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How Web3, Telegram and AI Are Rewiring Gaming Growth | S5 E54
Manage episode 524882831 series 3345247
Players were trading digital loot under trees in MMOs (Massively Multiplayer Online games) long before NFTs existed. That single image sets the tone for this conversation with Rudy Koch, cofounder of Mythical Games and veteran of Call of Duty and World of Warcraft, as we unpack what truly drives Web3 gaming forward: behavior, not buzzwords. We talk about how blockchain formalizes a desire that’s been in games for decades and why the path to mass adoption starts with joy, fairness, and social connection, not a chain logo.
We dig into the hardest problems builders face right now: user acquisition, player liquidity, and the messaging split between crypto diehards and the mainstream. Rudy explains why “market the fun, not the tech” is more than a slogan, and how platforms with built-in audiences change the calculus. Telegram emerges as the surprise winner, offering scale, a growing dev ecosystem, and browser-native access that lets teams ship fast, learn faster, and avoid million-dollar dead ends. We connect that trend to what’s already proven in Asia with chat-first game ecosystems, and why Reddit, X, and WhatsApp are poised to become the next distribution rails.
AI shows up as leverage on two fronts. Inside the studio, it compresses content pipelines and boosts prototyping speed for small teams. Inside the game, it acts like a tireless live ops producer, learning what each player loves and crafting hyper-personalized events, challenges, and offers that keep sessions fresh without relying on brute-force grind. The result is a practical playbook: pick platforms that grant liquidity, translate technology into clear player benefits, build community roles that matter, and iterate toward an experience that solves a real need.
If this conversation helped you see the space with fresh eyes, follow the show, share it with a friend who loves games, and leave a quick five-star review so more builders can find it.
This episode was recorded through a Descript call on November 20, 2025. Read the blog article and show notes here: https://webdrie.net/how-web3-telegram-and-ai-are-rewiring-gaming-growth
..........................................................................
📘 Read The Future CMO: Amazon
👥 Join the Future CMO Community
🌿 Explore Sintra Synergies Retreat
💼 Connect on LinkedIn
..........................................................................
Chapters
1. Guest Intro & Career Highlights (00:00:00)
2. Gray Markets And Digital Ownership (00:01:36)
3. Tech Vs Experience: The Adoption Lesson (00:04:18)
4. Community Building Across Web2 And Web3 (00:08:56)
5. UA, Player Liquidity, And Platform Reach (00:12:59)
6. Why Telegram Became The Surprise Platform (00:17:58)
7. Social Platforms And Browser-Native Games (00:22:04)
8. AI For Production And Hyper-Personalization (00:25:40)
9. Advice To Founders: Solve Real Needs (00:29:02)
10. Closing, Contacts, And Listener CTA (00:30:50)
276 episodes
Manage episode 524882831 series 3345247
Players were trading digital loot under trees in MMOs (Massively Multiplayer Online games) long before NFTs existed. That single image sets the tone for this conversation with Rudy Koch, cofounder of Mythical Games and veteran of Call of Duty and World of Warcraft, as we unpack what truly drives Web3 gaming forward: behavior, not buzzwords. We talk about how blockchain formalizes a desire that’s been in games for decades and why the path to mass adoption starts with joy, fairness, and social connection, not a chain logo.
We dig into the hardest problems builders face right now: user acquisition, player liquidity, and the messaging split between crypto diehards and the mainstream. Rudy explains why “market the fun, not the tech” is more than a slogan, and how platforms with built-in audiences change the calculus. Telegram emerges as the surprise winner, offering scale, a growing dev ecosystem, and browser-native access that lets teams ship fast, learn faster, and avoid million-dollar dead ends. We connect that trend to what’s already proven in Asia with chat-first game ecosystems, and why Reddit, X, and WhatsApp are poised to become the next distribution rails.
AI shows up as leverage on two fronts. Inside the studio, it compresses content pipelines and boosts prototyping speed for small teams. Inside the game, it acts like a tireless live ops producer, learning what each player loves and crafting hyper-personalized events, challenges, and offers that keep sessions fresh without relying on brute-force grind. The result is a practical playbook: pick platforms that grant liquidity, translate technology into clear player benefits, build community roles that matter, and iterate toward an experience that solves a real need.
If this conversation helped you see the space with fresh eyes, follow the show, share it with a friend who loves games, and leave a quick five-star review so more builders can find it.
This episode was recorded through a Descript call on November 20, 2025. Read the blog article and show notes here: https://webdrie.net/how-web3-telegram-and-ai-are-rewiring-gaming-growth
..........................................................................
📘 Read The Future CMO: Amazon
👥 Join the Future CMO Community
🌿 Explore Sintra Synergies Retreat
💼 Connect on LinkedIn
..........................................................................
Chapters
1. Guest Intro & Career Highlights (00:00:00)
2. Gray Markets And Digital Ownership (00:01:36)
3. Tech Vs Experience: The Adoption Lesson (00:04:18)
4. Community Building Across Web2 And Web3 (00:08:56)
5. UA, Player Liquidity, And Platform Reach (00:12:59)
6. Why Telegram Became The Surprise Platform (00:17:58)
7. Social Platforms And Browser-Native Games (00:22:04)
8. AI For Production And Hyper-Personalization (00:25:40)
9. Advice To Founders: Solve Real Needs (00:29:02)
10. Closing, Contacts, And Listener CTA (00:30:50)
276 episodes
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