Game Changers

This week on the Konvoy Newsletter audio edition, host Jason Chapman explores why version control for AI prompts is becoming a critical piece of modern software development. As AI becomes deeply embedded in everyday workflows, teams are discovering that prompts evolve just like code — and need new systems to track, evaluate, and optimize them.

From guiding AI outputs with precision to managing prompt history across teams, the future of software development will require tools purpose-built for this new workflow. Just as Git transformed how developers collaborate on code, new platforms are emerging to do the same for AI prompts — with evaluation data serving as the ultimate moat.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• What prompt engineering is and why it matters
• How prompt version control differs from code version control
• Why non-technical users need a different collaborative workflow
• The role of evaluation frameworks like “negative examples” and “LLM as judge”
• How new tools can centralize API management, testing, and cost monitoring
• Why evaluation data could become the key differentiator in this market

Whether you’re building with AI, investing in next-gen infrastructure, or just trying to keep pace with the future of development, this episode breaks down the emerging world of prompt version control — and why the teams who get this right will gain a lasting advantage.

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This week on the Konvoy Newsletter audio edition, host Josh Chapman explores the tradeoffs between running AI locally on-device versus in the cloud. As the cost of inference has fallen 1,000x in just three years, developers and enterprises now face a strategic choice: prioritize privacy, control, and real-time performance with local AI — or embrace scalability, accessibility, and low entry costs in the cloud.

From healthcare diagnostics to autonomous vehicles, from generative chatbots to fraud detection, the future of AI won’t be one-size-fits-all. Instead, it’s about matching infrastructure to use case — and increasingly, hybrid approaches like Apple’s “Private Cloud” are bridging the gap.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why local AI is gaining traction after years of hardware and complexity barriers

• The unique advantages of on-device inference: privacy, latency, and offline reliability

• How cloud AI powers scalability, collaboration, and data-heavy applications

• The hybrid strategies big tech players are adopting to balance both worlds

• Which industries are best positioned for local AI vs. cloud AI adoption

• The key tradeoffs between cost, control, and scale that every team must weigh

Whether you’re building AI-driven products, investing in next-gen infrastructure, or tracking how enterprises adopt new technologies, this episode unpacks the future of AI deployment — and what it means for both consumers and businesses.

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This week on the Konvoy Newsletter audio edition, host Jackson Vaughan unpacks how mobile web shops are breaking Apple and Google’s stranglehold on payments. What started as a regulatory experiment in South Korea and Europe has exploded into a global shift — and by 2025, 72% of top-grossing mobile games now run their own direct-to-consumer storefronts.

With turnkey platforms like Xsolla, Stash, and Appcharge making setup easier than ever, publishers from Playtika to Stillfront are already seeing up to 40% of revenue flow through web shops. The payoff is higher margins, better conversion, and deeper customer relationships — but also new responsibilities around fraud, compliance, and refunds.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• How regulation forced Apple and Google to open up payment systems

• Why web shops now outperform app stores in personalization and conversion

• Which genres and publishers are leading adoption — and who’s falling behind

• How public gaming companies are reporting 20–40% of revenue from direct sales

• The risks and responsibilities developers now carry when going direct

• Why web shops, not web apps, are the real industry breakthrough

Whether you’re building games, investing in the mobile economy, or tracking platform regulation, this episode reveals how web shops went from fringe experiments to industry standard — and what that means for the future of mobile gaming.

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This week on the Konvoy Newsletter audio edition, host Jason Chapman unpacks India’s sweeping ban on all online real-money gaming — a dramatic policy shift drawing comparisons to America’s Prohibition era. In just three days, lawmakers passed a bill that effectively wiped out a $23 billion industry, raising urgent questions about regulation, innovation, and investor confidence in one of the world’s fastest-growing digital economies.

Behind the ban are concerns about suicide prevention, algorithmic manipulation, and national security. But does the data actually support these claims? And why has the government targeted online gaming while leaving social media — with its far stronger links to youth mental health issues — untouched?

From the cultural history of gambling in India to the sudden collapse of companies like Dream11 and MPL, and the stark contrast with America’s gambling boom, this episode examines whether prohibition will truly protect society — or drive the industry underground while damaging India’s global reputation.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why India’s government views real-money gaming as a “big evil” — and how that rhetoric echoes past prohibition movements

• The real data behind India’s suicide crisis, and whether online gambling is a major driver

• How cultural factors and social shame shape the country’s gambling debate

• The devastating economic fallout for companies, workers, and investors

• How America’s regulatory approach differs, and what it means for the future of global gaming policy

• Possible paths forward as Indian states and courts explore regulated alternatives

Whether you’re building in gaming, investing in emerging markets, or tracking global regulation, this episode explores how one policy decision reshaped an entire industry overnight — and what it signals about the future of gaming in India.

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This week on the Konvoy Newsletter audio edition, host Josh Chapman explores the rapidly evolving world of digital gatekeeping — and why age verification is becoming one of the defining challenges of the modern internet.

Once marked by anonymity and minimal oversight, the online world is now facing sweeping regulations designed to protect children and teens from adult content, predatory behavior, and high-risk features like online gambling. From U.S. state laws to the EU’s Digital Services Act, governments are shifting from simple honor-system checkboxes to strict, enforceable verification requirements — fundamentally reshaping how platforms onboard and engage users.

For gaming, social media, streaming, and beyond, these changes bring both risk and opportunity: compliance costs are rising, user experiences are being redesigned, and new business models are emerging around parental consent, family accounts, and privacy-preserving digital identities.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why online age verification has become a global priority for regulators

• The key U.S. state and international laws reshaping digital platforms

• How compliance costs and friction are influencing platform business models

• The evolving role of parents, families, and consumers in age-gated environments

• Why digital identity solutions could unlock both safety and seamless access

Whether you’re building in gaming, consumer tech, or digital infrastructure, this episode unpacks how stricter age rules are transforming the online economy — and what it means for platforms navigating the trade-off between safety, privacy, and usability.

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For a quarter of a century, RuneScape has been more than just a game; it's a digital world that has become a second home for millions. But how does such a legacy IP thrive in a modern gaming landscape defined by "flash over substance" development that alienates core communities?

The stewardship of this iconic franchise falls to its new CEO, Jon Bellamy, who brings a perspective unheard of in the industry: he's not just a leader, but a 20-year veteran player who understands the game's soul. In this deep-dive conversation, Jon pulls back the curtain to reveal the 'alchemy' behind RuneScape's enduring success. He discusses the strategic importance of its player-centric business models, the roadmap for Jagex's next chapter - including the breakout success of new titles - and unveils his vision for the biggest year in the franchise's history.

Chapters:

00:00 - Why RuneScape Hooked a Generation of Gamers

02:33 Freedom, Problem-Solving, and Social Connection in RuneScape 07:42 Simplicity as a Competitive Edge in Modern Gaming

09:46 Returning as CEO and Preserving Core Player Values

12:26 Building a Hundred-Year Gaming Franchise Players Never Quit

16:16 How a Simple Subscription Model Sustains Community Trust 19:55 Inside the RuneScape Franchise and New Dragon Wilds Launch 25:24 Managing Distinct Yet Connected Player Communities

28:12 Community Management as Jagex’s Competitive Advantage 31:08 Expanding Fandom Through Physical Events and Experiences

34:07 Balancing Authenticity and Brand Growth Without Losing Identity 39:25 Why Strong IP Will Thrive in an AI-Driven Content Boom

42:28 Exciting Roadmap for RuneScape’s 25th Anniversary

Jon Bellamy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-bellamy/ Jagex: https://www.jagex.com/

This week on the Konvoy Newsletter audio edition, host Jason Chapman explores why a generation that feels financially stuck is going “risk-on” — embracing higher-risk, higher-reward behaviors across finance, gaming, and lifestyle in an effort to get ahead.

With muted wage growth, skyrocketing living costs, and declining belief in the American dream, more young consumers are rolling the dice — turning to sports betting, retail trading, skill-based games, and even biohacking in search of upside.

From sweepstakes platforms and loot boxes to AI-powered homeschooling and side-hustle apps, industries built on volatility are thriving in an environment where stability feels out of reach.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why financial pessimism is fueling a surge in risk appetite among Gen Z and Millennials

• The explosive growth of betting, trading, and skill-based gaming as income supplements

• How education, gig work, and even health are being reshaped by a “roll the dice” mindset

• What industries stand to benefit — and which may struggle — as risk becomes a lifestyle

Whether you’re building in consumer tech, fintech, or gaming, this episode unpacks why uncertainty is no longer paralyzing — it’s motivating a new generation to take big swings.

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This week on the Konvoy Newsletter audio edition, host Jackson Vaughan explores how technology is transforming the $100+ billion kids’ toy market — shifting from dolls and building sets to AI-enabled companions, smart devices, and deeply interactive play.

From the late-90s Furby craze to Anki’s expressive robots, the industry’s history is filled with both groundbreaking successes and high-profile failures. Along the way, toys have sparked national security debates, triggered privacy lawsuits, and forced regulators to rethink how children’s data is protected.

Now, with advances in local AI, rapid prototyping, and direct-to-consumer sales, startups may be better positioned than ever to challenge toy giants — if they can balance delight with trust, privacy, and financial sustainability.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• The pivotal tech-enabled toys that shaped the past 30 years — and the lessons they teach today

• Why privacy, trust, and transparency matter more than ever for AI-powered play

• The regulatory shifts reshaping the global toy market in 2025 and beyond

• How startups can leverage edge AI, cheaper prototyping, and supply chain efficiencies to compete

Whether you’re building in gaming, robotics, or consumer tech, this episode unpacks why the future of toys is about more than just fun — it’s about safer, smarter play in a connected world.

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Tired of video games getting a bad rap? Stanley Pierre-Louis, CEO of the Entertainment Software Association, unveils the playbook that turned the gaming industry from a political target into a respected art form. Learn how strategic advocacy and self-regulation built a fortress of trust with both policymakers and parents.

With new challenges like AI on the horizon, the lessons from gaming's legislative battles provide a crucial blueprint for any innovative industry trying to protect its creative freedom and foster growth in a world of constant scrutiny.

00:00 - How Stanley Pierre-Louis Became the Voice of the Gaming Industry

01:51 - Growing Up with Atari, Pac-Man, and Retro Gaming Culture

04:28 - Battling Piracy from Napster to Grokster in Music Law

10:10 - Transitioning from Music to Gaming Through IP and Tech

13:46 - How Creators Differ Across Film, Music, and Video Games

16:50 - The Birth of the ESA and ESRB as Gaming’s Advocacy Pillars

22:17 - Why Parents Trust Video Games More Than Social Media

24:33 - How COVID and Culture Shifted Gaming’s Perception in D.C.

27:01 - Key Policy Issues in Gaming: Online Safety, AI, and Regulation

33:00 - How ESA Translates Industry Innovation to Lawmakers

41:04 - Why E3 Ended and What iicon Means for Gaming’s Future

46:08 - Stanley’s Vision for the ESA as a Policy and Innovation Leader

🔗 CONNECT WITH STANLEY & THE ESA:

• Website: theesa.com

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stanley-pierre-louis-761b1a83/

• ESA on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/entertainment-software-association/

#VideoGames #GamingIndustry #ESA

This week on Game Changers, host Josh Chapman explores how satellites are unlocking a $157 billion digital opportunity—by bringing the internet to the world’s most remote regions.

With 12,000+ satellites now orbiting the Earth and thousands more launching every year, the satellite industry is entering a new phase—one where it’s no longer just about space, but about economic transformation here on Earth.

At the center of this revolution is Starlink, which now delivers high-speed internet to 6 million subscribers across 140 countries. This breakthrough in connectivity isn’t just a tech marvel—it’s a commercial catalyst. By connecting the unconnected, satellites are poised to add $86 billion to the digital ad market and $71 billion to digital subscriptions like gaming, streaming, health, and more.

So what’s driving this orbital boom—and how should game developers, investors, and entrepreneurs think about this expanding digital frontier?

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why satellite internet is now “good enough” for gaming, streaming, and more

• Where the 4 billion people without reliable internet access live—and what that means for digital markets

• The economics of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and how it’s fueling the new space race

• Why the next billion users may come online via space, not fiber

Whether you’re building in gaming, consumer tech, or digital media, this episode unpacks why satellites may be the most underestimated growth story in your industry.

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