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

Craig Chapple, Daniel Griffiths, and Aaron Astle from the PocketGamer.biz team discuss the latest mobile games industry news from the past week.

We delve into Savvy Games Group's big MENA investments and partnerships, the closure of Finnish developer Lightneer, and how Pokémon Masters EX has quietly generated $335m+ in gross revenue. Craig also talks about the Godzilla movies a little bit too much.

** 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/

👉🏻 PocketGamer.biz MasterClass - https://www.pocketgamer.biz/announcing-the-pocketgamerbiz-masterclasses-summer-2024-programme/

👉🏻 PocketGamer.biz Mobile Games Industry Trends Survey - https://www.pocketgamer.biz/what-are-the-hottest-mobile-gaming-trends-right-now-let-us-know-in-our-2024-mobile-games-industry-survey/

**Articles**

👉🏻 Savvy Games Group strikes key deals to power MENA industry growth - https://www.pocketgamer.biz/savvy-games-group-strikes-key-deals-to-power-mena-industry-growth/ 👉🏻 It's lights out at Lightneer as the studio officially announces closure - https://www.pocketgamer.biz/its-lights-out-at-lightneer-as-the-studio-officially-announces-closure/ 👉🏻 Pokémon Masters EX turns five: Lessons from an IP and monetisation masterpiece - https://www.pocketgamer.biz/pokmon-masters-ex-turns-five-lessons-from-an-ip-and-monetisation-masterpiece/

Craig Chapple, Paige Cook and Aaron Astle from the PocketGamer.biz team discuss the latest mobile games industry news from the past week.

We delve into how Lilith Games builds billion-dollar mobile games, discuss the Humble Games layoffs and the confusing messaging about its restructure/closure, and Craig gets angry about the definition of downloads.

** 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 - https://www.mobilegamesawards.com

👉🏻 Pocket Gamer Party Cologne 2024 - https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/pocket-gamer-party-cologne-2024-tickets-927776854547

👉🏻 PocketGamer.biz MasterClass - https://www.pocketgamer.biz/announcing-the-pocketgamerbiz-masterclasses-summer-2024-programme/ 👉🏻 Inside mobile hitmaker Lilith Games - https://www.pocketgamer.biz/inside-mobile-hitmaker-lilith-games/

Creative is king, and Luis Leon is here to tell you how to deliver killer content on a budget. Peggy Anne Salz is on the ground in this episode with Luis, Head of Creative Business Development at Creadits, a production platform for performance marketers. Luis says Creadits is a "creative partner, not a creative agency." The company strategizes with studios, advising them on what is working now in gaming ads. Luis also shares a hack on how to do more with less while A/B testing.

CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS

00:00 - A creative partner, not a creative agency

01:08 - Doing more with less

02:55 - Creadit's best creative and the company's future with UGC

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

** 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

2023 is the year to perfect your live ops, and Leanplum is here to help. This mobile marketing platform simplifies multichannel campaigns to increase customer engagement and surpass revenue goals. Peggy Anne Salz linked up with Yeshas Nakshathri, Head of Partnerships at Leanplum, to discover how the platform helps renowned companies like Big Fish Games and MobilityWare exceed their expected revenue by 300% for a single live op event. Yeshas also shares how to integrate hyper-personalization and data feedback to reduce churn and bring back past users.

CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS

00:00- Leanplum reinventing live-ops

02:59 - Hyperpersonalization the right way

05:35 - What can the data tell you?

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

** 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 

We're going back to basics in this episode. This week we chatted with Thomas Jonasson, Head of Publishing at Gold Town Games, about how his small Sweedish studio perfects quality game design and development. Throughout the episode, Jonasson shares a psychology trick that helped boost the company’s live ops, resulting in a 20-70% game revenue lift; what developers can learn from e-commerce; and how to look deeper into trends to truly understand your customers' desires and what your studio can add to the conversation.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

** 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

Despite a market valuation of nearly two billion dollars worldwide, many people still view gaming as a pastime with little social or cultural value. Tiltify is here to change that belief. In this episode, we meet Tom Downie, UK Charity Manager of Tiltify, a livestream and digital fundraising platform, who says the games industry is actually a community-centric space bursting with people who do good. Tom explains that studios who have fundraised in the past are discouraged from hosting events often because of obstacles like navigating taxation and physically delivering the money to charities. With Tiltify, fundraising becomes a part of gameplay and sends cash to verified organizations in real-time. For example, developers can offer exclusive DLC whose profits go immediately to the charity of choice, giving them a chance to connect with their community and the greater corporate responsibility. With Tiltify, Tom says, “Suddenly, they’re not “gamers” or people addicted to their screens any more. They’re philanthropists, and they’re amazingly generous people in our community who get together to support something that we all care about.”

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

** 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

Our host Peggy Anne Salz is on the ground at PGC London 2023 again this episode, where she chats with two experts in live ops and trend analysis. First, we meet Alex Haley, Principal Games Operations Manager at Product Madness, one of the largest mobile game studios in the world. Alex shares a live ops crash course and the strategy that helped Product Madness host over 600 in-app events last year. Afterward, we ask Patty Toledo, the genius behind every Pocket Gamer event, for her advice on how to get in touch with trends and curate epic events. According to Patty, you have to go where the players are, and the most important people to talk to might not be the CEOs and VPs. Tune in to this episode to hear it all and peek into Peggy's dungeon.

CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS

00:00- Entering Peggy's dungeon...duh duh duh

01:42 - The foundations of a killer live op event

04:51 - Don't worry about creating a perfect campaign; just start one!

07:05 - You might not need that Christmas campaign

09:21 - Optimize your onboarding strategy

13:09 - The tools and structure to create a successful live ops team

17:23 -Pocket Gamer's rennaissance woman, Patty Toledo

20:16 - How Patty tracks and predicts trends

26:09 - Balance international trends and local interests

30:10 - Get in touch with the Pocket Gamer Podcast

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

** 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

Pocket Gamer Connects London 2023 was Steel Media’s biggest event yet, with over 2600 attendees and 1200 companies attending the leading mobile gaming industry conference. Our hosts, Peggy Anne Salz and Brian Baglow, recap “wow” moments from the show with the “PG Tribe” of Chris James (Steel Media CEO), Dave Bradley (COO), and Daniel Griffiths (PG.Biz Editor). This game-loving group also weighs in on hot topics and how AI can help indies take on major studios and win.

Peggy also welcomes a surprise (and furry) co-host and chats with Daniel Helmhold, VP of Marketing and Head of Growth at Big Fish Games, an industry leader in casual mobile gaming. Daniel is a big believer that branding starts on Day One and shares what you can do now to avoid expensive changes later. He also reveals the equation you can use to measure brand value and impact on LTV.

In a fast-paced and wide-ranging discussion, co-hosts Brian Baglow and Peggy Anne Salz speak to the companies which are helping developers offer a flawless user experience from start to finish, with a focus on keeping players happy (and playing the game).

Brian is joined by Eric Vermillion, the CEO of Helpshift, Peter Gerson, a Senior Manager with Keyword Studios, KatanaAI’s Technology and Sales Director Dominick Kelly and Oz Syed, a Game Development Evangelist from Backtrace.

This crack team explores how to do more with less, exploring the ways in which technology and automation can bring speed and efficiency to areas such as player support, localisation, quality assurance (QA) and more.

As the role of artificial intelligence in game development and publishing becomes an ever more contentious topic, we dive into the reality of AI and machine learning in the player journey, looking for examples, case studies and best practice to help every studio without breaking the bank.

** 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

Want a winning formula to pick your winning ad creative and streamline your A/B testing? In this episode of the PocketGamer Podcast, our hosts Brian Baglow and Peggy Anne Salz chat with Trailmix’s Senior UA Manager Philippa Layburn on how she is changing the ads playbook with constant creatives analysis. Part of her secret: think outside the box and measure success using a metric blend that makes sense for their game. This episode isn’t one you want to miss as Philippa details hook rates (her new metric, by the way) and how she hacked Google Ads using UGC.

00:00 - The PGB Podcast Mini Class

03:51 - Introducing Phillipa

06:11 - Your narrative should go beyond written words

07:29 - Influencing ad spends with good creative

11:36 - Hook rate: the key to understanding why your ad works

16:20 - Phillipa “called out” her gameplayers…and it worked

18:11 - Cultivate a team mindset of iterating to reduce CPI

23:55 - Your ads need to include real gameplay

25:14 - Don’t be afraid to break the playbook

28:23 - Peggy and Brian’s wrap-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 

Building and maintaining a great game doesn't require a big budget. Take it from Larry Hsieh, Principal Product Manager at MobilityWare. In this episode, Larry joins our partners in crime, Peggy Anne Salz and Brian Baglow, to share his tips and tricks on engaging and retaining users through customized events and live ops. By capitalizing on Santa, building scalable tools, and designing a flexible system with multiple variables, anyone can create a game on par with those from the top 50 developers.

00:00 - A new pair on the PG Biz Podcast

04:39 - Introducing Larry Hsieh: Lover of Live Ops

09:03 - Solitaire meets Monopoly in a strategic partnership for ultimate gameplay

12:33 - Attracting and retaining users with push notifications, segmentation, and flexible targeting

18:39 - Santa's "Naughty or Nice" list as a case study in event customization

23:07 - Personalizing customer touch points and in-app messaging with Leanplum

25:03 - Reduce, reuse, reimagine: a mantra for indie studio success

27:32 - "Use your engineers to build scalable tools"

29:59 - What's in store for the PG Biz Podcast in 2023?

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *  

** 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

The global games market is becoming ever more competitive, with increasing numbers of developers, publishers, and games all vying for attention.

In such challenging market conditions, how can game creators make sure that their hard work and creativity is supported by a robust launch strategy? To answer this question and more, the PocketGamer.biz team spoke with Jen Lui, Senior Product Manager at Google, who leads Google’s advertising solutions for games.

“What’s the saying - you only get one chance to make a first impression?” Lui said. “The same can be said for mobile game launches, particularly today. With mobile phones, everyone’s a gamer, pretty much anyone can play any game anywhere, and switching costs are pretty low - if you don’t like one game, you can move onto the next one just like that.

“Because you only get that one chance, it’s critical to have a strong launch strategy to set up your game for success and get a headstart towards driving installs and revenue within the first week or month after game launch.”

Google is on the case, with a whole range of solutions for studios - at every stage of development, to maximise the return on their investment and ensure their game has the best chance to make that vital first impression.

Tune in now to learn how your next game could benefit.

Craig Chapple, Paige Cook and Aaron Astle from the PocketGamer.biz team discuss the latest mobile games industry news from the past week.

We cover the news that Monopoly GO! is now its own board game... plus discuss the future of B2B games media and the closure of Axis Studios - the team behind that famous Dead Island trailer.

** 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 - https://www.mobilegamesawards.com

👉🏻 Pocket Gamer Party Cologne 2024 - https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/pocket-gamer-party-cologne-2024-tickets-927776854547

👉🏻 PocketGamer.biz MasterClass - https://www.pocketgamer.biz/announcing-the-pocketgamerbiz-masterclasses-summer-2024-programme/ 👉🏻 Story Mode Podcast - Tips on how to use game PR to drive success from Craig Chapple from PocketGamer.biz - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMhCLqXMzbk

The PocketGamer.biz podcast is back with a bang - with a whole new team on board for the journey! We welcome on board two of the new PG.biz editorial team, in the shape of Iwan and Lewis, who join Brian to talk about their experience so far in the world of mobile games. As former console and PC gamers, how are the team finding the world of hybrid monetisation, alternative app stores and hypercasual hits?

Brian then speaks with Nick Button-Brown. Investor, advisor, board member, executive - Nick has been part of the mobile games world from the outset, working with studios, publishers and organisations across the games ecosystem.

From tools and technology to emerging trends, Brian and Nick drill down into the challenges and opportunities facing game creators, publishers - and players - as the sector continues to evolve. As the global games market breaks the $200 billion mark in 2022, where do we go from here? Tune in and find out…

Follow Nick Button-Brown on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickbuttonbrown/

And Twitter: https://twitter.com/nickbuttonbrown

The Games Angels website: https://thegamesangels.com/

Remember to subscribe to the PocketGamer.biz newsletter for daily summarises of the latest mobile gaming news.

Welcome back, podcast pals. Our deep dive into development continues in this episode as we talk to the entirely excellent Riley Andersen, the CEO of Umami Games.

Umami is an indie development studio in Copenhagen in Denmark, which has established an enviable reputation in the hypercasual market. The creator of hits such as ABC Runner, Umami describes itself as a ‘metrics-driven’ studio which values innovation and fun. Find out more at its LinkedIn and Twitter pages.

Our host Brian (managing editor of PocketGamer.biz) speaks to Riley about the studio’s formation and the challenges of working in such a challenging environment as hypercasual. The interview takes in Riley’s passion for games, the studio’s ambition in other genres and the realities of a studio operating at the cutting edge of mobile games.

Riley has spoken several times at our Pocket Gamer Connects conferences too. If you’ve been lucky enough to hear her, you’ll know she encapsulates a genuine love for making games, with deep insight into the market. 

In 2022, in hypercasual, is it enough to "make what you love" and hope for the best?

Listen, learn, love!

Umami Games - Online / LinkedIn / Twitter

What makes everlasting hypercasual experiences - PG.biz

The common missteps of an indie hypercasual studio - PG.biz

In this episode of the PG.biz podcast, we explore the reality of building and running a mobile games studio with the wholly awesome Jackie Jin. Jackie is the founder and CEO of Squid Games, a casual games studio based in the Bay area.

From design and development to monetisation and recruitment, Jackie and Brian discuss the challenges and opportunities for the studio and developers worldwide.

In a market which is evolving and changing so rapidly, how can a small games studio compete? Does company culture play a role? In 2022 can a developer afford to focus on design and development, or does every studio need to engage with monetisation, lifetime value and user acquisition?

Back in the first episode of season two, we went big, speaking to Greg Hartrell, the head of Android and Google Play at Google, which claims over three billion players around the world. In this episode, we’re focusing on the journey of a new games studio, working on its first title and exploring the challenges and opportunities facing game creators working on their first title. Enjoy.

Welcome to season two of the PocketGamer.biz podcast, your porthole into the ever-growing world of mobile games.

Things move pretty quickly in mobile. From the explosive growth of hypercasual to the deep monetisation of more traditional role-playing games, the sheer scale of the market means there's something out there for everyone, whether they're using a $20 Android or a $1,000 iPhone. 

And today we're back with a new podcast season! This time around we'll be bringing you even more insight and updates from the people and organisations across the whole mobile ecosystem. From the pioneers and founders to the creators and makers, we'll be talking to the folk who are redefining fun, games and everything beyond. This is the place where you can listen to - and learn from - people who are engaged in making the mobile scene so incredibly exciting.

In this episode, we start at the very top. We speak to Greg Hartrell, the product director of Android and Google Play. As the person responsible for making games available to over three billion gamers around the world, Greg has a lot to say about the state of the mobile market. From what drives players, through to the opportunities for ever more cross-platform gaming, it's incredible insight from the company which is opening up gaming to the next billion gamers in the world. 

Plus, the PocketGamer.biz editorial team discuss the state of mobile gaming in 2022 and ask if we're anywhere near 'peak gaming'.

We're glad to be back. We look forward to exploring more fascinating and fun areas of mobile gaming and hope you can join us for the journey. 

Listen in. 

Hello world! Welcome to episode six of the PocketGamer.biz Podcast, your regular round-up of the world of mobile gaming.

In this episode, we have a world exclusive chat with the ‘supergroup’ studio Original Games. Founded by veterans and executives from Machine Zone and Rovio, the developer has just raised a significant amount of money and plans to take their merge game mechanic into the big time. Listen in to find out more and hear from co-founders Ville Heijariand and Arseny Lebedev. (11m:45s)

The team also dive into the recent news, with a focus on funding and finance. According to Drake Star partners, the amount of investment in 2021 to date is already double that from the whole of 2020, with 844 individual deals identified, with a total value exceeding $71 billion. The PG team explores where this is taking us… (01m:37s)

Useful links:

• https://originalgames.io/
• https://www.pocketgamer.biz/asia/news/77206/mobile-premier-league-raises-150-million/
• https://www.pocketgamer.biz/news/77342/homa-games-raises-50-million/
• https://www.pocketgamer.biz/news/77333/mygames-venture-capital-invests-tworogue-wideview/
• https://www.pocketgamer.biz/asia/news/77337/nazara-raises-42-million-to-fund-growth-initiatives-and-acquisitions/
• https://www.pocketgamer.biz/news/77335/bitkraft-ventures-75-million-fund-blockchain-gaming/
• https://www.pocketgamer.biz/news/77308/original-games-6-million-seed-funding/
• https://www.pocketgamer.biz/news/77328/zynga-closes-starlark-acquisition/
• https://www.pocketgamer.biz/news/77327/applovin-buys-mopub-from-twitter-1-billion/

We also run down the forthcoming events, conferences, pitches, parties and rap battles coming from the team at Steel Media. (36m:27s)

With thanks again to Ville, Arseny and the Original Games team. Do check out Merge Inn on your devices of choice.

We hope you’re enjoying the podcast. If you are, please let us know. You can drop us an email directly to: podcast@pocketgamer.biz or leave a comment on Twitter where we are @PGBiz. 

If you can leave a comment and a review for the podcast on whatever platform you’re listening to, we would truly appreciate it. It’s a fast, simple way to help us get the word out to a wider audience and helps us make the podcast better, faster, shiner and ever more fabulous.

Thanks again for listening.

Welcome to episode five of the PocketGamer.biz podcast. This is our regular roundup of the global mobile games market, and deep dive into the issues that matter to you, whatever your role and wherever you are.

In this episode we’re talking about the current key trends in the games market. Apple, Epic, China. Lawsuits, launches and limitations. Is the app store opening up? Are restrictions on gaming in China going to profoundly impact the country’s developers and publishers. And what about esports? The PocketGamer team ponders. We also welcome a new sister site to the PG.biz family, with the launch of Beyond Games. What does the future hold? You can find out here.

(02m:30s)

Our special guest interview for this episode is the amazing Imran Khan, the sales lead for Facebook Audience Network in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. We’re talking about monetisation. Where it is, where we’re going and how game developers and publishers are going to be able to take advantage of the change and evolution occurring across the industry. Whether you’re an independent developer, a growing studio, or an experienced publisher, trust us, you are not going to want to hear more about the changes and trends that are changing the way your games make money.

From waterfall bidding to cloud gaming, hybrid monetisation and more, we dive into Facebook Audience Network’s new Future of Monetisation Report: http://fb.me/AMIO

(13m:30s)

We also run down the biggest events heading your way from Steel Media, from our flagship PocketGamer Connects Digital #8 (September 27th - October 1st) and our next Big Indie Pitch for PC & console developers (September 28th), we have brought together the brightest, best and most brilliant speakers, panellists from around the world. We combine that with all of the opportunities to meet, network and do business with the people important to you and your company.

Show Notes

• Apple, Epic Lawsuit judgement - the saga continues
• China imposes new restrictions Chinese youth respond
• Mobile Mavens Respond
• BeyondGames.biz launches
• Facebook Audience Network AMIO Report
• PocketGamer Connects Digital #8
• The Big Indie Pitch (PC & Console Edition)

We love recording the podcast and we hope you’re enjoying it too. If you are, please let us know. You can drop us an email directly to: podcast@pocketgamer.biz or leave a comment on Twitter where we are @PGBiz.

If you can leave a comment and a review for the podcast on whatever platform you’re listening to, we would truly appreciate it. It’s a fast, simple way to help us get the word out to a wider audience and ensure we’re bringing you the very best the global mobile market has to offer.

Thanks again for listening.

Welcome to the world of tomorrow! Yes on episode four of the world’s favourite PocketGamer.biz podcast - and that’s official - we’re looking at the future of mobile games.

In this show we’re talking about the current key trends in the games market. More mergers, more acquisitions, more money. New studios and new games hitting that incredible billion mark. Whether it’s in dollars, or downloads, that’s a LOT of games.
(02m:00s)

We cover the growing number of members in the Billions club. Whether it’s downloads or dollars, more and more companies across the mobile games market are pulling in some seriously big numbers.
(07m:25s)

We also mention music in the metaverse. With news of new tours, greater gigs and online album launches, are Fortnite and Roblox now the best place to catch the biggest acts and the new hot up-and-coming artists?
(10m:00s)

Our special guest in episode four is the astonishing, epic and riveting - in every sense of the word - Kelly Vero. Games industry veteran, media expert, futuregazer and self confessed creative badass, Kelly explores the past, present and future of the games industry.

We discuss the changing role of developers, the opportunities and challenges facing game creators. Streaming games, the metaverse and much, much more.
(13m:30s)

Whatever your role in games. Whether you’re a creator, a publisher, a producer or a player, you’re not going to want to miss this one.

We also run down the biggest events heading your way from Steel Media, from our Big Indie Pitch, to our next round table, exploring how to create the next big hypercasual hit.

Once again, we’ve done the heavy lifting for you. All the topics, all the talks, all the top tips and talent you could possibly need, piped directly into your ears for your comfort and convenience.

We hope you’re enjoying the podcast. If you are, please let us know. You can drop us an email directly to: podcast@pocketgamer.biz or leave a comment on Twitter where you can reach us @PGBiz.

And we always appreciate your reviews, ratings, likes, loves, shares, tweets and general enthusiasm for what we’re doing here.

Until next time - lots of love

The PG.biz team

Greetings and salutations, people. Welcome to episode three of the PocketGamer.biz podcast, the premier audio periodical for the global mobile games market.

In this episode, the PocketGamer.biz team discuss the winners of the recent Mobile Games Awards, the news that two major ‘media’ companies are moving into games, and the troubling news that one of the world’s largest games publishers still can’t treat all of its staff equally, fairly or respectfully.

(02:50)

Our guest in this episode of the podcast is Mark Ettle, the founder and managing director of Cobra, a game development studio based in Dundee, Scotland. Mark is a pioneer of mobile gaming and a veteran of the games sector, starting his career with the legendary DMA Design, the studio behind Lemmings, Hired Guns, Body Harvest and that car theft game everyone seems to like.

Mark discusses the studio’s pioneering work in the App Store, it’s approach to development and why Cobra has gone from a mobile only, to a mobile first studio.

We round up with all of the forthcoming events, from the Steel Media network, including LaunchPad, the Big Indie Pitch, and the first sighting of the ever epic Pocket Gamer Connects Digital (#8 fact fans).

(33:00)

Show Notes

• Mobile Games Awards
• Netflix and Zoom move into games
• Activision Blizzard faces lawsuit and strike action as over 3,000 staff complain about discrimination and harrassment.
• Special guest: interview with Cobra Mobile’s Mark Ettle
• Pocket Gamer Launchpad (12-13/08/2021)
• The Big Indie Pitch (26/08/2021)
• Pocket Gamer Connects Digital #8 (27/09 - 01/10/2021)

Sit back, relax, prepare to be fascinated.

As always, we’d love to hear your feedback, thoughts and ideas. Email us: podcast@pocketgamer.biz or get in touch via our @PGBiz handle on Twitter. 

If you’re enjoying the podcast, do please leave us a review or rating. We’d appreciate it.

Until next time - Listen, love, learn.

The PG.biz team

Welcome back. Yes, it’s the second episode of the still new, but already legendary PocketGamer.biz podcast, which has already been rated one of the top 50 mobile games podcasts, by the editorial team of Pocketgamer.biz.

In this episode Brian and Jon discuss the growing value of funding deals within the global games market, the ongoing phenomenon which is Pokemon Go and the world’s top 50 mobile game creators (since we’ve just opened applications).

(02m 25s)

Following on from the epic insight of episode one. Our difficult second album ramps up the awesome with our special guest, Ella Romanos, the co-founder and CEO of Live Ops expert Fundamentally Games. Ella shares her work in the games sector, and discusses the ongoing evolution of live games, the way they differ from mere ‘online’ games and where the sector may be heading next.

(10m 00s)

We also cover the incredible range of online events coming up from the Steel Media team, including pocket Gamer Connects Digital #7, the Big Indie Pitch and the Mobile Games Awards 2021, because we care and you feel that.

In short, it’s the perfect way to learn more about the wonder of mobile gaming, while keeping your hands free for other important tasks.

As always, we’d love to hear your feedback, thoughts and ideas. Email is at: podcast@pocketgamer.biz or get in touch via our @PGBiz handle on Twitter. Or, if you’re enjoying the podcast, leave us a review or rating.

Until next time.

The PG.biz team

Hello and welcome to the first PocketGamer.biz podcast. This is a regular new feature from the PocketGamer.biz editorial team, which will provide insight into the rapidly evolving world of mobile games. 

Join Jon Jordan, Matthew Forde and Brian Baglow as they tap into their industry contacts to bring you the innovators, the pioneers, the creators, the founders and the business leaders who are shaping the global mobile market, and lifting the lid on the topics that matter most.

To kick off this week’s show, the team looks at some of the key stories we’re seeing in our news feeds (03:25m): 

• The acquisition of Golf Clash developer Playdemic by games giant EA - could golf finally topple football from the hearts and minds of the global gaming public? (spoiler: no).
• In-game advertising - can we finally wave goodbye to the intrusive interstitial video ad? (spoiler: meh)
• Hypercasual game jams - There are millions of dollars on offer to developers for new ideas, is this the mark of a mature market, or is the sector already running out of steam (no spoiler: you’ll have to listen in to find out)

The first-ever podcast guest is the excellent Martin Macmillan from Pollen VC, who explores the world of funding and finance - but not as you know it. Despite the company name, Pollen VC is not a venture capital fund, but a finance company of a different kind. Martin talks to Brian about funding and finance in game development, what it takes to support a successful title, and why equity funding isn’t always the answer. We also highlight new research which suggests that game developers need to think very carefully about their role in the industry, if they ever anticipate an ‘exit’.

We’d love to hear your thoughts and feedback. You can email us: podcast@steelmedia.co.uk, or like and leave comments on Twitter: https://twitter.com/pgbiz

If you enjoy the podcast a rating or review is always welcome. Thanks for tuning in.

For smaller studios, building long-term relationships with ad networks is crucial. This means asking the right questions, leveraging the right data, and utilising all available resources effectively. Sergey Sukhov, Chief Business Development Officer at AdQuantum—a performance marketing agency that offers unique support to smaller game studios on top of traditional UA services—offers his advice for nailing all three in this episode. Alongside our hosts, Peggy Anne Salz and Brian Baglow, Sergey shares exactly what studios should bring to the negotiating table and how to obtain the right data from ad partners to know for certain whether to keep or kill your game. What's more, he breaks down Ad Quantum's bespoke solutions tailored to studios of all sizes and the creative format that outperforms all others.

CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS

00:00 - Intro

02:17 - What does AdQuantum do?

04:35 - Tactics and questions for smaller studios

10:20 - Studios biggest challenges

12:15 - Navigating negotiations

15:20 - Building relationships with ad networks

20:35 - Get creative about creatives

24:15 - Formats that perform well

26:08 - AI for measurement

28:28 - Metrics that matter

30:00 - Emerging trends

32:20 - 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, Daniel Griffiths and Paige Cook from the PocketGamer.biz team discuss the latest mobile games industry news from the past week.

We cover the big takeaways from the Develop: Brighton conference with advice on how studios can survive to 2025, and ask whether web3 gaming is still all talk.

** 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 Mobile Games Awards - https://www.mobilegamesawards.com

👉🏻 Pocket Gamer Party Cologne 2024 - https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/pocket-gamer-party-cologne-2024-tickets-927776854547

👉🏻 PocketGamer.biz MasterClass - https://www.pocketgamer.biz/announcing-the-pocketgamerbiz-masterclasses-summer-2024-programme/

Whether it’s webshops, alternative app stores or multiplatform, the race to find more ways to get your game in front of more users is real—and so is the competitive edge you achieve if the channels you choose put the player experience first. In this episode, we zoom in on InMobi Group’s Nostra, a platform revolutionising game publishing and development in Southeast Asia and India by creating snackable, instant gaming experiences—all on your phone’s lock screen. It’s a unique offering and a crowd-pleaser, according to the numbers. Nostra, powered by the Glance, dominates the region, boasting a roster of 500+ games and 100M+ monthly active users. Deepak Venkatramani, Vice President of Business & Operations at Glance, steps onto the show this week to tell Peggy and Brian how Nostra offers any game access to players anywhere in the world, allowing them to scale fast and win big. Felicity, a studio that gained 1M+ MAUs with a three-person team, shares its success story with Nostra. Felicity Founder and CEO Anurag Choudhary joins the episode to share how Nostra’s rapid feedback features and fee-free access to players across the globe literally change the game for his studio and hundreds more across the globe. 

CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS

00:00 - Intro

03:55 - What is Nostra?

08:00 - How lock screen gaming increases engagement

10:00 - Nostra scaling games

14:15 - Rapid feedback affecting process

18:00 - Impact on developer ecosystem

22:20 - What makes Nostra different?

25:24 - Going global  

28:50 - Expanding the pie

33:24 - Advice for smaller studios

35:00 - 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, Daniel Griffiths, Paige Cook and Aaron Astle from the PocketGamer.biz team discuss the latest mobile games industry news from the past week.

We cover Squad Busters' first month revenue data and ask whether it's a success or failure, review June 2024's top games and publishers, and get industry opinion on those sexist ads.

** 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 Mobile Games Awards - https://www.mobilegamesawards.com

👉🏻 Pocket Gamer Party Cologne 2024 - https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/pocket-gamer-party-cologne-2024-tickets-927776854547

Monster IP may require a monster budget, but smaller studios can still tap into cultural trends to perform well in the app stores—provided they know the right questions to ask and licensors to pitch. Enric Pedró, SVP of Marketing at Tilting Point, gives us all the answers about IP ahead of his studio's upcoming release, Godzilla vs. Kong: Titan Chasers. From overlooked sources of IP to the tools you need to start integrating product placement in your games, Enric reveals everything studios need to consider when launching a game with intellectual property. Whether you’re an indie developer looking to make a splash or a seasoned pro looking for fresh strategies, this episode is packed with actionable insights to level up your studio and leverage IP in your mobile games.

CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS

00:00 - Intro

01:28 - How Enric got into games

03:49 - Working with monster IP

05 - Smaller studios can leverage IP

10:31 - Value of IP

16:02 - Overlooked sources of IP 

22:18 - What do you need to start?

28:55 - How to talk to licensors

33:26 - Product placement

36:09 - Keeping your team on track

45:30 - 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. We cover the news that Apple faces huge fines in the European Union for its App Store practices, Supercell's latest game Project R.I.S.E, and Square Enix's backtracking on its AI investments.

** 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 Mobile Games Awards - https://www.mobilegamesawards.com

It used to be that big wins demanded deep pockets. Now, achieving success on a shoestring budget isn’t the exception but the rule. It all comes down to one question: how much are you spending on your backend?

This week’s guest estimates that studios spend an average of $21 million and three years developing their own backend. With Metaplay, you can do it in two weeks. Peggy Anne Salz and Brian Baglow sit down with Teemu Haila, Co-Founder and CPO of Metaplay, to share how the brand scales smaller studios and saves them $1 million per year with one SDK.

Teemu dives into the tech, explaining how Metaplay’s solution offers the infrastructure to successfully scale live service Unity C# games, facilitates smooth real-time interactions, and ensures a safe and fair player experience by making your game 100% secure from cheaters and bots.

CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS

00:00 - Intro

01:20 - Teemu's journey into games

05:46 - Scales as a service 

08:30 - 4 pillars of scaling  

11:57 - Strategies for a larger player base

15:20 - How studios succeed during layoffs

19:46 - Building around live-ops 

28:40 - A flexible studio culture

31:20 - A live-or-die market

33:18 - Metaplay's growth blueprint

36:29 - Making cheating impossible

39:32 - Working with Metaplay

43:15 - 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, Daniel Griffiths and Aaron Astle from the PocketGamer.biz team discuss the latest mobile games industry news from the past week. We cover the news that the EU could be set to fine Apple for infringing Digital Markets Act regulations, and delve into the history of the mobile games industry and where things are are heading.

** 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 Mobile Games Awards - https://www.mobilegamesawards.com

Pixel United, known for its portfolio of popular F2P titles and millions of active players, has nailed the art of squeezing revenue from ads without squeezing the fun out of a game. On this week’s episode of the PocketGamer.biz Podcast, Kelly Kang, Senior Director of Ad Monetisation & Partnerships at Pixel United, joins host Peggy Anne Salz to share pages from her playbook and to shed light on what the role of an ad monetisation manager means in today’s games market. Kelly delves into her unexpected experiences in the role, the importance of collaborating with game developers, and which ad formats truly deliver value. She also explores why brands are slow to embrace in-game ads, the effectiveness of in-app header bidding, and what it takes to build a top-tier ad monetisation team.

CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS

00:00 - Intro

02:10 - The unexpected part of the job

07:12 - Convincing the game devs

10:45 - Which ad formats are worth the hype

13:43 - What's different about the offer wall? 

15:56 - Why are brands lagging behind?

18:52 - How to get in front of brands

23:20 - What the agencies want

27:06 - Experiences with CMPs

30:28 -What does ad-mon really do? 

34:50 - Is in-app bidding really better?

37:41 - What does it take to build a good ad-mon team?

41:10 - Favourite games Q&A 

43:00 - The mark ad-mon can leave on a studio

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 

** 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

A leaner team paves the way for a smarter UA strategy—a must-have for studios with a broad portfolio like Gazeus Games. Estela Dos Santos Rocha, Marketing Coordinator at Gazeus, tips her hand to share the savvier steps any marketer can take to make the most out of their tight-knit team, from attracting the awareness of attention whales to playing to the preferences of old and new users alike. After that, our host, Peggy Anne Salz, dives deep into growing and re-engaging mobile app consumers with Aman Sareen, CEO of Aarki. Aman breaks down the Aarki rebrand, reveals the metrics that really matter, and surprises us with his take on how many partners marketers should work with to move the needle on campaigns—and remain sane.

CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS

00:00 - Estela Intro

01:58 - Managing UA across a broad portfolio

05:30 - Attention whales

08:15 - What entices players?

09:18 - Estela in her own ads

10:30 - Making the most of a small team

12:48 - Appeasing new and old players

14:33 - What to pay attention to in A/B tests

16:55 - Small step, big career impact

19:25 - Maintaining motivation

21:10 - Aman Intro

22:20 - 3 pillars of the new Aarki

24:00 - More or less partners?

25:35 - What metrics matter?

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 

** 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, Daniel Griffiths and Aaron Astle from the PocketGamer.biz team discuss the latest mobile games industry news from the past week. We cover the news that Mike Verdu is no longer leading Netflix's games business, a campaign to stop sexist ads in user acquisition, and Apple's big WWDC announcements.

** 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 Mobile Games Awards - https://www.mobilegamesawards.com

Hybrid monetisation is in, and relying solely on either in-app purchases or ad-driven revenue to power profitability is out. There’s no question that modern monetisation is merging and morphing, so we called in a professional to help us navigate the trends we need to be watching through the rest of the year. Daniel Tchnernahovsky, VP of Global Business Development at AppLovin, sees the games world from a different perspective and shares it all with Peggy Anne Salz and Brian Baglow. One trend on the top of his radar is maximising your LTV by customising your game to player spending habits. “The truth is that patterns of behaviour are a result of design,” Daniel says. The solution: design your game for high retention by sending users to a version of your game that resonates with their preferences. It can be heavy lifting, but Daniel has a few workarounds. To get the lowdown on all of his top trends and no-BS advice, listen in to this episode.

CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS

00:00 - Intro

02:56 - The growing approach of hybrid monetisation

09:50 - Response from developers on hybrid monetisation

12:05 - How to implement hybrid effectively

16:41 - Non-negotiables on a high-value player

19:15 - Spread your investment

23:26 -  Enabling studios to move to hybrid

25:14 - A different game for every segment 

29:30 - Where else should marketers put their money?

33:20 - AI's place in innovation

36:05 - What is coming that will have a major impact on games?

38:51 - The mindset for hunting whales

41:30 - 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, Daniel Griffiths, Paige Cook and Aaron Astle from the PocketGamer.biz team discuss the latest mobile games industry news from the past week. We cover the big Star Wars: Hunters launch from Zynga and provide some of the inside scoop on its development, why mobile MOBAs fail in the West, and discuss those Xbox handheld rumours.

** 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 Mobile Games Awards - https://www.mobilegamesawards.com

Brian Baglow, Craig Chapple, Daniel Griffiths and Paige Cook from the PocketGamer.biz team discuss the latest mobile games industry news from the past week. We cover Supercell's big Squad Busters launch, compare Steam's user-first approach to discoverability that's at odds with Apple and Google's strategies, and discuss whether YouTube Playables will ever work.

** 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 Mobile Games Awards - https://www.mobilegamesawards.com

A hit game can harbour hope for an up-and-coming games company. But living up to the game's name and weathering the changing tides of player needs, industry upheavals, and privacy concerns can test the limits of any studio. In this episode, María Sayans, CEO of ustwo games peels back the layers of ustwo’s monumental success, Monument Valley—now celebrating its 10th anniversary and over 160m+ downloads—and offers indie developers concrete advice on cultivating a sustainable studio that can succeed despite any storm. She sheds light on how ustwo games adapts and evolves its keystone game to keep pace with changing player habits and how cross-platform is powering the studio’s success for years to come. 

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 

CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS

00:00 - Intro

01:30 - Who are ustwo games?

05:42 - How Monument Valley shaped games

07:58 - Biggest changes to games audiences

12:30 - Are boomers the biggest gamers?

16:57 -  How ustwo games evolved to match player need

21:08 - Would Monument Valley succeed if launched today?

25:09 - Maria's leadership model

29:00 - How ustwo’s company calendar builds company culture

32:19 - Is premium still a viable model?

35:55 - Why cross-platform?

40:07 - Ustwo’s upcoming releases

43:20 - 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

Brian Baglow, Daniel Griffiths and Paige Cook from the PocketGamer.biz team discuss the latest mobile games industry news from the past week. We cover ByteDance's latest plans for its $4 billion acquisition of Mobile Legends developer Moonton, remote work and leadership skills challenges, UGC investment opportunities, and ask if Unity developers really are over the runtime fee.

** 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 Mobile Games Awards - https://www.mobilegamesawards.com

2024 is turning out to be the year of alternatives. We have the rise of alternative app stores, alternative ads, and a sharp focus on alternative monetization models to maximise revenue potential for gaming studios. Some are mashing up advertising and in-app purchases, while others are tapping strong IP to monetise players' eyeballs. This week, we’re talking about an alternative model that raises the bar for some studios and arguments amongst others—subscription. Teis Anker Mikkelsen, CEO and Co-Founder of Multisctiption—a company offering a cross-publisher subscription service for F2P games—joins hosts Peggy Anne Salz and Brian Baglow again in this episode for a sweeping discussion of subscriptions and how the model inherently increases retention, player re-entry, and in-app spend. He shares tips for creating a friction-free payment experience, addressing subscription fatigue, scaling, and a checklist to determine if a subscription model is the right fit for your game. 

00:00 - Intro

03:11 - Understanding subscriptions in apps

10:42 - Subscription increases retention

13:09 - Creating a friction-free payment experience

15:56 - Addressing subscription fatigue

19:56 - How to smooth the transition to subscription

23:36 - Who is a subscription model best for?

36:07 - How big can you scale subscriptions?

41:34 - How to adapt the model to different players

43:27 - 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

Brian Baglow, Craig Chapple, Daniel Griffiths and Paige Cook from the PocketGamer.biz team discuss the latest mobile games industry news from the past week.

We cover the Xbox mobile games store and whether it's doomed to fail, the AppLovin and Unity financials nearly two years after the acquisition drama, and analyse a survey that claims Gen Z love bitcoin.

** 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

Brian Baglow, Craig Chapple, Daniel Griffiths and Aaron Astle from the PocketGamer.biz team discuss the latest mobile games industry news from the past week.

We cover the news that Xbox has closed Bethesda studios including Arkane Austin, Alpha Dog Games and Tango Gameworks, and discuss Microsoft's troubled games business and Game Pass strategy.

We also dive into Krafton's comments about using generative AI in game development, and Apple's iPad problem.

** 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

Craig Chapple, Daniel Griffiths, and Paige Cook from the PocketGamer.biz team discuss the latest mobile games industry news from the past week.

We provide a breakdown of the key stories and trends from Devcom and Gamescom 2024. Meanwhile, we discuss Apple's latest changes following regulatory pressure, peek into the data that shows Squad Busters is on the up, and cover the big reveal of Monument Valley 3, coming exclusively to Netflix.

** 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/

👉🏻 PocketGamer.biz MasterClass - https://www.pocketgamer.biz/announcing-the-pocketgamerbiz-masterclasses-summer-2024-programme/

👉🏻 PocketGamer.biz Mobile Games Industry Trends Survey - https://www.pocketgamer.biz/what-are-the-hottest-mobile-gaming-trends-right-now-let-us-know-in-our-2024-mobile-games-industry-survey/

**Articles**

👉🏻 5 takeaways from Devcom and Gamescom 2024: Eastern influence, web shops rising, and Monument Valley returns - https://www.pocketgamer.biz/5-things-we-learned-from-devcom-and-gamescom-2024-1812461/ 👉🏻 Monopoly GO! A game that was(n’t) created for ads - https://www.pocketgamer.biz/monopoly-go-a-game-that-wasnt-created-for-ads/ 👉🏻 Game analysis: Squad Busters update makes radical changes on a quest for lasting success - https://www.pocketgamer.biz/game-analysis-squad-busters-update-makes-radical-changes-on-a-quest-for-lasting-success/

Great games start with a great understanding of gaps in the industry and the factors that play a pivotal role in predicting profitability. This week, we welcome a guest with a keen eye for both and a sixth sense for high-potential startups. Akin Babayigit, Co-Founder and President of Tripledot Studios joins our hosts, Peggy Anne Salz and Brian Baglow. The business side of games is baked into Akin's DNA—a talent that helped him build Tripledot from the ground up and go on to effectively scout out and scale lucrative studios like Dream Games and Luna Labs Limited. In this episode, he shares pages from his playbook on recognizing the signs of commercial success in a specific title and tells Peggy and Brian the specific data points that are most crucial to the decision-making process at Tripledot. Tune into the show for his insights into the unique opportunities for app marketers in Turkey and advice to embrace the new science of performance marketing.

**Chapters**

00:00 - Intro 

01:55 - Akin's background

07:52 - How Tripledot stands out

14:39 - Signs that a game will be a success

28:01 - Market conditions in Turkey

35:18 - Embrace the new science of performance marketing

42:15 - Favourite games Q&A

Brian Baglow, Daniel Griffiths, Paige Cook and Aaron Astle from the PocketGamer.biz team discuss the latest mobile games industry news from the past week.

We cover the news that Supercell's Brawl Stars has already smashes its 2023 revenue total so far this year, Square Enix's warning to investors of "extraordinary losses", and Erling Haaland's introduction as a character in Clash of Clans.

** 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

MENA is a fast-growing gaming territory with high-paying and highly engaged players, but what will it take for the region to gain recognition on the global stage? Our host, Peggy Anne Salz, sits down with a Saudi studio for an insider look into the local opportunities and challenges. Miikka Lindgren, VP of Publishing at Sandsoft—a studio making waves in MENA and displaying impressive growth in a growing industry—shines a light on Sandsoft’s strategic focus on global publishing and its innovative approach to data-driven decision-making that underscores their commitment to sustainable growth. He emphasizes the importance of product as marketing, balancing short-term metrics with long-term growth targets, and staying focused amidst numerous ideas and opportunities in the industry. Plus, he gives us a sneak peek into Sandsoft’s arcade simulation game, Business Dudes. 

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 

CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS

00:00 - Intro

01:14 - Opportunities in MENA

08:23 - Sandsoft grows despite downturns

11:13 - Balancing short-term metrics with long-term growth

13:17 - Don't be afraid to dream big

15:31 - What to learn from Chinese studios

21:44 - Alternative distribution platforms

23:21 - What's next in MENA and for Sandsoft?

30:39 - 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, Daniel Griffiths and Aaron Astle from the PocketGamer.biz team discuss the latest mobile games industry news from the past week.

We cover the news that Supercell is launching Squad Busters globally on May 29th, Embracer Group's break-up into three new public companies, the TikTok ban, and why Apple's Vision Pro isn't selling any headsets.

** 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

The Dubai GameExpo Summit powered by Pocket Gamer Connects takes place on May 1st and 2nd. Details here - https://www.pgconnects.com/DubaiGameExpoSummit/

MENA is a region ripe with opportunities for game industry professionals. Our host, Peggy Anne Salz, sits down with an expert on the area and headline speaker at the GameExpo Summit powered by PG Connects, Kadri Harma. Co-Founder of the investment fund and mentoring program, GameFounders, and Venture Partner at Sisu Game Ventures, Kadri brings her on-the-ground expertise to the show this week, lifting the lid on unlocking the MENA market. She shares the investment opportunities and player behaviour that make the region stand out, the government initiatives that empower the local industry, and the actions indie studios can take to attract the attention of the investor community. Listen in and register now for the GameExpo Summit on May 1-2. 

CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS

00:00 - Intro

02:57 - Understanding the MENA market

07:57 - MENA's appeal

12:48 - Opportunities for investment

20:36 - 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

Brian Baglow, Paige Cook, Craig Chapple and Daniel Griffiths from the PocketGamer.biz team discuss the latest mobile games industry news from the in our new 'Week in Views' series.

We cover a new report that delves into the UK games industry's skills crisis, the Fallout TV show's success, App Store emulators, and Epic's endless court battles with Apple and Google. Craig and Brian also have a moan about Rebel Moon.

Extra links:

RaptorVerse Presents... The DMA Breakdown Webinar: https://news.raptorpr.com/raptorverse-presentsthe-dma-breakdown

The top mobile games in soft launch right now: https://www.pocketgamer.biz/feature/60621/the-latest-and-most-interesting-mobile-games-in-soft-launch-update/

** 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

The Dubai GameExpo Summit powered by Pocket Gamer Connects takes place on May 1st and 2nd. Details here - https://www.pgconnects.com/DubaiGameExpoSummit/