Say farewell to The Mobile GameDev Playbook, as we introduce the new and improved Mobile Games Playbook, brought to you by Liftoff. 

Investing in young talent is crucial for the growth and development of the game development industry because it brings fresh perspectives, new ideas, and diverse backgrounds to the industry, which is vital to safeguard the future of game development. 

Join us as we delve deeper into why nurturing and investing in young people is essential and how it can benefit the industry in the long run.

In this episode, we talk to Yahsir Qureshi, the VP and Head of Studio at Sandsoft Games and Chief Game Analyst at GameRefinery, a Liftoff Company, Teemu Palomäki. We look at Sandsoft’s "Press Start" program, a six-month initiative that addresses the skills gap in the game development industry. We examine the selection process for young developers and the resources they receive during the program and explore the expectations and outcomes of the program.

Remember to subscribe, leave a review, and check out our websites https://liftoff.io/ and www.gamerefinery.com!

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Mobile Games Playbook

Is there room for others to succeed in a market dominated by so few companies?

Join us as we explore the current state of the mobile shooter market, the top games dominating the market, their market shares, and the different types of shooters available.

You won't want to miss our overview of games like CoD: Warzone Mobile, Arena Breakout, Undawn Vitality, Division Mobile, Destiny Mobile, and Valorant.

We'll also explore the recent game cancellations from EA, including Apex and Battlefield, and examine, amongst others, the intensity of live-ops for the top shooters, content cadence, and possible entry barriers for new companies. Looking to the future, we'll delve into where the market is headed and whether there is room for new shooters and subgenres to emerge and take the market share.

Check out this episode to learn about the challenges that mobile game developers face when trying to develop shooters. We talk to the Chief Game Analysts at GameRefinery, a Liftoff company, Wilhelm Voutilainen and Erno Kiiski, who provide us with a comprehensive analysis of the state of the mobile shooter market and tell us what we can expect in the months and years to come.

Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and visit us at www.gamerefinery.com! 

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The Mobile GameDev Playbook

Why have some of the biggest names in the industry pivoted away from gacha-based monetization systems?


Join us as we explore the response from players to these changes in popular games like Brawl Stars, Mario Kart, Diablo Immortal, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, Overwatch, Marvel Snap, and Arena Breakout.


We'll examine how these changes have affected players' progression and gameplay experience and take a closer look at the impact these changes have had on the mobile gaming industry.


Learn about the challenges facing mobile game developers when it comes to removing gachas and changing progression systems, as well as the future of monetization in mobile gaming. We talk to the Chief Game Analysts at GameRefinery, a Liftoff company, Wilhelm Voutilainen, Teemu Palomäki, and Kalle Heikkinen.


Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and visit us at www.gamerefinery.com! 


Thanks for listening, 

The Mobile GameDev Playbook

What makes Marvel Snap such a hit?

In this episode of the Mobile GameDev Playbook, we review Marvel Snaps’ success, key features, and the first major update. We also discuss the game’s monetization, thoughts on its future and the overall CCG genre.

Joined by Joel Julkunen, Head of Analytics and Chief Game Analyst, Erno Kiiski, from GameRefinery, a Liftoff Company. 

You can find The Mobile GameDev Playbook on GameRefinery’s Youtube channel. 

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Thanks for listening, 

The Mobile GameDev Playbook

What trends and features to look forward to in 2023!

In this episode of the Mobile GameDev Playbook, we’re joined by Wilhelm Voutilainen and Teemu Palomäki, Chief Game Analysts from GameRefinery, a Liftoff Company, to discuss key trends in 2023. 

We discuss upcoming releases, potential new genres, and exciting trends.

We also cover shooter games, predictions for monetization changes, events trends, and what will happen with blockchain games in 2023.

You can find The Mobile GameDev Playbook on GameRefinery’s Youtube channel. 

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Thanks for listening, 

The Mobile GameDev Playbook

Examining the merge genre and EverMerge.

In this episode of the Mobile GameDev Playbook, we’re joined by Sergey Neskin, the CEO & co-founder of Neskin Games, and Chief Game Analyst Kalle Heikkinen from GameRefinery, a Liftoff Company, to discuss the hit mobile game EverMerge: Merge 3 Puzzle.

We cover what inspired the game, the growth of the merge genre and how it’s evolved, interesting trends, and predictions for the future of merge games.

We also look at some standout releases, the trends in gameplay events and features, as well as trends in monetization. 

You can find The Mobile GameDev Playbook on GameRefinery’s Youtube channel. 

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The Mobile GameDev Playbook

What were the hottest mobile game design trends in 2022? 

In this episode, we look back at 2022 and reflect on the biggest trends that happened in mobile games. Joining us are our resident experts and Chief Game Analysts from GameRefinery, a Liftoff Company, Kalle Heikkinen and Erno Kiiski.

We examine some standout releases, trends in gameplay events and features as well as trends in monetization. 

You can now find The Mobile GameDev Playbook on GameRefinery’s Youtube channel. 

Please subscribe and leave a review!

Thanks for listening, 

The Mobile GameDev Playbook

How can brands get their IPs into mobile games?

In this episode, we discuss the complexities and processes of how brands and licenses can get their IPs into mobile games. Joining us from Layer Licensing is CEO and Founder, Rachit Moti, and from Tilting Point is Chief Business Officer, Asi Burak, as well as resident expert from GameRefinery, a Liftoff Company, Chief Game Analyst Kalle Heikkinen.

We examine the challenges encountered in licensing, interesting trends and collaborations, how games make money from IPs, and what Layer aims to change. 

You can now find The Mobile GameDev Playbook on GameRefinery’s Youtube channel. 

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The Mobile GameDev Playbook

In this episode of the Mobile GameDev Playbook, we look at how monetization features have evolved from 2020 till now. Joining us from GameRefinery, a Liftoff Company, are Chief Game Analysts Erno Kiiski and Wilhelm Voutilainen.

We explore innovation in battle passes, IAP mechanics, external web stores, and what monetization may look like in the future for mobile games like Cookie Run: Kingdom, Call of Duty Mobile, and Royal Match.

You can now find The Mobile GameDev Playbook on GameRefinery’s Youtube channel. 

Please subscribe and leave a review!

Thanks for listening, 

The Mobile GameDev Playbook

In this episode of the Mobile GameDev Playbook, Mike Taramykin, the founder of HypGames, and Chief Game Analyst Teemu Palomäki from GameRefinery, a Liftoff company, join our host Jon Jordan to discuss the celebrity partnerships in mobile games.

We delve into the strategy behind celebrity partnerships and analyze mobile collaboration trends this year while sharing heartwarming anecdotes of working with stars including Tiger Woods, Steve Carell, Amy Poehler, and Tina Fey.

You can now find The Mobile GameDev Playbook on GameRefinery’s Youtube channel. 

Please subscribe and leave a review!

Thanks for listening, 

The Mobile GameDev Playbook