The GameMakers podcast publishes current, entertaining, and in-depth discussions on F2P game development. Topics that we cover include the business of games, F2...
Pixels & Profits | Gaming Industry 2024-2025 - Crisis, Transformation, and Opportunity
The gaming industry experienced seismic shifts in 2024, from record-breaking layoffs to China's rising dominance. In this comprehensive analysis, we break down the five key developments that shaped gaming in 2024 and what they mean for 2025.
We'll explore:
🔑 The true impact of the gaming recession
🔑 Why live service games are harder than ever to compete with
🔑 How China became a global gaming powerhouse
🔑 The surprising comeback of live operations
🔑 Why UGC platforms struggled to monetize
Plus, we'll dive into our predictions for 2025, including:
🔑 The evolution of game development models
🔑 AI's growing role in gaming
🔑 Market recovery catalysts
🔑 Companies to watch
🔑 Industry transformation ahead
Whether you're a developer, investor, or gaming enthusiast, this analysis will help you understand where the industry is headed and why it matters. Join us for an in-depth look at gaming's past year and future prospects.
Outline
0:00 - Introduction & Overview
2:15 - 2024 Year in Review Overview
3:30 - Gaming Recession Deep Dive (Industry layoffs, Shift in cost-cutting approaches)
7:45 - Live Service Games Dominance (Steam engagement statistics, Why established games maintain power)
12:30 - China's Gaming Success Story (Mobile market dominance, HD gaming breakthrough, Strategic advantages)
18:15 - Live Operations Excellence (Brawl Stars case study, Impact on game performance)
22:45 - UGC Platform Challenges (Monetization struggles, Platform economics)
26:30 - 2025 Predictions Overview
27:45 - New Development Models (Shift from traditional approaches, Efficiency focus)
32:15 - AI Integration in Gaming (Three levels of integration, Future possibilities)
37:30 - Market Recovery Catalysts (Key upcoming releases, Market conditions)
42:15 - Companies to Watch (Detailed analysis of key players, Growth opportunities)
48:30 - Industry Transformation (Workforce changes, Operational shifts)
53:15 - Conclusion & Key Takeaways
55:00 - Final Thoughts
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1:17:40
Economics & Advantages of Mobile Web Stores ft. Gil Tov-ly from AppCharge
We discuss the impact, economics, and advantages of mobile web stores in a deep discussion with Gil Tov-ly, the CMO of AppCharge, a company that partners with game studios to build optimized web stores.
OUTLINE:
0:00 Intro
1:13 Motivation and economics of mobile web stores: Huge 20-30% total revenue lift
3:42 Amount of transactions through web stores vs. direct IAP, what impacts more web store transactions?
9:34 How web stores can support VIP spenders
10:40 Typical web store support provided by companies like AppCharge
11:40 impact of web stores
13:48 The player experience with web stores
18:32 breakdown of support services to help developers roll out a web store
25:25 How to evaluate webstore partners
28:25 Current legal and regulatory environment around web stores - what are the limitations?
31:18 Rise of alternative app stores and side-loading
32:30 Building direct relationships with customers by having your own web store
36:25 What does the future look like for player monetization channels in 5-10 years
39:30 More info about AppCharge - what is their promotional pitch?
👇 EPISODE LINKS:
- AppCharge: https://appcharge.com/
- Gil Tov-ly: https://www.linkedin.com/in/giltovly/
SUBSCRIBE TO GAMEMAKERS:
- Spotify Podcast: https://spoti.fi/3Cpyq7i
- Newsletter: https://gamemakers.substack.com/
😃 —CONNECT WITH ME! —
• MY INSTAGRAM → @jokim1
• TWITTER → @jokim1
• LINKEDIN → https://www.linkedin.com/in/jokim/
— POPULAR CONTENT —
🤑 Economy of the Metaverse with Tim Sweeney https://youtu.be/h6ClJxjuRvw
ℹ️ How to Build the Amazon of Game Companies https://youtu.be/bkd2TOpKt4I
🔮 Gaming Trends | A Look Ahead at 2021 https://youtu.be/NejFzHtpiZI
🖥️ The Future of PC Gaming https://youtu.be/_QT7O3Wxi2s
🔴 Games Industry M&A https://youtu.be/65nyPk6WNrs
🔴 Netcode for Multiplayer Games https://youtu.be/tHq3PzmjhLw
🔴 IDFA Deprecation Product Impact https://youtu.be/Ojec4wGKpso
🔴 Trip Hawkins on the New High Score https://youtu.be/5egTSQ6AiRA
🔴 LiveOps F2P Best Practices https://youtu.be/tmzqqnYbjNY
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43:07
Game Industry Hot Takes: Ubisoft's Struggles, Unity's Revival, and Microsoft's Game Pass Gambit
A deep dive into the most pressing topics in gaming with industry veterans discussing recent developments, challenges, and future outlooks.
⏱️ Timeline/Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction
01:05 - Ubisoft's Current State & Challenges
14:35 - Unity's Turnaround Story
31:20 - AppLovin Deep Dive
39:15 - China Gaming Market Update
49:40 - Microsoft-Activision Deal Impact
56:10 - Roblox & Hindenburg Report Discussion
📝 Description:
Join us for an in-depth discussion of the hottest topics in gaming! Industry veterans break down recent developments at major gaming companies and what they mean for the future of the industry.
We analyze Ubisoft's ongoing struggles, Unity's attempted turnaround under new leadership, AppLovin's rising dominance in mobile advertising, China's gaming market dynamics, and the implications of Microsoft's Activision acquisition. Plus, a quick take on the recent Roblox controversy.
Topics include:
• Why Western AAA game development is struggling
• Unity's technical improvements and business challenges
• AppLovin's market dominance in mobile advertising
• China gaming market outlook and geopolitical risks
• Microsoft's Game Pass strategy and the future of gaming subscriptions
• Latest industry M&A activity and valuations
Whether you're a game developer, industry executive, or just interested in the business of gaming, this discussion provides valuable insights into where the industry is headed in 2024 and beyond.
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1:06:12
EXPOSING Mobile Performance Marketing Secrets! UA in 2024 and Beyond with Warren Woodward
Warren Woodward, co-founder and CMO at Upptic, provides real, no-nonsense advice about the current state of mobile performance marketing.
What are the current problems and issues in the market and how can studios grow their player base through mobile user acquisition today?
OUTLINE:
0:00 Intro
0:47 Why Warren is great to talk to about UA
2:00 Current state of mobile marketing & UA: What’s working and not working
12:50 What IDFA really did to mobile marketing
15:30 What happens if fingerprinting goes away
21:50 The problem with imprecise data
25:10 What are the channels and tactics that are currently successful
Applovin vs. Unity
31:37 Modern-day performance marketing team structure and staffing
40:19 The importance of unifying teams and data for success - avoiding the “blame game”
45:30 Advantages of UA at massive scale
52:37 Is the future of UA all about “brutal efficiency”?
👇 EPISODE LINKS:
- Warren Woodward: https://www.linkedin.com/in/warrendwoodward/
- Upptic: https://upptic.com/
SUBSCRIBE TO GAMEMAKERS:
- Spotify Podcast: https://spoti.fi/3Cpyq7i
- Newsletter: https://gamemakers.substack.com/
😃 —CONNECT WITH ME! —
• MY INSTAGRAM → @jokim1
• TWITTER → @jokim1
• LINKEDIN → https://www.linkedin.com/in/jokim/
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57:37
Chinese Gaming Giants: Tencent vs. Netease | Pixels & Profits
We dive deep into the fierce competition between Tencent and NetEase—two titans shaping the global gaming landscape.
Discover how these companies are navigating the challenges of the Chinese market and their strategies for international expansion.
We also share our personal experiences about Tencent and provide insider insights you can't find anywhere else.
Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more industry insights! 🚀 #Gaming #Tencent #NetEase #GameIndustry #PixelsAndProfits
OUTLINE:
0:00 Intro
1:50 Tencent business overview
4:50 Tencent margins & operational efficiency
8:06 Tencent internal studios
10:30 How Tencent worked with Glu - Brian and JK personal stories
18:15 The Tencent game dev model
21:08 Potential IP conflicts - Apex Legends Mobile case study
23:40 Tencent as bully
25:22 Tencent game company holdings
27:16 Tencent key growth opportunities
33:50 Tencent key challenges
40:55 Geo-political factors involved with Tencent
47:07 Tencent valuation
51:51 Netease business overview
54:21 Brian’s take on new Netease survival game
56:00 Netease internal studios
57:34 Netease growth opportunities
1:01:55 Netease valuation
1:02:55 Netease challenges
1:04:03 Tencent vs. Netease future outlook
SUBSCRIBE TO GAMEMAKERS:
- Spotify Podcast: https://spoti.fi/3Cpyq7i
- Newsletter: https://gamemakers.substack.com/
😃 —CONNECT WITH ME! —
• MY INSTAGRAM → @jokim1
• TWITTER → @jokim1
• LINKEDIN → https://www.linkedin.com/in/jokim/
— POPULAR CONTENT —
🤑 Economy of the Metaverse with Tim Sweeney https://youtu.be/h6ClJxjuRvw
ℹ️ How to Build the Amazon of Game Companies https://youtu.be/bkd2TOpKt4I
🔮 Gaming Trends | A Look Ahead at 2021 https://youtu.be/NejFzHtpiZI
🖥️ The Future of PC Gaming https://youtu.be/_QT7O3Wxi2s
🔴 Games Industry M&A https://youtu.be/65nyPk6WNrs
🔴 Netcode for Multiplayer Games https://youtu.be/tHq3PzmjhLw
🔴 IDFA Deprecation Product Impact https://youtu.be/Ojec4wGKpso
🔴 Trip Hawkins on the New High Score https://youtu.be/5egTSQ6AiRA
🔴 LiveOps F2P Best Practices https://youtu.be/tmzqqnYbjNY
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.