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PODCAST

GameMakers

The GameMakers podcast publishes current, entertaining, and in-depth discussions on F2P game development. Topics that we cover include the business of games, F2P monetization, liveops, game design, game development processes, team structure, and more.

leisure video games

All Episodes

00:46:18

Your Analytics Stack Is Killing Your Studio (The New...

GameMakers ·

2025/10/29

Most game studios waste weeks of runway on the wrong analytics decision—here's how to avoid that mistake.Traditional analytics SDK vendors like Amplitude, Mixpanel, and Braze promise plug-and-play simplicity but deliver silent failures, contract negotiations, and escalating costs that can destroy startup velocity. In this episode, we discuss why the old analytics playbook is obsolete in 2025—and reveals the new meta that's eating market share.You'll discover:Why SDK analytics vendors

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00:55:21

Why Game Studio Failures Are Structure Problems, Not...

GameMakers ·

2025/10/24

Most game studios think they have a talent problem. They don't. They have a structure problem.Chris Casanova spent 15+ years as a producer across Microsoft Xbox, Mojang (Minecraft), Relic Entertainment, Offworld Industries, and Hypixel Studios. He's watched talented teams fail repeatedly—not from lack of skill, but from organizational friction.Traditional studios organize around craft silos: design departments, engineering departments, art departments. Every feature requires handoffs. Every

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00:59:16

The Battlefield 6 Redemption, What UCLA Football...

GameMakers ·

2025/10/20

Western AAA development is not dead. Battlefield 6's 7 million unit launch proves it. This episode deconstructs how EA and Vince Zampella reversed the "disaster" of Battlefield 2042 by focusing on leadership, community feedback , and a smarter studio structure.Then, we explore why leadership is the ultimate "alpha". Joseph Kim breaks down the stunning turnaround of the UCLA football team—who went from a 0-4 disaster to a 3-0 winning streak (including beating #7 Penn State )

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00:59:56

Inside the $55B EA-Saudi Deal: Why It's Not a Typical...

GameMakers ·

2025/10/13

Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund just closed the largest gaming acquisition in history—$55 billion for Electronic Arts. But this isn't the typical private equity playbook.In this episode, host Joseph Kim sits down with two M&A experts who break down what's really happening:- Chris Petrovic - Board Chairman & CBO at FunPlus, former President of Publishing at Zynga where he orchestrated their transformative acquisition strategy- Matthew Kanterman, CFA - Gaming industry analyst

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01:08:48

The Ad Monetization Playbook: Fixing Leaky Revenue,...

GameMakers ·

2025/10/09

Why is your ad revenue flat even when your game's traffic is growing? Margins are getting squeezed by hidden fees, and old strategies of yelling at partners no longer move the needle. In this episode, we sit down with veteran ad monetization consultant Kelly Kang to get her modern playbook for building a resilient and profitable ad strategy from the ground up.Kelly Kang has optimized ad strategies for some of the biggest names in mobile gaming, including Big Fish Games, Aristocrat, and Glu

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00:57:11

MAG: Inside EA’s $55B LBO, Lessons from Grow A...

GameMakers ·

2025/10/06

This week, we're breaking down the end of an era: the historic $55 billion acquisition of Electronic Arts. Go inside the deal to hear the likely banker's pitch that sold EA's board and what this massive leveraged buyout means for the future of the games industry.Then, we shift from titans to upstarts to uncover the secrets behind Grow a Garden, the Roblox game from a 16-year-old developer that quietly became the biggest in the world with over 22 million concurrent players. Learn how

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01:41:41

Unlock 82% of the Global Gaming Market: The Ultimate...

GameMakers ·

2025/10/02

Is your game only available in English? You could be ignoring over 80% of your potential players. In this deep dive, I sit down with Alexander Murauski, CEO of localization agency Alkonost, to unpack the entire game localization playbook from start to finish.We cover the critical strategies, ROI analysis, and common mistakes that can make or break your global launch. Learn why you should start localizing on Day 1, how professional agencies use AI like ChatGPT to cut costs by 30% without sacrificing

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00:26:52

Can Delta Force Beat PUBG? Is the Take-Two Mafia a...

GameMakers ·

2025/09/29

On this episode of Game Makers, we explore three critical topics: how Delta Force's mobile revenue soared past PUBG's by 75% , why the "Take-Two Mafia" thesis is a myth centered on the wrong company , and a powerful framework for fixing your recruiting process by treating candidates like customers.In this episode, you will learn:MACRO: How Delta Force's monetization and LiveOps strategy led to a 6x revenue spike, and what its 97% revenue concentration in China means for Western studios.ALPHA: Why

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00:51:40

Arena Breakout: Infinite Breaks Out to PC!, Destiny:...

GameMakers ·

2025/09/23

In this episode, we explore the major headwinds facing the games industry, from publisher-developer tensions to the viability of long-standing business models. We start with a raw look at industry layoffs before pivoting to a deep-dive analysis of Arena Breakout Infinite's turbulent PC launch, which reveals a massive culture clash in monetization strategy.This discussion offers critical insights for anyone building or investing in games today, including:Arena Breakout Deep-Dive: We unpack the

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01:29:21

MAG Monday #3: India's RMG Ban, Failure of GenAI,...

GameMakers ·

2025/09/16

Alpha: Clash Royale 5x Revenue, Understanding the Illegible Margin GameDev: The Problem with Product ValidationHappy MAG-nificent Monday!3-Macro: 3 stories impacting the competitive environment in which we operateHike shuts down after India RMG banWhy GenAI is failingAmazon and Netflix announce Gaming+Streaming bundle2-Alpha: 2 potential sources of Finding AlphaClash Royale hits 3 year all-time highs… how?The Illegible Margin (by Taylor Pearson)1-Game Dev: 1 lesson learned from getting my ass kicked

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01:03:49

3-2-1 MAG #2: Dreamhaven Layoffs, Silksong Success,...

GameMakers ·

2025/09/09

3. MacroTop 3 Most Significant Gaming News From Last Week:Dreamhaven Games Hit by Layoffs (GamesIndustry.biz): Dreamhaven, the studio founded by former Blizzard Entertainment co-founder Mike Morhaime, confirmed it has undergone an unspecified number of layoffs. Despite the cuts, the CEO expressed optimism about the studio's future and the projects currently in development.Hollow Knight: Silksong Sees Massive Launch Success (IGN): Following its highly anticipated release, Hollow Knight: Silksong

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00:47:23

3. 2. 1. Retro #1: Netease Bails on Western Studios,...

GameMakers ·

2025/09/01

Top 3 Gaming News From Last Week:NetEase Shuts Down Another Western Studio (Game Developer): NetEase has closed T-Minus Zero Entertainment. This marks the third Western studio closure as part of a broader reassessment of business priorities and has raised concerns about the stability of Western studios under NetEase's ownership.IGN Publisher John Davison Exits Following Major Layoffs (Kotaku): John Davison, IGN's publisher since 2019, announced his departure at the end of August 2025

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00:26:39

Finding Alpha: How to Find Your Company's Secret...

GameMakers ·

2025/08/28

In an era where “good” isn’t good enough, this talk breaks down how to generate alpha—company-specific excess returns—by choosing the right game to play and going all-in on the highest-leverage moves. We cover the macro forces reshaping competition, case studies of teams that found alpha, and where velocity and AI change the basis of competition. What's your unique advantage? This talk emphasizes the significance of business strategy, particularly in light of the rise of AI and intense

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01:07:59

Call of Duty vs. Battlefield, Dreamhaven Struggles,...

GameMakers ·

2025/08/25

GAME DEV REVIEW #1NEWS:Top 5 Gaming NewsCall of Duty: Black Ops 7 Officially Revealed (GameSpot): Activision has unveiled the next entry in its massive first-person shooter franchise, "Call of Duty: Black Ops 7." The reveal trailer, showcased at Gamescom, provided a first look at the game's near-future setting and hinted at a narrative connected to previous "Black Ops" titles, with a release slated for late 2025.Battlefield 6 Beta Receives Positive Reception (Kotaku): The

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01:57:45

Navigating the Game Industry Reset: Layoffs, AI...

GameMakers ·

2025/08/18

The games industry is in a state of flux. Layoffs are widespread, AI is disrupting hiring, and the future feels uncertain. To navigate this new landscape, we're joined by Keith Caswell, a 20-year HR veteran with leadership experience at Microsoft, Electronic Arts, and Wizards of the Coast, for a masterclass in career and talent strategy.Whether you've been recently laid off, you're a leader struggling to hire authentic talent, or you're trying to future-proof your career, this

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01:16:16

Why Data Is The New Superpower In Gaming!

GameMakers ·

2025/07/29

Four years after Apple's ATT shook the mobile gaming world, measurement remains complicated—but not impossible. Airbridge CEO Roi Nam joins us for an unfiltered technical discussion on what's actually working in iOS UA today.We explore SKAN 4.0, the power of CAPI, Web-to-App strategies, and why some studios see 54% LTV lifts while others struggle. From boosting ATT consent rates to understanding the UA-monetization convergence, this episode delivers the practical insights mobile gaming

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00:58:03

From Concept to Character: AI Animation Revolution in...

GameMakers ·

2025/07/29

Join us for an eye-opening conversation about how AI is completely transforming the game animation industry. Viren Tellis, CEO of Uthana, shares how their technology is enabling developers to animate characters in seconds instead of days, democratizing game development for indie creators.What you'll discover:The three game-changing ways to create animations with AI (text, video, and smart libraries)Why animation AI is harder to build than image generators like MidjourneyHow indie developers are

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01:15:59

The Hidden Cost of Building Games: Sacrifice,...

GameMakers ·

2025/07/21

What's the real cost of being a startup gaming founder? In this very off-topic conversation, my old friend Mishka Katkoff (Deconstructor of Fun) and I go deep on the topics nobody puts in their pitch deck. We share personal stories about the psychological and physical toll of the grind, and question the nature of ambition in the game industry.This isn't your typical industry talk. We discuss life, sacrifice & suffering, success, and many other topics that we usually don't talk about

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01:21:14

Web Shops: From 10% to 50% Revenue – The Playbook Top...

GameMakers ·

2025/07/13

Apple and Google are taking 43% more money from your game than you think – and your competitors are using web shops to capture that revenue instead. In this eye-opening discussion, Stash's Chief Growth Officer reveals how top mobile games generate 50%+ of revenue through direct-to-consumer channels while others leave millions on the table.Why you need to watch this:- Discover the hidden math behind the "30% platform fee" that's costing you millions- Learn the exact playbook Scopely

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01:10:39

Game PM Evolution: Insights on AI, Strategy & Survival

GameMakers ·

2025/06/13

The game development industry is in flux. From the intense pressure of the attention economy and global competition to the seismic shifts brought by Artificial Intelligence, how is the crucial role of the Product Manager evolving? Join us for an in-depth exploration of these critical questions, featuring a panel discussion, "The Evolution of the Product Manager," and an exclusive after-panel debrief. Hear directly from industry product leaders as they dissect the challenges and

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183 results

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