Mishka Katkoff is joined by Daniel Ahmad (Director of Research & Insights, Niko Partners) and Lisa Hanson (CEO & Founder, Niko Partners) for a deep dive into the latest trends and insights from the Asian, MENA, and Indian gaming markets. We cover regulatory changes in China, the rise of India as a gaming powerhouse, the evolving MENA landscape, and much more. If you want to stay ahead in the global games industry, this episode is packed with actionable intelligence!01:30 China’s Gaming Market: Policy Shifts & Opportunities09:00 Entering the Chinese Market: Risks & Strategies23:39 India’s Gaming Market: Growth & Monetization25:36 Western Success in India & Market Insights41:33 MENA Region: Female Gamers & Genre Trends42:50 GTA V & Mature Content in MENA44:15 Southeast Asia: Monetization & Generative AI1:10:02 Closing Thoughts

Supercell’s CEO releases a rare open letter calling for more industry collaboration, while Ubisoft’s nepotism controversy reignites debates around leadership culture. Netflix Games kicks off its Battle for the Living Room with a push into Smart TV party games, and early buzz around PlayStation 6 points to an AI-driven leap in graphics and efficiency. Meanwhile, Battlefield’s launch performance goes head-to-head with Call of Duty once again, and Disney enters the overcrowded match-3 market with Magic Match. All that and more, as we unpack the business behind the biggest moves in games this week.00:00 - Intro & Guest Welcome07:17 - China’s Gaming Policy Shifts & Market Access22:00 - Sponsor: Sensor Tower23:55 - China’s Game Development & Publishing Landscape38:35 - India’s Gaming Market: Growth & Monetization55:00 - Sponsor: AppCharge55:45 - India: Western Success Stories & Localization1:12:20 - MENA Region: Female Gamers & Genre Trends1:28:10 - Sponsor: AppsFlyer1:28:45 - MENA: Cultural Sensitivities & Mature Content1:47:30 - Southeast Asia: Monetization & Payment Trends2:05:00 - Southeast Asia: Generative AI in Gaming2:15:00 - Final Thoughts & How to Access Asian/MENA Markets2:20:00 - Outro & Community Call-to-Action

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

00:00 Welcome

01:00 Intro & Shills

07:58 Ilke's Open Letter on EU Regulations

21:38 AppLovin Under Fire: SEC Probe and Stock Volatility

29:19 Epic Games' Web Shops Launch

36:50 Ubisoft's Management and Future

41:47 Istanbul's Gaming Industry Boom

51:32 AI Business Slop

01:01:00 EOS

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

02:07 Understanding Bellatro's Success: Metrics and Engagement
04:50 The Indie Developer vs. Publisher Dynamic
08:11 Finding the Right Fit: Indie Publishers and Developers
17:20 Standing Out in a Crowded Market: Indie Publishing Strategies
23:22 AI in Game Development: Opportunities and Challenges
33:26 Post-Launch Support: Keeping Games Alive
38:15 Creative Game Integrations and Developer Relationships
41:05 Royalty Structures and Developer Support
47:09 Negotiating Publisher Agreements and Revenue Shares
50:41 Funding Models and Developer Financial Security
56:27 Budgeting for Indie Games and Financial Viability

A new guest host, Josh Chandley, is stepping into the arena as we dig into Microsoft’s latest controversial moves and what they signal for the company’s long-term gaming strategy. Then, we unpack the historic $55B acquisition of EA by Saudi Arabia, the largest leveraged buyout in gaming history. What does this mean for EA, for the industry, and for the shrinking pool of public gaming companies? Finally, we explore AppLovin’s surprising push into e-commerce, and why it might be more disruptive than you think.

Timestamps

00:52 Guest Star Host: Josh Chandley

06:23 Microsoft’s Controversial Moves

13:35 The EA Acquisition: A Historic Deal

17:31 Industry Reactions and Analysis

29:12 Saudi Arabia’s Gaming Ambitions

31:39 Financial Concerns and Debt Management

40:16 AppLovin’s E-commerce Expansion

50:58 Unity’s Challenges and Opportunities

No Jen this week — just the boys. Phil loses it on Supercell and Google Play, we wade into the “brain rot” panic, and Simon Hay somehow still gets a shoutout. From Newzoo’s latest report to Supercell’s IPO pipe dreams, Discord going offline, Xbox hiking prices, and Epic trying to AI their way out of irrelevance…Chapters00:00 Introduction00:27 Jen's Neuralink Update00:41 Phil's Rant on Supercell and Google Play01:48 Brain Rot Controversy03:59 Shoutout to Simon Hay and Space Ape04:52 New Zoo Gaming Market Report05:22 Upcoming Events and Conferences09:07 Supercell's Struggles and IPO Speculations18:52 Discord's Decline and Google Play's New Features27:15 Xbox Game Pass and Price Hikes29:35 Microsoft's Struggles and FTC Concerns31:15 Epic Games' Monetization Shift35:52 Epic's New Announcements and AI Integration38:54 European Lottery Giant Acquires Prize Picks45:55 Lingo Kids' Funding and Strategy50:51 Take-Two's Puzzle Game Success54:28 Borderlands 4 Release and Performance Issues

Mobile gaming is slowing down, and the question isn’t if, but who still wins.

www.newzoo.com/resources/trend-reports/newzoo-global-games-market-report-2025

In this conversation, Michail Katkoff and Emmanuel Rosier from Newzoo break down Newzoo’s latest forecast, projecting the industry to hit $103B in 2025 with growth slipping below 3%. The duo explores what this slowdown means for developers, platforms, payment intermediaries, and a new wave of tech financing companies that are quietly reshaping the ecosystem.

Chapters

00:00 The State of Gaming in 2025

05:26 Player Demographics and Engagement Trends

10:22 Regional Growth and Market Dynamics

15:14 Revenue Distribution and Market Focus

22:18 Mobile Gaming Challenges and Opportunities

27:11 Genre Evolution and Player Preferences

38:23 The Shift from Console Wars to Nostalgia

42:06 The Balance of Remakes and Creativity

45:31 Understanding Remakes vs. Remasters

48:35 The Mobile Gaming Landscape

53:37 Roblox's Rise and Its Impact

58:34 The Future of Gaming Platforms and Trends

01:08:58 Outro.mp4

The TWIG crew dives into Unity’s latest missteps and what they signal for the future of game development, breaks down Discord’s push toward a blockbuster IPO, and unpacks how Nintendo’s big announcements could reshape the company’s next chapter. We also examine TikTok’s potential U.S. acquisition, Apple’s quiet but bold moves to redefine its gaming app strategy, the explosive rise of AI-driven apps, and go behind the scenes of Diablo Immortal’s development, while debating what Supercell must do to navigate a turbulent year ahead.

Chapters

01:21 Community Engagement & Updates

02:38 Game Economist Podcast Highlights

07:01 Unity’s Strategic Missteps

11:23 Diablo Immortal Dev Insights

16:04 Apple’s Gaming App Strategy

28:18 TikTok’s US Acquisition Talks

30:59 The Rise of AI-Driven Apps

33:31 Discord’s Upcoming IPO

42:57 Nintendo’s Big Announcements

54:24 Supercell’s Struggles & Future

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

00:20 The Power of Reading and Writing

01:12 Video Games as a Medium for Transformation

02:57 Parenting and Gaming: Finding Balance

08:25 Understanding Consumer Psychology

13:39 The Importance of Human Connection in Marketing

19:50 Gaming and Emotional Engagement

23:09 Games Driving Social Change

28:37 The Business Impact of Gaming on Brands

30:42 Navigating Risks in Gaming Investments

32:56 Starting Small: Testing the Waters in Gaming

36:08 Key Performance Indicators for Gaming Initiatives

39:26 Authenticity in Gaming vs. Social Media

43:49 Integrating Brands into Games: Challenges and Opportunities

45:47 Myth Busting: Data, Creativity, and Gaming Audiences

From Roblox’s RDC bombshells to Destiny Rising’s flop, this week’s DoF crew breaks down the biggest shifts in gaming. We get into NetEase’s bets, China’s growing power, and why analytics from Newzoo’s 2025 report matter more than ever. Plus: Blizzard’s messy leadership shakeups, Roblox’s new monetization tricks, Xbox’s subscription struggles, and the hype around Hollow Knight: Silksong. Oh, and yes, Jen’s got a big personal update too. <3

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Personal Updates

03:55 Shills and Upcoming Events

06:00 Medical Leave and Personal Challenges

10:40 Corrections and Analytics Discussion

15:13 Destiny Rising and Community Reception

18:54 Chinese Developers and Western IPs

23:56 Warframe: A Case Study in Game Development

31:56 Market Trends and Player Demographics

36:26 Blizzard's Mobile Strategy: A Shift in Focus

40:40 Silksong: Success of Indie Games

45:11 Developer Exchange Rate and Its Implications

45:39 Roblox RDC: Key Announcements and Changes

54:33 Monetization Strategies: Rewarded Ads and Developer Insights

58:34 Roblox Moments: The TikTok Integration and Its Impact

01:00:31 Concerns Over Aggregation and Control in the Gaming Industry