Naavik Gaming Podcast

Naavik

The Naavik Gaming Podcast is a business-focused exploration of the companies, trends, strategies and leaders that are defining the future of games. To learn more and see other great content visit www.naavik.co.

  1. Why Healthcare Is Gaming’s Next Trillion-Dollar Market

    4D AGO

    Why Healthcare Is Gaming’s Next Trillion-Dollar Market

    Medical training is still stuck in the arcade era: expensive, basement-bound simulators and outdated software that rarely capture the real stakes of clinical decision-making. In this episode, host Alexandra Takei, Studio Director at Ruckus Games, sits down with Sam Glassenberg, founder of Level Ex (now part of Relevate Health), to unpack how game developers can modernize healthcare learning by truly embracing the craft of video game design, not “gamification” lipstick. The opportunity and the market here are much bigger than you might assume. Healthcare is a trillion-dollar industry in the US alone, and if you can create products that save the medical system money while also growing the $200B video game industry, that’s a win-win.  The conversation explores why even mediocre games outperform traditional training (the bar is shockingly low), and how live-ops principles let teams update clinical guidance fast. The pair also discusses who plays these games, and it turns out that it’s not only doctors but “normal people” who have found these games on the app store. They go deep on design: mapping real clinical challenges to proven genres (diagnosis as reductive-reasoning puzzles, ventilators as rhythm games), and why domain experts often describe what’s hard for residents, not what triggers adrenaline for experts, which is the source of “fun” in games. Finally, Sam breaks down the business: sponsored content by clients like Pfizer and Merck, free-to-play for doctors gameplay, and playable ads.  We’d also like to thank Overwolf for making this episode possible! Whether you're a gamer, creator, or game studio, Overwolf is the ultimate destination for integrating UGC in games! You can check out all Overwolf has to offer at https://www.overwolf.com/. If you like the episode, please help others find us by leaving a 5-star rating or review! And if you have any comments, requests, or feedback shoot us a note at podcast@naavik.co.   Watch the episode: YouTube Channel For more episodes and details: Podcast Website Free newsletter: Naavik Digest Follow us: Twitter | LinkedIn | Website Sound design by Gavin Mc Cabe.

    1h 1m
  2. Naavik Digest: Why Turkish Game Development Matters in 2026

    5D AGO

    Naavik Digest: Why Turkish Game Development Matters in 2026

    This is the audio version of the Naavik Digest newsletter published on February 15th, 2026. We explore Turkish game development in 2026, discussing what other countries can learn from its ascent and considerations for its next era. You can read the newsletter (with even more sections and visual detail) here: https://naavik.co/digest/why-turkish-game-development-matters-in-2026/  Meet us at GDC 2026 by filling out this short form: https://naavik.typeform.com/to/gVDtj4UO  Let us know what you think by sending us a note at podcast@naavik.co. Watch our episodes: YouTube Channel For more episodes and details: Podcast Website Free newsletter: Naavik Digest Follow us: Twitter | LinkedIn | Website Sound design by Gavin Mc Cabe.

    18 min
  3. AAA Publisher Struggles, Roblox’s Growth and Transmedia Success

    FEB 10

    AAA Publisher Struggles, Roblox’s Growth and Transmedia Success

    After a volatile few months across games, tech, and public markets, it’s time for a grounded check-in on where the industry actually stands. Host Devin Becker is joined by Aaron Bush (Managing Partner & Co-Founder, Naavik) to unpack the latest signals – from AAA publisher performance and what recent EA earnings suggest for big franchises like Battlefield, to Ubisoft’s ongoing restructuring, studio closures, and the push to reframe its future through initiatives like Vantage Studios. Next, they dig into Roblox’s continued growth and what its recent results imply, even as age-related scrutiny and safety conversations remain part of the narrative. From there, the discussion widens to the state of the console market: the early momentum around Switch 2 sales, the trajectory of Xbox hardware, and why Sony appears to be holding its ground. Devin and Aaron also look at how transmedia is shaping perception and demand, including Nintendo’s recent moves and what releases like an upcoming Mario Galaxy movie – and the surprise success of Iron Lung this month – reveal about IP leverage, audience crossover, and timing. They close with addressing the market whiplash around the reveal of Google DeepMind’s Genie 3, and a “buy, sell, or hold” round covering Microsoft, Krafton, AAA vs. AA, and PC gaming to highlight where near-term opportunities and risks may be emerging. We’d like to thank Heroic Labs for making this episode possible! Thousands of studios have trusted Heroic Labs to help them focus on their games and not worry about gametech or scaling for success. To learn more and reach out, visit https://heroiclabs.com/?utm_source=Naavik&utm_medium=CPC&utm_campaign=Podcast  If you like the episode, please help others find us by leaving a 5-star rating or review! And if you have any comments, requests, or feedback shoot us a note at podcast@naavik.co.   Watch the episode: YouTube Channel For more episodes and details: Podcast Website Free newsletter: Naavik Digest Follow us: Twitter | LinkedIn | Website Sound design by Gavin Mc Cabe.

    1h 10m
  4. Naavik Digest: Project Genie and the Stock Market’s Category Error

    FEB 8

    Naavik Digest: Project Genie and the Stock Market’s Category Error

    This is the audio version of the Naavik Digest newsletter published on February 8th, 2026. We look into Project Genie — Google’s experimental AI that generates short, navigable 3D scenes — and explore the possible implications of world models for game engines and developers. You can read the newsletter (with even more sections and visual detail) here: https://www.naavik.co/digest/square-enix-refutes-and-reframes  Let us know what you think by sending us a note at podcast@naavik.co. Watch our episodes: YouTube Channel For more episodes and details: Podcast Website Free newsletter: Naavik Digest Follow us: Twitter | LinkedIn | Website Sound design by Gavin Mc Cabe.

    11 min
  5. Family-First Gaming: Breaking Into Consumer Hardware with Nex

    FEB 3

    Family-First Gaming: Breaking Into Consumer Hardware with Nex

    In this episode, host Kalie Moore talks with David Lee, Co-founder & CEO of Nex, to unpack one of the rarest success stories in modern gaming: launching a new consumer console and winning. In a category dominated for decades by the same three players, Nex broke through by rethinking who gaming hardware is for. Often compared to Wii or Kinect, Nex’s real innovation isn’t motion-based play alone, but a family-first platform built around physical activity, kid safety, and parental trust. In a down year for console sales, Nex sold over 650,000 units, expanded into thousands of retail stores, and captured meaningful market share by designing specifically for families. The conversation traces Nex’s nearly decade-long journey from mobile-first products to a high-stakes pivot into living-room hardware - and the leadership decisions required to make that leap under uncertainty. Kalie and David dig into why most motion-gaming platforms struggled to last, what Nex designed differently for long-term engagement, and how retail, subscriptions, and trusted IP shaped its growth. The episode closes with a look ahead to Nex’s 2026 roadmap, from international expansion to connected play designed with strict family controls, and David’s long-term vision for what Nex could mean to families ten or twenty years from now. We’d like to thank Overwolf for making this episode possible! Whether you're a gamer, creator, or game studio, Overwolf is the ultimate destination for integrating UGC in games! You can check out all Overwolf has to offer at https://www.overwolf.com/. We’d also like to thank Lightspeed Venture Partners for making this episode possible! With its dedicated gaming & interactive media practice, the firm invests from an over $6.5 billion pool of early and growth-stage capital. If you’re interested in learning more, go to https://gaming.lsvp.com/. If you like the episode, please help others find us by leaving a 5-star rating or review! And if you have any comments, requests, or feedback shoot us a note at podcast@naavik.co. Who’s On: Guest - David Lee: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidlkf/ Host - Kalie Moore: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaliemoore/  Watch the episode: YouTube Channel For more episodes and details: Podcast Website Free newsletter: Naavik Digest Follow us: Twitter | LinkedIn | Website Sound design by Gavin Mc Cabe.

    53 min
  6. Naavik Digest: Do "Fair" Gacha Games Work?

    FEB 1

    Naavik Digest: Do "Fair" Gacha Games Work?

    This is the audio version of the Naavik Digest newsletter published on February 1st, 2026. We dive deep into the “fair” gacha Asian action RPGs to explore the performance of their unique monetization strategy and to see if prioritizing player fairness can lead to significant gains. You can read the newsletter (with even more sections and visual detail) here: https://www.naavik.co/digest/evaluating-the-fair-gacha-games-experiment Let us know what you think by sending us a note at podcast@naavik.co. Watch our episodes: YouTube Channel For more episodes and details: Podcast Website Free newsletter: Naavik Digest Follow us: Twitter | LinkedIn | Website Sound design by Gavin Mc Cabe.

    12 min
  7. Naavik Digest: Square Enix Refutes and Reframes

    JAN 25

    Naavik Digest: Square Enix Refutes and Reframes

    This is the audio version of the Naavik Digest newsletter published on January 25th, 2026. We examine Square Enix’s recent performance, explore what’s changed since the last time we checked in on the company, and take a look at its future. You can read the newsletter (with even more sections and visual detail) here: https://www.naavik.co/digest/square-enix-refutes-and-reframes  Let us know what you think by sending us a note at podcast@naavik.co. Watch our episodes: YouTube Channel For more episodes and details: Podcast Website Free newsletter: Naavik Digest Follow us: Twitter | LinkedIn | Website Sound design by Gavin Mc Cabe.

    16 min
  8. Inside the PC Game Gray Market Economy

    JAN 20

    Inside the PC Game Gray Market Economy

    The PC games “gray market” isn’t just a couple of shady websites. It’s an economic behavior that exploits regional pricing and promotion timing to siphon revenue away from publishers. In this episode, Our host, Alexandra Takei, Director at Ruckus Games, sits down with Vadim Andreev, CEO of Rokky (and former founder of PlayKey), to unpack how retail-era code resale evolved into today’s global key-arbitrage machine. Vadim breaks down two core leak points: regional price arbitrage (buying keys in cheaper markets and reselling in premium ones) and promo stockpiling (buying deep-discount keys during sales, then reselling after discounts end). He argues the damage is material: publishers can lose roughly 20 to 40% of margin to resellers, often without realizing how much of their “regional” volume is being cannibalized elsewhere. The conversation gets practical fast: why region locking is table stakes, how publishers frequently mis-bucket territories (China and New Zealand), and why Steam’s price recommendations can lag real exchange rates and taxes. Rokky’s pitch is a mix of distribution and defense: API-level checks (IP, identity, purchase limits), a key management dashboard, and pricing/promo optimization to close the gaps attackers exploit. The conversation ends with a discussion about Valve and their role in games distribution and the gray market and what they could do to help mitigate the problem.  We’d also like to thank Lightspeed Venture Partners for making this episode possible! With its dedicated gaming & interactive media practice, the firm invests from an over $6.5 billion pool of early and growth-stage capital. If you’re interested in learning more, go to https://gaming.lsvp.com/. If you like the episode, please help others find us by leaving a 5-star rating or review! And if you have any comments, requests, or feedback shoot us a note at podcast@naavik.co.   Watch the episode: YouTube Channel For more episodes and details: Podcast Website Free newsletter: Naavik Digest Follow us: Twitter | LinkedIn | Website Sound design by Gavin Mc Cabe.

    54 min
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Ratings & Reviews

4.3
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

The Naavik Gaming Podcast is a business-focused exploration of the companies, trends, strategies and leaders that are defining the future of games. To learn more and see other great content visit www.naavik.co.

Information

  • Creator
    Naavik
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    421
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Naavik, Inc.
  • Show Website
    Naavik Gaming Podcast

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