Naavik Gaming Podcast

Naavik
Naavik Gaming Podcast

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. The State of Publishing and Live Ops

    VOR 2 TAGEN

    The State of Publishing and Live Ops

    Our guest today, has led teams overseeing some of the biggest commercial successes from the MMORPG genre, and has leveraged those experiences to support dozens more through publishing roles for Xbox Game Studios Publishing and ArenaNet.  In this conversation, David Taylor sat down with Crystin Cox, Head of Publishing at ArenaNet and a 20-yr veteran of the video game industry, to discuss her experiences leading live-ops on Maple Story, monetization on Guild Wars 2, and publishing at Xbox Game Studios Publishing and now ArenaNet. They explore how the landscape has evolved over time and what the future holds during this tumultuous time in the video game industry. We’d also like to thank TikTok for making this episode possible. In a dynamic gaming market where a majority of games fail within three years, TikTok has become a critical partner in helping games achieve long-term player retention and substantial revenue growth. Learn more: https://bit.ly/LiveOpsProgramNAVPodcast  We’d also 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.

    1 Std. 11 Min.
  2. The State of UGC Games in 2025

    8. APR.

    The State of UGC Games in 2025

    In this episode, host Devin Becker welcomes fellow Naavik host and consultant David Taylor to discuss insights from Naavik’s recent State of UGC Gaming deep dive and beyond. We discuss how leading UGC platforms are evolving and where they face the most promise and challenges, from Roblox’s growing ad and brand integrations to Fortnite’s challenge of escaping its battle royale roots.  We also explore emerging contenders like mods, Highrise, speculate on how GTA VI might impact the UGC landscape, and consider whether we’re due for a new wave of platforms altogether. Lastly, David reflects on how AI could shape the future of creation and how developers might adapt as the UGC ecosystem continues to expand. We’d like to thank TikTok for making this episode possible. In a dynamic gaming market where a majority of games fail within three years, TikTok has become a critical partner in helping games achieve long-term player retention and substantial revenue growth. Learn more: https://bit.ly/LiveOpsProgramNAVPodcast  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.

    1 Std. 12 Min.
  3. The Future of Brands in Live Streaming

    1. APR.

    The Future of Brands in Live Streaming

    In this episode, host, Alexandra Takei, Director at Ruckus Games, dives into the intersection of brand marketing, live streaming, and culturally relevant branded experiences. Joined by Wiktoria Wójcik, co-founder of InStreamly, the conversation explores how brands can integrate into live streaming platforms like Twitch, YouTube, and Kick. InStreamly connects brands with thousands of streamers, facilitating authentic collaborations through technology that allows for large-scale, interactive campaigns. Wójcik shares insights on bridging the gap between brand safety and engaging streamers, as well as the power of parasocial relationships in gaming. They discuss case studies with big brands like Cheetos and Danone, showcasing how live streaming is reshaping marketing strategies, from contextual gameplay to driving brand affinity. It's a must-listen for anyone interested in the evolving world of influencer marketing or those interested in partnering with a contextual marketing agency in the United States. We’d like to thank Lightspeed Venture Partners for making this episode possible! With its dedicated gaming practice, "Lightspeed Gaming," the firm is investing from over $7B in early- and growth-stage capital — the by far largest fund focused on gaming and interactive technology. If you’re interested in learning more, go to https://gaming.lsvp.com/. We’d also like to thank nSure.ai! As a proven industry leader, nSure.ai provides scalable payment fraud prevention that’s not just effective but tailored specifically to your needs. To learn more, visit https://www.nsure.ai/contact 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.

    1 Std. 4 Min.
  4. Finding the Fun in VR with AstroBeam and Schell Games

    28. MÄRZ

    Finding the Fun in VR with AstroBeam and Schell Games

    In this episode, host Sam Distaso dives into the cutting edge of VR game development with Devin Reimer (founder and CEO of AstroBeam) and Ed Saxton (CPO of Schell Games). From the early startup days of VR to the evolution of mixed reality, Devin and Ed share how their studios use first-principles thinking to craft unique experiences. We explore how hit games like Job Simulator and Among Us VR came to life and how these teams operate in a young, constantly evolving market. We also unpack big questions facing the VR space: Will the use of generative AI lead to more fun? What will improvements to voice and hand tracking unlock? What actually goes into making smart NPCs work? Will smell-o-vision ever work? If you're curious about the future of immersive games, this one's packed with stories, laughs, and insights from two of the industry's most thoughtful builders. We’d also like to thank Neon – a merchant of record with customizable webshops optimized for conversion – for making this episode possible! Neon is trusted by some of the biggest names in gaming and can help you sell direct without the typical overhead. To learn more, visit https://www.neonpay.com/?utm_source=naavik  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 - Devin Reimer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/devinreimer/  Guest - Ed Saxton: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edsaxton/  Host - Sam Distaso: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samdistaso/  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.

    58 Min.
  5. Sustainable Growth: Building Studios Without External Funding

    21. MÄRZ

    Sustainable Growth: Building Studios Without External Funding

    For the first time in Naavik’s history, we’re excited to bring a live audience show experience to air! At GDC, host, Alexandra Takei, Director at Ruckus Games, sat down with Nick Popovich, CEO and Founder of Monomi Park, in San Francisco for a conversation centered around “doing it all yourself” in the indie games market — no external funding, crowd financing, or publishing support.  In 2014, Nick and his co-founder decided to start a studio and launch Slime Rancher in 2016. They sold 10M units over the following decade, grew from 2 to 45 people, launched a second game into early access, and have begun working on an entirely new IP.  Today’s conversation explores how Monomi Park thinks about studio culture, growth, crunch, and innovation — plus how to get players to notice your game, buy it, and play it repeatedly. This episode also includes our first ever live audience Q&A and is a must-listen for any founder looking to make it independently.  We’d also like to thank AWS for Games for making this episode possible. AWS for Games aligns purpose-built game development capabilities — including AWS services like Amazon GameLift as well as solutions from AWS Partners — to help game developers build, run, and grow their games. For more information, visit https://aws.amazon.com/gametech/ 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.

    58 Min.
  6. Personalization in Gaming: The Holy Grail of User Experience (and Monetization)

    18. MÄRZ

    Personalization in Gaming: The Holy Grail of User Experience (and Monetization)

    In this episode, host Niko Vuori interviews Justin Stolzenberg, co-founder of Metica, a startup aiming to revolutionize gaming analytics through AI-driven insights and personalized experiences.  Founded by ex-King and ex-Apple employees, Metica’s approach is a unique combination of King’s iterative, hyper-data-driven approach and Apple’s high-polish culture. The company recently announced their $9 million seed round. The episode covers the challenges of launching in the saturated analytics market and how Metica differentiates itself by focusing on actionable insights rather than just data collection. The conversation also explores the role of AI and machine learning in gaming, the importance of personalization, and the future aspirations of Metica in the gaming industry. We’d also 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.

    44 Min.
  7. Com2Us’s Evolution: Gaming Innovation and Global Expansion

    7. MÄRZ

    Com2Us’s Evolution: Gaming Innovation and Global Expansion

    In this episode, our host, Alexandra Takei, Director at Ruckus Games, sits down with Kyu Lee, Chief Business Development Officer at Com2Us, Partner at CRIT Ventures, and ex-president of Com2Us USA. They explore Com2Us Holdings' evolution from its early days as Gamevil to becoming a global mobile powerhouse with hits like Summoners War, one of the industry’s biggest mobile IPs that has generated over $3B+ in revenue. Kyu shares insights on the company's pivotal shifts, including its focus on mobile gaming, the transition to live operations, its approach to licensing Western IP like Major League Baseball, and his story about what it is like to be at the helm of a major geographic expansion. The conversation also touches on Com2Us’s strategic investments in blockchain and its venture arm, CRIT Ventures. Kyu discusses how gaming in South Korea is evolving, the growing influence of IP across global markets, what is currently being undervalued, and what Com2Us must execute in 2025. 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.

    1 Std. 3 Min.
  8. Why Web3 Gaming Is Just Getting Started: Insights from the Ronin Ecosystem

    4. MÄRZ

    Why Web3 Gaming Is Just Getting Started: Insights from the Ronin Ecosystem

    In this episode, host Niko Vuori speaks with Jeff Zirlin, co-founder of Sky Mavis and the play-to-earn OG, Axie Infinity, about the significant developments in the web3 gaming space, particularly the transition of the Ronin blockchain to a permissionless model. They discuss Jeff's background and journey into web3, the origin story and wild ride of Axie Infinity, the evolution of the Ronin blockchain, the introduction of the Ronin Developer Console, and the impressive growth metrics of the Ronin ecosystem. The conversation touches on the current state of the Axie Infinity economy and the future of third-party gaming projects on the Ronin chain.  We also explore the balance between quality and openness in game development, the incentives for developers, and the potential for future growth as more games launch on the Ronin network. We’d also like to thank TikTok for making this episode possible. In a dynamic gaming market where a majority of games fail within three years, TikTok has become a critical partner in helping games achieve long-term player retention and substantial revenue growth. Learn more: https://bit.ly/LiveOpsProgramNAVPodcast  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.

    59 Min.

    Bewertungen und Rezensionen

    5
    von 5
    2 Bewertungen

    Info

    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.

    Das gefällt dir vielleicht auch

    Eingeschränkter Inhalt

    Diese Folge kann in deinem Land oder deiner Region nicht im Internet wiedergegeben werden.

    Melde dich an, um anstößige Folgen anzuhören.

    Bleib auf dem Laufenden mit dieser Sendung

    Melde dich an oder registriere dich, um Sendungen zu folgen, Folgen zu sichern und die neusten Updates zu erhalten.

    Wähle ein Land oder eine Region aus

    Afrika, Naher Osten und Indien

    Asien/Pazifik

    Europa

    Lateinamerika und Karibik

    USA und Kanada