Game District CEO Saad Hameed joins Michail Katkoff to tell the untold story of Pakistan’s booming gaming industry. From bootstrapped studios to billion-download success, we dive into the rise of Lahore as a serious global player, why Pakistan could be the next Turkey or Vietnam, and what’s holding the ecosystem back from its breakout moment. This is the episode you didn’t know you needed.

Connect with Saad: www.linkedin.com/in/saadhameedkh

00:00 Introduction to Game District and Saad Hameed

02:47 The Structure and Philosophy of Game District

05:41 The Rise of Gaming Studios in Pakistan

08:46 Challenges and Opportunities in the Pakistani Gaming Ecosystem

11:30 The Role of Education and Talent Development

14:19 Venture Capital and Funding Challenges

17:22 Monetization Strategies and Market Focus

20:11 Live Operations and Competitive Landscape

30:36 Competitive Advantages of Pakistan's Gaming Ecosystem

32:58 Bottlenecks and Growth Drivers in Pakistan's Gaming Industry

40:56 Work Culture and Entrepreneurial Mindset in Pakistan

45:45 Pakistan's Unique Strengths in the Gaming Market

52:57 Pathways to Breakout Success for Pakistan's Gaming Industry

We kick things off with a no-holds-barred Supercell rant before diving into the hottest industry stories—from Xbox Game Pass profitability to Apple’s latest regulatory headache in the EU. We break down Supercell’s shifting strategy, IPO rumors, and what it all signals for the wider market.

The crew also explores Gen Z’s changing spending habits, mobile monetization trends, and why Merge games might be due for a second wind. Plus: Mecha Break’s breakout moment, studio culture shifts, and where smart money is going in games right now.

Heroic Gamescom Party > https://lu.ma/tjkk5r8k

Chapters:

01:57 Supercell Rant

06:03 Xbox Game Pass Profitability Debate

10:21 Apple EU Regulations and Tier System

13:31 Supercell's Strategy and IPO Speculations

21:11 Gen Z's Changing Spending Habits

24:40 Disposable Income and App Spending Trends

26:40 Gen Z Gaming Preferences

28:51 Investment and Industry News

28:59 Company Culture38:19 Merge Genre Insights

42:57 The Rise of Mecha Break

43:58 Monetization Strategies in Gaming

53:07 Conclusion and Next Week's Topics

Mishka Katkoff interviews Seth Sivak as they discuss startup culture, leadership, company values, product market fit, cultural onboarding, adaptive culture, game industry, entrepreneurship, team dynamics, and management.

They discuss the importance of company culture, how it can be shaped and influenced, and the challenges of maintaining a healthy culture as a startup scales.

Seth shares insights on cultural onboarding, the adaptability of culture, and the lessons learned from his experiences in the gaming industry. The conversation emphasizes the need for leaders to be intentional about culture and to regularly assess its impact on team dynamics and overall success.

Seth's newsletter: https://sethsivak.substack.com/

02:44Navigating Layoffs and Founding Proletariat

05:10The Importance of Culture in Startups

07:39Defining and Measuring Culture

11:38The Role of Leadership in Shaping Culture

14:21Cultural Tools and Their Impact

18:47Iterating on Culture as a Product

21:16Conclusion and Key Takeaways

26:52Navigating Work-Life Balance in Startups

29:43Cultural Recognition and Team Dynamics

34:03Defining Good vs. Bad Company Culture

38:10The Challenges of Setting Cultural Boundaries

42:25Navigating Social Issues and Company Culture

46:51Onboarding and Cultural Integration in Growing Teams

49:40Cultural Onboarding and Integration

51:30The Art of Copying Culture

53:48Learning from Successful Cultures

58:01Adaptive Culture vs. Rigid Culture

01:07:03Evolving Beliefs About Culture

01:08:03The Meaning Behind Proletariat's Name

The boys-only episode talks about layoffs sweeping through top Swedish studios before diving into yet another round of Xbox layoffs. In this episode, we also cover Apple’s ongoing cat-and-mouse game with the EU’s DMA rules and unpack the critical difference between private equity and venture capital in gaming. The crew analyzes the early flop of Marvel Mystic Mayhem before talking about how Splitgate 2 is already struggling to justify its existence.

02:36 Sweden's Gaming Industry Layoffs

05:22 Gamescom Events Preview

06:13 Microsoft Layoffs and Xbox Strategy

13:29 Apple's Response to the DMA

21:59 Private Equity vs. Venture Capital in Gaming

32:41 Eve Online: Myth vs. Reality

34:02 Uma Musume Pretty Derby's US Launch

36:42 Marvel Mystic Mayhem's Struggles

42:55 Rainbow Six Siege: A Decade of Success

47:47 Splitgate 2: The Rise and Fall

56:25 The Harsh Realities of the Gaming Market

01:00:58 Up Next

In this episode, I sit down with Sophie Vo, studio founder, podcast host, and now the creator of Orin Retreats, to unpack why she walked away from the startup rat race to build something intentionally small, sustainable, and soul-aligned.

We talk about the version of success that nearly broke her, why the VC model fails most founders, and how depth, not scale, became her new metric for impact. If you’ve ever questioned the path you’re on, this conversation might just reframe what “winning” really looks like.

00:00 Redefining Success

05:47 The VC Dilemma

12:48 Navigating Co-Founder Dynamics

18:32 Bootstrapping vs. Venture Capital: A Founder's Perspective

24:16 The AI Coaching Experience

29:52 Creating Human Connection in a Digital World

39:25 The Roots of Distrust Among Women

42:00 Navigating Female Networks and Support

46:45 The Importance of Self-Awareness in Leadership

52:11 The Role of Coaching in Personal Growth

56:37 Advice and Insights from the Journey

We discuss Believer’s potential survivor, the layoffs at Mind’s Eye, and Netflix’s surprising decision to axe key mobile titles. But the real meat is Supercell: what the hell is going on in Helsinki? From performance stagnation to communication silence, we unpack the company’s evolving strategy—or lack thereof.

Also on deck: Riot’s dev woes, Microsoft’s muddled Xbox strategy, and what YouTube’s 20th anniversary tells us about the future of game content. We wrap with a look at emerging trends in mobile and Steam that could define the back half of 2025.

02:13 Shills
02:57 Meta Marketing Summit Experience
07:41 Gamescom
09:58 Believer Startup Update
10:52 Mind's Eye Layoffs
12:17 Netflix Mobile Games Removal
16:49 Supercell's Strategy and Performance
31:51 Supercell's Communication Strategy
36:05 YouTube's 20th Anniversary and Gaming Highlights
38:12 Riot Games' Development Challenges
43:17 Microsoft's Xbox Strategy Critique
52:58 Emerging Trends in Mobile and Steam Games

From Niantic’s $3.5B sale of Pokémon GO to Scopely, to the rise of SLAP, a fast-paced, IRL multiplayer game that blends social tagging with viral video content Jen Donahoe and Lauren Steidl, CEO and co-founder of Integrated Reality Labs, explore how geogames are evolving from novelty apps into a new genre of play.Why Pokémon GO showed both the power and the limits of GPS gamingThe tech leap making real-world multiplayer actually workSLAP’s breakout performance—10 sessions/day, no paid UAHow TikTok culture is shaping the next generation of mobile gameplayWhy the future of mobile gaming may lie in neighborhoods, not screens🔗 Learn more about SLAP and IRL Labs: www.playslap.com/irl00:00 Introduction and Host's Excitement02:25 The Game 'Assassin' and Its Evolution03:30 Introducing Integrated Reality Labs and 'SLAP'04:31 Meet the Founders: Lauren and Ian06:06 Gameplay and Features of 'SLAP'08:05 Social Media Integration and Viral Growth12:16 Technical Innovations and Proximity Gaming18:32 Marketing Strategies and User Engagement22:25 Future Plans and Monetization34:07 Conclusion and Contact Information#Geogaming #PokemonGO #SLAPgame #MobileGaming #GameDesign #AugmentedReality #LocationBasedGaming #DeconstructorOfFun #Podcast

We start with a massive Switch 2 record-breaking pre-launch momentum and what it signals for Nintendo’s comeback strategy. Then it’s on to Tencent’s rumored bid for Nexon that could reshape the Korean gaming landscape.

Candy Crush OGs jump back into the game as we unpack the shock closures (RIP Believer), restructures (Warner Bros Games), and slowdowns (Bungie’s Marathon, Build a Rocket Boy). Plus: Mobile Gaming Trends 2025, Remedy’s mysterious new drop, and why Kingshot might be the next game to watch.
Sharp, unsentimental, and essential, just how you like it.

Appsflyer State of Creative Optimization: shorturl.at/Mjaiz
Timestamps
02:54 – Saltwater Fish Tank Update
04:02 – Shilling and Blog Highlights
07:56 – Mobile Gaming Trends 2025
13:35 – Not E3 Events Recap
19:12 – Switch 2 Record-Breaking Launch
27:00 – Tencent’s Potential Nexon Acquisition
29:26 – Korean Gaming Industry Insights
30:42 – Western Capital in Eastern Markets
32:01 – Stellar Blade’s Success on Steam
35:07 – Candy Crush Veterans’ New Venture
36:42 – Nice Plans Studio’s Funding Round
38:05 – Warner Bros. Game Restructure
39:36 – Believer’s Shutdown
42:17 – Build a Rocket Boy’s Struggles
49:31 – Bungie’s Marathon Delay
50:18 – Remedy’s New Release
56:13 – King Shot’s Rise
Subscribe, rate, and tell a friend who’s still waiting on the Marathon beta.
In this podcast, the group shares **game dev** secrets and **game design** insights from working in the industry. They also discuss the realities of **game development**, covering everything from the highs to the lows, and provide a **reaction video** to specific scenarios that can happen. The discussion also includes stories from **indie game dev** studios.

Mishka Katkoff talks with George Ng, co-founder and CTO of GGWP, about the real AI crisis in gaming—and it’s not what you think.From manipulative personalization to privacy nightmares, we unpack how AI is already reshaping development, monetization, and the player experience. George breaks down the tech behind the buzz, the moral minefields, and whether AI will elevate creativity or just flood the market with noise.Topics: • AI as a tool—or a trap—for player engagement • The shifting role of creatives in an AI-driven dev pipeline • Procedural generation, NPCs, and the illusion of emotion • Why the biggest threat isn’t bad AI—it’s good AI used badlyConnect with George on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/georgeng/Sponsored by: AppCharge, Sensor Tower, Want to work with us? Reach out: [email protected]:32 - Ethical concerns: AI personalization, monetization & manipulation03:17 - AI bias and fairness in moderation07:33 - How AI impacts game development & team structure11:03 - Where AI’s impact is most significant: narrative design?13:01 - The future of autonomous NPCs & emotional attachment16:39 - Procedural generation: Can AI replace human designers?21:07 - Market trends: AI, copycats, and the “bull vs. bear” case34:51 - Fully AI-generated games: who needs them?42:45 - The future of AI in game development

Habby has a new surprise launch that may push the publisher to $1B ARR. Apple somehow does worse than Game Center 2.0, while Xbox delivers a near swan song. Did we mention LARS IS GONE FROM EMBRACER? Eric vows a commitment of swear-free chastity, while Jen and Phil remind him of his true podcast self.03:33 Off the Record in LA05:27 Phil's Singapore Experience07:28 Dune Awakening and Game of Thrones Kings Road09:14 Off the Record Event Highlights12:53 Embracer CEO Shakeup15:55 Unity CTO Resignation17:28 Xbox Showcase Disappointment21:29 Xbox Handheld Announcement24:51 Call of Duty Marketing Concerns29:52 Fun Plus and the Pokémon MMO34:45 Summer Games Fest Highlights36:30 Nintendo Switch 2 and Third-Party Challenges40:20 Apple's New Gaming App46:59 Tim Sweeney's Explosive Interview50:52 New Marvel Games Announced53:01 Whittle Defender's Surprising Launch53:52 Habi's Success and Future Prospects56:19 Art Style Shifts in Midcore Games