisa Hanson (CEO & Founder, Niko Partners) for a deep dive into the latest trends and insights from the Asian, MENA, and Indian gaming markets. We cover regulatory changes in China, the rise of India as a gaming powerhouse, the evolving MENA landscape, and…

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TWIG #353 Netflix Goes Couch Co-op, PlayStation 6’s AI Ambitions, Supercell’s Open Letter 59:31

25d ago59:31

59:31

Supercell’s CEO releases a rare open letter calling for more industry collaboration, while Ubisoft’s nepotism controversy reignites debates around leadership culture. Netflix Games kicks off its Battle for the Living Room with a push into Smart TV party games, and early buzz around PlayStation 6 points to an AI-driven leap in graphics and efficienc…

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TWIG #352 EU Regulations, Epic Shops, and the AI Slop Machine Is this goof? 1:01:56

1M ago1:01:56

1:01:56

This week in games: Ilke’s open letter to the EU stirs the industry pot, AppLovin faces an SEC probe, and Epic drops its new Web Shops like it’s 2012 all over again. Ubisoft’s management drama continues, Istanbul’s gaming boom is no joke, and we wrap with a spicy take on the new wave of AI business slop. 00:00 Welcome 01:00 Intro & Shills 07:58 Ilk…

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307. How Balatro Became a 7-Million-Copy Indie Hit | Harvey Elliott, CEO of Playstack 1:14:22

1M ago1:14:22

1:14:22

A one-person poker roguelike sold seven million copies and outperformed studios with hundred-million-dollar budgets. In this episode, Playstack CEO Harvey Elliott joins Michail Katkoff to break down how they discovered Balatro, what makes a modern indie publisher truly valuable, and why the next wave of hits will come from focus—not funding. 02:07 …

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TWIG #351 EA Acquisition Analysis That Will Shock You 1:00:25

1M ago1:00:25

1:00:25

A new guest host, Josh Chandley, is stepping into the arena as we dig into Microsoft’s latest controversial moves and what they signal for the company’s long-term gaming strategy. Then, we unpack the historic $55B acquisition of EA by Saudi Arabia, the largest leveraged buyout in gaming history. What does this mean for EA, for the industry, and for…

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TWIG #350 Supercell Leaks! Staff Reveal What’s Really Happening 1:03:32

2M ago1:03:32

1:03:32

No Jen this week — just the boys. Phil loses it on Supercell and Google Play, we wade into the “brain rot” panic, and Simon Hay somehow still gets a shoutout. From Newzoo’s latest report to Supercell’s IPO pipe dreams, Discord going offline, Xbox hiking prices, and Epic trying to AI their way out of irrelevance…Chapters00:00 Introduction00:27 Jen's…

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306. Are We at Peak Gaming? Seven Questions Shaping the Future of Games with Newzoo's Emmanuel Rosier 1:09:42

2M ago1:09:42

1:09:42

Mobile gaming is slowing down, and the question isn’t if, but who still wins. www.newzoo.com/resources/trend-reports/newzoo-global-games-market-report-2025 In this conversation, Michail Katkoff and Emmanuel Rosier from Newzoo break down Newzoo’s latest forecast, projecting the industry to hit $103B in 2025 with growth slipping below 3%. The duo exp…

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TWIG #349 The Conspiracy Behind Apple's New Gaming App and a Plea to Supercell 1:02:14

2M ago1:02:14

1:02:14

The TWIG crew dives into Unity’s latest missteps and what they signal for the future of game development, breaks down Discord’s push toward a blockbuster IPO, and unpacks how Nintendo’s big announcements could reshape the company’s next chapter. We also examine TikTok’s potential U.S. acquisition, Apple’s quiet but bold moves to redefine its gaming…

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305. Why Adding Brands to Games Is So Hard with Bastian Bergmann 1:02:34

2M ago1:02:34

1:02:34

What really happens when brands collide with games? Mishka Katkoff sits down with Bastian Bergmann, COO of Solsten, to break down why gaming is the most transformative medium of our time, how consumer psychology shapes player engagement, and why authenticity in games runs circles around social media. 00:20 The Power of Reading and Writing 01:12 Vid…

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TWIG #348 Roblox’s Big Bet, Blizzard's Mobile Chaos & Destiny Rising’s Flop 1:04:44

2M ago1:04:44

1:04:44

From Roblox’s RDC bombshells to Destiny Rising’s flop, this week’s DoF crew breaks down the biggest shifts in gaming. We get into NetEase’s bets, China’s growing power, and why analytics from Newzoo’s 2025 report matter more than ever. Plus: Blizzard’s messy leadership shakeups, Roblox’s new monetization tricks, Xbox’s subscription struggles, and t…

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Inside RDC 2025: How Roblox Is Courting Pro Developer 56:04

2M ago56:04

56:04

Jen Donahoe is joined by Joe Ferencz (GameFam) and Stephen Dypiangco (Max Power Gaming) to break down the biggest takeaways from Roblox Developer Conference (RDC) 2025. The crew digs into Roblox’s massive milestone of 112M DAUs, the 8.5% bump in the developer exchange rate to lure in more professional talent, and the new “ad flywheel” that streamli…

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304. The Founder’s Dilemma: Equity vs. User Acquisition Financing 1:13:59

2M ago1:13:59

1:13:59

Mishka Katkoff sits down with Pranav Singhvi (General Catalyst, Customer Value Fund) and Joe Wadakethalakal (PVX Partners) to unpack the rise of UA financing, a new capital instrument that lets gaming and app companies scale user acquisition without giving up massive chunks of equity. We break down: 1. Why traditional VC or debt financing is often …

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TWIG #347 Call of Duty Movie, De-Monetization of Real-Money Gaming and Google's New Court Case 1:07:52

2M ago1:07:52

1:07:52

This week, we cover Google’s latest courtroom headaches, the evolution of KPIs in gaming analytics, and the incoming Call of Duty live-action movie. We unpack Rec Room’s layoffs, compare Roblox vs Rec Room head-to-head, and dig into Microsoft’s IP bets from Perfect Dark to Halo. Plus, we debate Star Wars: The Old Republic, break down Roblox’s lates…

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303. Why Scandinavia Makes You So Happy? And Why We Chose To Leave. 1:13:52

2M ago1:13:52

1:13:52

Phillip Black and Michail Katkoff break down why they left the Nordics, trading modesty-maxxing for Mediterranean chaos and a bit more sun. The two dive into the quiet conservatism baked into Scandinavian life, the erosion of hunger that comes with too much comfort, and the calculus behind moving to Cyprus and Greece. 00:00 The Conservative Psyop o…

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TWIG #346: EU Wants to Ban Free-to-Play, Supercell Introduces a New Boss 1:05:41

2M ago1:05:41

1:05:41

TWIG crew dives into Gamescom chaos, funding trends, and post-Ibiza IV drips. From Supercell’s leadership addition, to IP-powered collabs (Raid x TMNT) and the EU’s regulatory squeeze on F2P, this episode cuts through the noise with sharp insights, hard takes, and a few too-real laughs. 02:07 Gamescom Highlights and Industry News 02:50 PlayStation …

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302. Call of Duty vs Battlefield: Ex-DICE, Bungie & Activision Experts Unpack It All 1:24:02

2M ago1:24:02

1:24:02

This one’s for the shooter heads. Host Phil Black (ex-DICE) is joined by Chris Sides (ex-Bungie) and longtime strategist Chris Anjos (ex-Activision) to dig into the decade-long arms race between Battlefield and Call of Duty. The muzzles are off. Chapters: 02:01 Meet the Experts 03:54 Historical Context: Battlefield and Call of Duty Sales 13:04 Batt…

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301. Duolingo, Tinder, DraftKings: How Top Apps Have Been Gamified 59:06

3M ago59:06

59:06

We dive into Duolingo’s ruthless gamification, how BeReal is evolving beyond its viral gimmick, why Tinder is betting big on live events, the surprising social features inside DraftKings, and the stickiness of Crypto.com’s engagement loops. Each case study is a window into how apps are blurring the line between entertainment, habit, and monetizatio…

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TWIG #345 Clash Royale’s BIG Comeback and LEGO’s Digital Gamble 1:05:31

3M ago1:05:31

1:05:31

This week on TWIG, the crew covers everything from corn in Minecraft to streak psychology in the New York Times’ latest game, Pips. We kick things off with Gamescom highlights, fresh updates from Ethan and Laura. From there, we dig into why streaks are such a powerful mechanic. We also debate Supercell’s unexpected Clash Royale comeback, before wra…

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300. First-Ever Interview with Head of LEGO Digital Play – Aaron Loeb 1:03:24

3M ago1:03:24

1:03:24

Why is LEGO doubling down on digital? In his first-ever interview as the founding president of LEGO Digital Play, industry veteran Aaron Loeb (Electronic Arts, FoxNext, Kabam) reveals the bold vision behind LEGO’s new company. From “forever games” like Roblox and Minecraft to building trust with kids and families, Aaron breaks down why now is the r…

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TWIG #344 Battlefield’s Big Comeback, AppLovin’s Record Quarter and Moon Active’s New Games 1:02:43

3M ago1:02:43

1:02:43

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 ga…

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299. The Hiring Shift No One’s Talking About with an Executive Headhunter, Miklos Blasko 1:15:05

3M ago1:15:05

1:15:05

Full-time execs are out, and fractional leaders are in? In today’s episode, we break down the growing trend of founders building companies like modular tech stacks, swapping in CMOs, Product leads, and other execs *only* when they’re needed. But here’s the catch: done right, fractional hires can supercharge growth. Done wrong, they can kill momentu…

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TWIG #343: Match Villains' Monster Raise, the Sydney Sweeny Effect, and the Lost A of AAA 1:04:49

3M ago1:04:49

1:04:49

This week, the TWIG crew goes full galaxy brain. We kick things off with the real effects of celebrity cringe marketing. Then it’s onto the real news: Probably Monsters' search for $220M ROI, Match Villains' monster raise, Lilith's search for growth, and Roblox's unstoppable growth. 00:00 Introduction and Host Introductions 02:46 Episode Overview a…

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298. Segmentation Is Dead. Long Live Personalization! 51:35

3M ago51:35

51:35

In this episode, we unpack how today’s biggest mobile publishers are ditching segmentation in favor of experimentation at scale, what Apple’s privacy-first approach means to running LTV-focused live ops, and why personalization is no longer a “nice to have” but a competitive weapon. Who better to answer the questions than the founding team of Metic…

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TWIG #342 Scopely Meltdown, Crazy Anime Story and One SHOCKING Game Recipe 1:07:22

3M ago1:07:22

1:07:22

Hola! Greetings from Spain. Mishka here, tanned, confused by dinner hours, and tragically absent from today’s pod. But fear not, Eric questions the rise of private equity in games and reports back from an anime convention while giving Andrew Wilson a new mobile crown. Phil wants a recount on a couple of Scopley acquisitions, while Jen channels Kate…

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297. Mobile Marketing in 2025: What Still Works (and What’s Dead) 1:27:35

4M ago1:27:35

1:27:35

In this Deconstructor of Fun podcast, Mishka Katkoff sits down with three of the sharpest minds in growth: Josh Chandley (Wildcard Games), Warren Woodward (Uptick), and Paul Bowen (StreamElements) to dissect the state of user acquisition in 2025. STATE OF CREATIVES Report: https://tinyurl.com/393d9rum Chapters: 02:00 Is UA Dead or Just Evolved? 07:…

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TWIG #341 Ubisoft Tries “Succession” while Battlefield Attempts a Comeback 50:30

4M ago50:30

50:30

Miska’s usual jetset life hits a snag when he misses Kress’ Subnotica correction. Adam calls in from his cottage to lay down the law on Merge history, while Phil gushes over $500m in capital deployment. Eric details Ubisoft’s reality TV show attempt at Succession, and Jen delivers the 411 on Apple’s hypercasual attempt. The group pours one out for …

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296. From Crying Alone in Bangalore to Panic Attacks at Gamescom with Joseph Kim, CEO of LILA Games 1:18:16

4M ago1:18:16

1:18:16

From crying alone in Bangalore to panic attacks at Gamescom, this is a brutally real look at what it actually costs to chase a vision. Mishka Katkoff (Deconstructor of Fun) and Joseph Kim (Lila Games) reunite for the rawest, most honest founder-to-founder conversation you’ll hear this year. They dive deep into the sacrifices, suffering, and stress …

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TWIG #340 Scopely Goes to War, Roblox Gambles on IP and Turkey Rises 1:13:56

4M ago1:13:56

1:13:56

Upcoming events: Whiskey Tasting: https://event.appsflyer.com/gamescom2025/AF Heroic Party: https://lu.ma/tjkk5r8k The crew kicks things off by breaking down Roblox’s bold new IP licensing platform—will it unlock the next Pokémon or just spin up another corporate side quest? Then it’s off to Turkey for a pulse check on one of mobile gaming’s fastes…

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CLIP: Secrets Behind Monopoly Go’s Record-Breaking Launch with Ben Webley, CMO of Scopely 10:35

4M ago10:35

10:35

At MAU Vegas, Jen Donahoe sits down with Ben Webley, CMO of Scopely, to unpack the strategies behind Monopoly GO!’s meteoric rise. From player psychology to brand IP, virality loops to UA muscle—this conversation breaks down what really drove the biggest mobile game launch of the decade. If you’re in gaming and not taking notes on this one, you’re …

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295. Pakistan’s Unexpected Rise in Gaming with Saad Hameed, CEO of Game District 1:04:43

4M ago1:04:43

1:04:43

Game District CEO Saad Hameed joins Michail Katkoff to tell the untold story of Pakistan’s booming gaming industry. From bootstrapped studios to billion-download success, we dive into the rise of Lahore as a serious global player, why Pakistan could be the next Turkey or Vietnam, and what’s holding the ecosystem back from its breakout moment. This …

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TWIG #339 Merge Games, Gen Z Spending Patterns, and the Shift inside Studio Cultures 53:58

4M ago53:58

53:58

We kick things off with a no-holds-barred Supercell rant before diving into the hottest industry stories—from Xbox Game Pass profitability to Apple’s latest regulatory headache in the EU. We break down Supercell’s shifting strategy, IPO rumors, and what it all signals for the wider market. The crew also explores Gen Z’s changing spending habits, mo…

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294. Product Managing Game Studio Culture with Seth Sivak (ex-World of Warcraft Boston Studio Head) 1:16:14

4M ago1:16:14

1:16:14

Mishka Katkoff interviews Seth Sivak as they discuss startup culture, leadership, company values, product market fit, cultural onboarding, adaptive culture, game industry, entrepreneurship, team dynamics, and management. They discuss the importance of company culture, how it can be shaped and influenced, and the challenges of maintaining a healthy …