Marcos Muller, Director of Abu Dhabi talks about how the city is building a world-class gaming ecosystem from the ground up. From talent development to job creation and community engagement, Abu Dhabi Gaming is making big moves to attract studios, support developers, and put the region on the global gaming map.

Marcos shares insights on the incentives for game studios, and the growth of the gaming economy in the UAE, and even breaks down some misconceptions about life in Abu Dhabi. If you’re a game dev, investor, or just curious about emerging gaming hubs, this episode is a must-listen!

connect with Marcos: www.linkedin.com/in/mmhabig/

Chapters:

00:00 – Intro & Welcome Marcos Muller

02:15 – Why Abu Dhabi is Investing in Gaming

06:30 – Building a Sustainable Gaming Ecosystem

12:45 – The Role of Incubators, Accelerators & Studios

18:20 – Financial Incentives & Support for Game Companies

23:40 – Addressing the Talent Gap: Visas, Universities & Local Growth

30:10 – What Makes Abu Dhabi Attractive for Game Developers?

37:55 – Busting Myths About Living & Working in Abu Dhabi

45:20 – Abu Dhabi’s Long-Term Vision for Gaming

50:05 – Final Thoughts & Advice for Game Developers

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Scopely and Niantic are making moves, but can they actually change the game? NetEase unloads Marvel Rivals US studio—a political or an efficiency move? Plus, SMicrosoft’s console strategy looks shakier than ever, and we break down what the future of console gaming really looks like. And just when you thought it was over, King pulls another card from its sleeve. 🚀🎮

03:55 - GDC Shills

11:03 - Scopely & Niantic

20:10 - Jam City & Ludia AR Market

21:43 - Marvel Rivals & Netease

31:13 - Sony Earnings

32:06 - Microsoft's Console Struggles

38:00 - The Future of Console Gaming

50:54 - Return of King

🔗 Connect with Boris: https://www.linkedin.com/in/boris-kalmykov-7ba38065/

We chat with Boris Kalnikov, CEO & Co-founder of Hype Masters, about relocating his gaming studio from London to Abu Dhabi. Boris shares his journey with World War Armies, the challenges of remote work, and why he chose Abu Dhabi as his new home.

We dive into Abu Dhabi’s rise as a gaming hub, its government incentives, and the realities of running a studio in the region—from tax benefits to hiring talent and lifestyle changes. Whether you’re a developer, founder, or just curious about gaming in the Middle East, this episode has key insights you won’t want to miss.

Timestamps:

⏳ [00:00] Why Boris left London for Abu Dhabi

🏗️ [06:00] Building a gaming studio in a new ecosystem

💰 [20:00] What incentives and funding opportunities are available?

⚖️ [27:00] Abu Dhabi vs. London: Cost of living, taxes & hiring

🎮 [40:00] The future of gaming in Abu Dhabi

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Supercell had a monster year with €2.8B in revenue, proving that bigger live ops teams and aggressive marketing can still drive growth—but let’s be real, Squad Busters flopped hard despite the hype. Meanwhile, Unity continues its slow-motion train wreck, losing key talent and scrambling to fix its ad tech, while AppLovin is absolutely crushing it, with stock up 700% thanks to AI-powered ads. Now, in a power move, AppLovin is dumping its entire games portfolio for $900M—so who’s buying? Scopely? Zynga? Playtika? Drop your bets in the comments. 🚀🎮

01:29 Shills
07:25 Dream and Venture Capital
10:27 Battlefield and Shooter Games
14:23 Minecraft Studio Leadership Changes
20:39 Supercell's Record Year
25:57 Live Ops and Monetization Changes
26:52 Squad Busters' Marketing Missteps
31:35 Spark Labs's Bootcamp Vibes
37:44 Unity's Struggles and Layoffs
41:45 AppLovin's Strategic Shift

State of Mobile 2025 Report:

https://bit.ly/42T04bX
Join us in this episode as Jonathan Briskman from Sensor Towers and Michail Katkoff explore the overall health of the mobile market, Jonathan highlights strong growth metrics despite a mature landscape. He sheds light on the booming in-app purchase revenue and time spent on devices, while also discussing intriguing trends such as digital fatigue and the rise of hybrid apps. We also touch on the global success stories in mobile gaming, focusing on new hit games and the strategic importance of localization for cracking difficult markets like Japan and South Korea.

01:03 Mobile Market Trends and Metrics

05:33 Mobile Gaming Analysis

07:50 Challenges and Regional Factors

15:50 Success Stories and Strategies

25:57 Non-Gaming App Revenue Growth

35:03 Innovative AI Features in Apps

35:29 Gamification and User Engagement

36:36 Duolingo: A Game or Learning Tool?

38:14 Blurring Lines Between Games and Non-Games

38:25 Short Drama Apps: A Growing Trend

40:45 Global Mobile Usage Trends

42:26 Digital Fatigue and Market Shifts

49:40 Localization Strategies for Global Success

53:56 Emerging Markets and Growth Opportunities

56:46 Tapping into User-Generated Content Platforms

01:00:06 Key Takeaways from the State of Mobile Report

Wilfrid Obeng’s journey from Goldman Sachs and Google to gaming startup CTO is anything but typical.

In this episode, he breaks down how AudioMob is redefining in-game ads with audio, why they chose Abu Dhabi over Silicon Valley to scale their engineering team, and what it takes to transition from corporate structure to startup chaos. We dig into leadership lessons, hiring strategies, and the future of ad monetization—all from someone who’s been in the trenches. If you’re scaling a startup or rethinking monetization, this episode is a must-listen. 🎧🔥

www.linkedin.com/in/wilfridobeng

00:00 Wilfrid Obeng and AudioMob

04:51 From Goldman Sachs to Startup CTO

07:24 The Importance of Mentorship

13:40 Creating a Performance Culture

24:52 Life in Abu Dhabi: Work and Play

28:47 Hiring and Leadership in a Diverse Team

35:03 The Reality of Startups

37:10 Competing for Talent in Startups

39:05 Leadership Evolution and Challenges

42:07 The Importance of Company Culture

56:44 Living and Working in Abu Dhabi

01:05:01 Future Plans and Personal Growth

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With Jen at a meditation retreat in California and Miska fully embracing his jet-set life, Eric reminds us just how wrong Matthew Ball got it.

Adam reveals the Multiversus thesis and argues that Battlefield has room to grab dormant fans and grow the market. Phil spews Battlefield tears and worries about Roblox’s value destruction.

They conclude by debating the AI integration in-games: flop or tbd?

This episode features insights from top industry professionals on player engagement, revenue models, and the challenges faced by new releases like Helldivers 2, First Descendant, and Once Human. Dive into in-depth discussions on successful PvE models, key strategies for game success, and the future of game monetization.

Join Adam Telfer and a panel of experts as they explore the latest trends in PvE shooters and the evolving tools needed for effective LiveOps.

Brought to you by Heroic Labs, AppsFlyer, Sensor Tower, and Xsolla.

02:31 Market Overview of PVE Shooters
03:25 Recent Releases and Trends
04:07 Revenue and Engagement
07:54 PVE Live Service Challenges
08:42 Helldivers 2: Success and Future
13:54 The Competitive Landscape
27:04 First Descendant and Once Human
27:38 First Descendant's Elder Loop
29:27 PvE Shooter Systems
30:42 Helldivers 2: On The Way Out
36:34 Warframe's Sustained Success
40:13 Strategies for PvE Shooter Success
45:52 The Future of PvE Shooters

We start off with Kress coming after Matthew Ball and his take on the Metaverse and end the episode with Jen making the last stance for brand marketers.

In between the team breaks down the FTC’s latest settlement on loot boxes and what it means for the industry. Deep dive into Ubisoft's sea of worries and discuss Habby’s latest launch hurdles.

00:00 Intros
01:40 Shills
02:50 GDC Announcements and Sponsors
06:35 Corrections and Apologies
08:09 Matthew Ball and the Metaverse Debate
19:20 Loot Boxes and FTC Settlement
23:54 Sony, Marvel Snap, and Warner Brothers
28:58 Tech Company Operations
29:09 Star Wars Outlaws Sales Analysis
29:58 Ubisoft Helsinki and Gwen's Getaway
31:05 Rainbow Six Mobile's Struggles
32:34 Virtuous Acquisitions and Outsourcing
36:23 Habby's Game Launch Challenges
41:04 EA's Top Selling Games and Earnings
46:18 Marketing Strategies and Impact
57:15 Conclusion and Sign-Off

Xsolla State of Play report:

https://xsolla.com/newsroom/xsolla-autumn-2024-report

Mobile gaming is bigger than ever, with the industry set to hit $98.7 billion in 2024. But where is that growth coming from? In this episode, we sit down with Xsolla’s Chris Hewish to break down the key trends shaping the global market—from Asia’s dominance to the rise of emerging regions like Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East.

We also dig into how player demographics are shifting and what it means for game makers. With diversity becoming a bigger focus, studios are rethinking how they engage and design for an increasingly varied audience.

Chris unpacks the impact of the Digital Markets Act (DMA), explaining how developers are navigating new monetization opportunities beyond traditional app stores. We also tackle the surge of direct-to-consumer web shops, how gaming is merging with mainstream entertainment (yes, we’re looking at you, Secret Level), and what all of this means for the future of the industry.

If you want to stay ahead of where mobile gaming is headed, this episode is a must-listen.