In this episode, our friend John Wright discusses his predictions for the gaming industry in 2025, covering a range of topics from the rise of anime games to the impact of AI on game development. He emphasizes the importance of direct-to-consumer models and alternative stores while also addressing the challenges of privacy and user acquisition.

He highlights the evolving gaming landscape and the strategies developers will need to adopt to succeed in the coming years.

This is no BS gaming podcast 2.5 gamers session. Sharing actionable insights, dropping knowledge from our day-to-day User Acquisition, Game Design, and Ad monetization jobs. We are definitely not discussing the latest industry news, but having so much fun! Let’s not forget this is a 4 a.m. conference discussion vibe, so let's not take it too seriously.

Panelist: John Wright

Youtube: https://youtu.be/UHDcP1jdYIk

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Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Gaming Trends and Predictions

02:44 The Rise of Anime Games

05:11 Big Publishers vs. Small Studios

08:59 The Evolution of Hybrid Casual Games

11:53 Transmedia and Intellectual Property in Gaming

16:08 The Impact of AI on Game Development

20:43 The Future of Walled Gardens in Gaming

23:25 Privacy Challenges in User Acquisition

25:51 Direct-to-Consumer and Web Stores

28:10 The Emergence of Alternative Stores

31:31 The Potential of HTML5 Games

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Matej Lancaric

User Acquisition & Creatives Consultant

⁠https://lancaric.me

Felix Braberg

Ad monetization consultant

⁠https://www.felixbraberg.com

Jakub Remiar

Game design consultant

⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakubremiar

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Takeaways

Anime games are experiencing a cultural shift and growing popularity.

Big publishers are likely to dominate the market, pushing small studios to adapt.

Hybrid casual games are evolving towards a more casual model.

Transmedia and IP integration are becoming crucial for game success.

AI is set to revolutionize game development processes.

Walled gardens in gaming are becoming more prevalent and successful.

Privacy concerns will continue to impact user acquisition strategies.

Direct-to-consumer models are essential for profitability in gaming.

Alternative app stores are gaining traction and offering new opportunities.

HTML5 games present a significant opportunity for developers to reach new audiences.

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