In this PocketGamer.biz episode, hosts Peggy Anne Salz and Craig Chapple sit down with Francesca ReDavid, VP of Product Growth at Mistplay, and Aaron Thandi, Chief Commercial Officer, to examine how rewarded is evolving in what many are calling the monetisation-first era.

For years, rewarded functioned primarily as a UA lever, driving installs and early engagement at scale. But growth dynamics have shifted. Installs have plateaued. Revenue is concentrating deeper in the player journey. Studios are now under pressure to increase lifetime value, not just acquisition volume.

That shift forces a rethink.

Mistplay is preparing to launch a new feature called Playtime Events, designed to combine time-based rewards with contextual in-game milestones. The goal is structural: align rewarded mechanics more closely with how games actually drive engagement and monetisation.

Rather than rewarding time alone, this approach ties incentives to meaningful progression points inside the game experience.

The testing that led to this shift is significant.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• Why rewarded can no longer operate as a simple traffic channel
• How hybrid playtime-plus-task testing drove a 30% lift in playtime and a 20% increase in D30 ROAS
• Why RPG and strategy titles exposed the limits of generic reward structures
• How contextual milestones can reinforce progression loops rather than distract from them
• What UA, AdMon and Product teams must rethink as monetisation becomes the growth engine

As Francesca explains, rewarded increasingly needs to function as a companion to gameplay — embedded in progression, not layered on top of it.

For studios navigating deeper engagement cycles in 2026, this episode explores why the next phase of rewarded will be defined less by installs and more by alignment with monetisation mechanics.

Chapters

00:00 Driving High Performance and Quality Experience

01:34 The Monetization-First Era

04:01 Rewarding High-Quality Users

05:56 Defining Rewarded

07:50 The History of Mistplay in Rewarded

11:34 Rewarded No Longer a Source of Cheap Traffic

15:12 Time Spent as a Key Indicator

29:39 Playtime and In-Game Events

33:38 Playtime Plus Task Mechanics

48:02 Rewarded's Future: Personalization and ML

** Let's Connect **

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Check out more world-class speakers sharing their insights and expertise at one of our events. You can find details of our next event here - https://www.pgconnects.com/next-event

In Part 1 of this two-part PocketGamer.biz special, hosts Peggy Anne Salz and Brian Baglow sit down with Jon Radoff, CEO of Beamable and an OG architect of online game infrastructure, building persistent systems long before “LiveOps” became a job title, to examine a shift many studios still underestimate.

The pressure is real: move faster, iterate based on real player behaviour and extend lifetime value without burning runway.

Studios know they need LiveOps. They know they need scale. What they often underestimate is where competitive advantage is now determined.

Drawing on decades of building and operating live online games, Jon explains why infrastructure decisions can quietly shape, or sabotage, everything that follows.

Peggy, Brian and Jon explore what Skillz’s acquisition of Beamable’s backend and LiveOps technology means for developers, and how bringing together competition systems, identity, payments and scalable backend services can reduce operational risk while freeing teams to focus on what actually differentiates their game.

The hard truth: “If you’re spending any of your effort building the tech instead of the fun, you’re accumulating debt that doesn’t do you any good.”

Jon makes the case for treating infrastructure as a strategic lever rather than a technical burden and for recognising that games are no longer products you ship, but businesses you operate.

In this episode, you’ll understand:

• Why velocity and behavioural signal now outweigh feature roadmaps
• How backend decisions directly impact runway, trust and long-term scalability
• What unified competition, identity and LiveOps systems unlock for 20-person studios
• Why socially connected mechanics are no longer reserved for massive teams
• How creator-driven ecosystems like Roblox are resetting player expectations

Part 1 closes on a pivotal idea: monetisation matters, but creativity at scale is the multiplier.

In Part 2, the focus shifts outward to the macro forces shaping the industry and why we have entered what Sensor Tower calls the “monetisation-first” era.

Chapters

0:00 Game of Thrones Content Delivery Challenges

3:17 Why Developers Shouldn't Build a Backend

3:36 Aiming High and Iterating Rapidly

4:23 Driving Engagement Through Content and Events

9:10 The Number One Challenge: Velocity

9:38 The Second Problem: Lack of Evidence

12:07 The Need for Both Speed and Evidence

16:15 Monetization as a Design Decision

19:33 Embracing the Social Fabric in Games

23:42 Creating a Regular Content Cadence and Events

Let's Connect

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Check out more world-class speakers sharing their insights and expertise at one of our events. You can find details of our next event here - https://www.pgconnects.com/next-event

PocketGamer.biz head of content Craig Chapple and news editor Aaron Astle talk through the latest games industry news on the 85th episode of the Week in Mobile Games Podcast.

On this week’s show we discuss:

- The Xbox leadership changes and what it means for Microsoft's games division.

- Pokémon's 30th anniversary.

- The UK ASA's decision to issue an enforcement notice on loot box transparency for mobile game ads and store listings.

- Blizzard's reveal of Overwatch Rush - Another MOBA?!

- Our big interview with the director of the Umamusume: Pretty Derby movie.

** Let's Connect **

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👉🏻 The Top 50 Mobile Game Makers 2025 - https://www.pocketgamer.biz/the-top-50-mobile-game-makers-of-2025/

👉🏻 Download the PocketGamer.biz Mobile Games Developer Trends Survey Winter 2024/25 report - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf3tbjUxVkG17CuHHljMblfmUC3DZ6gNAzV8qiz8bAALUXSvQ/viewform

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PocketGamer.biz head of content Craig Chapple, deputy editor Paige Cook and news editor Aaron Astle talk through the latest games industry news on the 84th episode of the Week in Mobile Games Podcast.

On this week’s show we discuss:

• Scopely's big deal for Pixel Flow developer Loom Games.
• The January 2026 mobile game revenue and download charts.
• Matthew Ball's State of Video Gaming 2026 report.
• Pokémon Go's PvP revamp.
• The closure of Call of Duty Warzone: Mobile's servers set for April 2026.
• The fall of Unity's shares by 91% since November 2021.

** Let's Connect **

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👉🏻 The Top 50 Mobile Game Makers 2025 - https://www.pocketgamer.biz/the-top-50-mobile-game-makers-of-2025/

👉🏻 Download the PocketGamer.biz Mobile Games Developer Trends Survey Winter 2024/25 report - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf3tbjUxVkG17CuHHljMblfmUC3DZ6gNAzV8qiz8bAALUXSvQ/viewform

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At PocketGamer Connects London, host Peggy Anne Salz sits down with Cameron Simon, CFO at Offroad Games, whose journey from mining in South Africa to “mining” player data in mobile gaming offers a fresh take on sustainable growth.

The interview grew out of a chance meeting at a dinner hosted by the Mobile Finance Collective, a new community bringing together finance leaders and founders in mobile apps and gaming, and surfaces some genuine gems along the way.

Drawing on a background in heavy industry, Cameron explains how exploration, capital discipline and long-term yield thinking translate directly into player acquisition, LiveOps strategy and monetisation in mobile games.

Key takeaways:

⛏️ The parallels between mining ore bodies and building player value, from discovery and development to maximising lifetime return

📊 How radical transparency around KPIs and runway builds trust and aligns teams around shared financial goals

🎮 Why CFOs who stay close to product and LiveOps make stronger growth decisions

💰 How Offroad Games approaches ad monetisation and D2C partnerships to unlock new revenue streams

🚀 Why sustainable growth and runway protection sit at the centre of every strategic decision

A candid conversation about capital discipline, growth strategy and what it takes to build a mobile studio that survives the cycle.

Chapters:

0:00 Cameron Simon: The "Jack of All Trades" CFO at Offroad Games

2:12 Translating Financial Data to Motivate the Team

3:34 From Mining in South Africa to Mobile Gaming in London

7:10 The Secret to Live Ops and Keeping a Game Fresh

8:29 Partnerships, D2C, and Ad Monetization

12:05 Sustainable Growth and Protecting the Team Runway

** Let's Connect **

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Check out more world-class speakers sharing their insights and expertise at one of our events. You can find details of our next event here - https://www.pgconnects.com/next-event

PocketGamer.biz head of content Craig Chapple, deputy editor Paige Cook and news editor Aaron Astle talk through the latest games industry news on the 83rd episode of the Week in Mobile Games Podcast.

On this week’s show we take a look at:

• Supercell's financials and CEO Ilkka Paananen's big blog post focusing on mobile game innovation.
• The Clash Royale content creator storm.
• Pokémon and Mario head to the Super Bowl.
• Square Enix's financials and Final Fantasy's future.
• Resident Evil Survival Unit's success and game design.
• Roblox's blowout year and concerns around child safety on the platform.

** Let's Connect **

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👉🏻 The Top 50 Mobile Game Makers 2025 - https://www.pocketgamer.biz/the-top-50-mobile-game-makers-of-2025/

👉🏻 Download the PocketGamer.biz Mobile Games Developer Trends Survey Winter 2024/25 report - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf3tbjUxVkG17CuHHljMblfmUC3DZ6gNAzV8qiz8bAALUXSvQ/viewform

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Chirag Ambwani, SVP Gaming & Entertainment, Corporate Development & Partnerships at Sensor Tower, discusses the state of mobile gaming, monetization strategies, and the growing influence of AI and non-gaming categories.

In this video:

• Mobile gaming surpasses $90B, with non-gaming apps also hitting record highs
• Short drama emerges as a fast-growing category, led by former gaming publishers
• Blended monetisation (IAP, subscriptions and ads) continues to drive growth
• Puzzle remains strong, while sports and racing decline
• Legacy titles like Clash of Clans and Candy Crush thrive through live ops
• Asia publishers dominate top-grossing charts
• AI is reshaping workflows, optimisation and ad spend
• Sensor Tower expands into PC, console and web store data

Timestamps

00:00 Intro

00:24 The State of Mobile Gaming: $90 Billion and Growing

01:44 The Rise of Short Drama: Former Gaming Companies Lead the Way

03:43 Why Blended Monetization (IAP, Subscriptions, Ads) Is Key

06:20 Legacy Titles and the Dominance of Asia Publishers

09:00 AI Usage: Optimizing Spend and Workflows

Let's Connect

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Check out more world-class speakers sharing their insights and expertise at one of our events. You can find details of our next event here - https://www.pgconnects.com/next-event

PocketGamer.biz head of content Craig Chapple, deputy editor Paige Cook and news editor Aaron Astle talk through the latest games industry news on the 82nd episode of the Week in Mobile Games Podcast.

On this week’s show we take a look at:

• Google's AI world-building tech Project Genie and why investors are concerned.
• Ares Interactive's $70 million funding round.
• Fire Emblem Heroes' ninth anniversary.
• Nintendo Switch 2 sales.
• Lil Wayne's Clash Royale virtual halftime show.
• Iron Lung's box office success.

** Let's Connect **

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👉🏻 The Top 50 Mobile Game Makers 2025 - https://www.pocketgamer.biz/the-top-50-mobile-game-makers-of-2025/

👉🏻 Download the PocketGamer.biz Mobile Games Developer Trends Survey Winter 2024/25 report - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf3tbjUxVkG17CuHHljMblfmUC3DZ6gNAzV8qiz8bAALUXSvQ/viewform

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👉🏻 The Top 30 MENA Game Makers 2025 - https://www.pocketgamer.biz/the-top-30-mena-game-makers-of-2025

👉🏻 The mobile games industry trends that shaped 2025 - https://www.pocketgamer.biz/the-mobile-games-industry-trends-that-shaped-2025/

In this PocketGamer.biz episode, hosts Peggy Anne Salz and Brian Baglow sit down with Yevhen Tarasenko, App Growth Consultant and ASO expert, to break down why sustainable organic growth is built on discipline, not shortcuts.

Drawing parallels between ASO and drumming in a metal band, Yevhen explains why teams that treat the app store as a live channel and build always-on systems consistently outperform those chasing quick wins.

You’ll learn:

🥁 Why ASO works like keeping time in a band, requiring consistency, structure and pressure-tested fundamentals

📊 How to prove the real value of organic growth by measuring incrementality and establishing clean baselines

🛠️ What studios should prioritise first, from in-app events to custom product pages, even with limited resources

🤖 Where AI and automation can genuinely help today, including speeding up workflows and reducing manual work by up to 40%

🎮 Why product, marketing and creative teams need to play the same song to unlock sustainable ASO performance

00:00 Intro

01:52 New Year's Resolutions for the Audience

02:36 Guest Introduction: Yevhen Tarasenko

04:06 Defining ASO

05:29 Parallels Between Drumming and ASO

06:40 Rule 1: Treat the Store Like a Live Channel

08:30 iOS 26 Update and Smaller Teams

14:27 Rule 2: Building an Always-On System

22:51 Rule 3: Product, Marketing, and Creative Play the Same Song

28:56 Rule 4: Measure Incrementality and Solo Your Track

Let's Connect

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Check out more world-class speakers sharing their insights and expertise at one of our events. You can find details of our next event here - https://www.pgconnects.com/next-event

PocketGamer.biz head of content Craig Chapple, deputy editor Paige Cook and news editor Aaron Astle talk through the latest games industry news on the 81st episode of the Week in Mobile Games Podcast.

On this week’s show we take a look at:

• What happened to Big Fish Games.
• Ubisoft's latest job cuts and restructure.
• The latest controversial AppLovin report.
• King's launch of daily game Candy Crush Crushable on Yahoo Games.
• Pokémon Go experiments with a new strategy for its lucrative Go Tour event.
• Netflix's cloud-first games strategy.

** Let's Connect **

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👉🏻 The Top 50 Mobile Game Makers 2025 - https://www.pocketgamer.biz/the-top-50-mobile-game-makers-of-2025/

👉🏻 Download the PocketGamer.biz Mobile Games Developer Trends Survey Winter 2024/25 report - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf3tbjUxVkG17CuHHljMblfmUC3DZ6gNAzV8qiz8bAALUXSvQ/viewform

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👉🏻 The Top 30 MENA Game Makers 2025 - https://www.pocketgamer.biz/the-top-30-mena-game-makers-of-2025

👉🏻 The mobile games industry trends that shaped 2025 - https://www.pocketgamer.biz/the-mobile-games-industry-trends-that-shaped-2025/