PocketGamer.biz Podcast

PGbiz Podcast
PocketGamer.biz Podcast

Welcome to your regular glimpse into the business of mobile games. Featuring interviews with games industry experts! Your hosts are the insiders at PocketGamer.biz, the top B2B site for the mobile games industry. It covers the people, technology and deals that drive this multi-billion dollar sector. In our ongoing podcast, you’ll hear the editorial team and their guests dive into the topics and themes at the forefront of the industry. You’ll get unique insight and exclusive Q and As, taking you behind the scenes on the international mobile games scene.

  1. 3 HR. AGO

    How To Design A Loyalty Program That Players Love

    Mobile gamers engage, splash the cash, and stick around when studios bake the right mix of personalisation and exclusivity into their gameplay. In Part 2 of our series looking at Mistplay’s Mobile Game Growth Report, Kyle West, Sr. Director of Marketing at Mistplay, and Oxana Fomina, ad monetization expert and Founder of Gradient Universe, return to reveal how studios can leverage IP and brand collaborations and craft loveable loyalty programs to rocket revenue growth. They unpack why there’s “no such thing as a non-paying player” and how the best developers create irresistible triggers that keep users coming back. Learn how to design loyalty experiences that evolve with your audience, use web shops to unlock new revenue streams, and apply dynamic pricing and FOMO-driven offers without breaking player trust. CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Let's talk loyalty 03:35 - Take a step back to  06:07 - One tactic to increase retention 08:41 - Designing a loyalty program that players love 13:34 - Favourite games Q&A * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *  ** Let's Connect ** 👉🏻 X - https://x.com/pgbiz 👉🏻 LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/groups/144491/  👉🏻 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/PGbiz  👉🏻 Website - https://www.pocketgamer.biz  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

    17 min
  2. 2 DAYS AGO

    Week in Mobile Games E41 - How Scopely made $10bn, and 2025's big stories to watch

    PocketGamer.biz head of content Craig Chapple and news editor Aaron Astle discuss the latest mobile games industry news from the past few weeks as the Week in Mobile Games kicks off again in 2025! In this episode, we delve into our big interview with Scopely co-CEOs Walter Driver and Javier Ferreira on how they built a $10bn gaming empire. We also take a look at the big games industry stories to keep an eye on in 2025. ** Let's Connect ** 👉🏻 Twitter - https://twitter.com/pgbiz 👉🏻 LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/company/pocketgamer-biz/ 👉🏻 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/PGbiz 👉🏻 Website - https://www.pocketgamer.biz 👉🏻 Pocket Gamer Connects - https://www.pgconnects.com 👉🏻Pocket Gamer Connects Speaker Submission form - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdoS5n-vdHu6aU-2d_rR7x1FAgewG51y3nlU1aB8RdetiKaGw/viewform 👉🏻Pocket Gamer Mobile Games Awards Winners - https://www.pocketgamer.biz/mga2024/winners/ 👉🏻 The Top 50 Mobile Game Makers 2024 - https://www.pocketgamer.biz/the-top-50-mobile-game-makers-of-2024/👉🏻 Everything is a games platform - https://www.pocketgamer.biz/everything-is-a-games-platform/ 👉🏻 Pocket Gamer Awards 2024 - https://www.pocketgamer.biz/pocket-gamer-awards-2024-winners-revealed/ 👉🏻 The big games industry trends and stories to watch in 2025 - https://www.pocketgamer.biz/the-big-games-industry-trends-and-stories-to-watch-in-2025/ 👉🏻Games industry predictions for 2025: Generative AI, games as ecosystems, and thrive in '25 - https://www.pocketgamer.biz/games-industry-predictions-for-2025/ 👉🏻 How Scopely's cultural tenent of 'iterate to greatness' led to $10bn in revenue - https://www.pocketgamer.biz/how-scopelys-cultural-tenent-of-iterate-to-greatness-led-to-10bn-in-revenue/ 👉🏻 Scopely's secret sauce - https://www.pocketgamer.biz/scopelys-secret-sauce/

    50 min
  3. JAN 7

    Mobile Gamers Have More Choice Than Ever—Here’s How to Keep Them Loyal, Playing, and Paying

    Mobile gamers are drowning in choices, but they’ll still spend—if your ad monetization strategy speaks to their player type and why they downloaded your game in the first place. But it’s not enough to satisfy players; studios ring in the revenues when they combine services and a sense of urgency.  This is where Mistplay’s latest Mobile Gaming Growth Report equips game devs and ad mon teams with a roadmap to profitable growth in 2025. Kyle West, Sr. Director of Marketing at Mistplay, joins hosts Brian Baglow and Peggy Anne Salz to unpack findings and show how developers can sharpen their marketing, maximise monetisation, and level up loyalty programs by crafting experiences according to player personas and gameplay preferences.  He’s joined by Oxana Fomina, well-known ad mon authority and Founder of Gradient Universe, a game analytics consulting firm. She delves into her latest client successes to reveal standout strategies studios of any size can use to turn players into payers. Listen in to Part 1 of a special two-part series where we dig into how studios can sync UA with LiveOps for better results, take small but effective steps to scale web shops, and use FOMO as motivation while still adding value to limited-time events. CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Intro 04:24 - The Mistplay Mobile Gaming Growth Report 07:23 - Brand as a part of UA 10:17 - Utilizing first-party data effectively 12:05 - Aligning UA and LiveOps 15:00 - Actions for small studios 17:50 - Effective monetisation strategies 21:37 - Why web shops? 24:34 - Balance urgency with value 26:53 - Quantity vs Quality 28:57 - Advice for starting studios * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *  ** Let's Connect ** 👉🏻 X - https://x.com/pgbiz 👉🏻 LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/groups/144491/  👉🏻 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/PGbiz  👉🏻 Website - https://www.pocketgamer.biz  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

    36 min
  4. 12/17/2024

    7 Habits of Incredibly Effective Gaming Jedis: Special Edition

    In 2024, our hosts Peggy Anne Salz and Brian Baglow interviewed 45 experts across the gaming industry, from straightforward studio heads and energised executives to data-driven developers and monetisation mavens. In this special edition episode, Peggy and Brian look back on the Top 7 shows of this year, recapping the pure-gold lessons and learnings from the marketers you enjoyed hearing from the most in 2024.  As this is the year’s final show, all of us at Steel Media and the Pocketgamer.biz Podcast want to wish you a happy holiday season and a joyful new year. Thanks for listening, and we’ll see you in January for the first episode of 2025! CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Intro  04:35 - #7 The Innogames team 07:46 - #6 Akin Babaygit, Tripledot Studios 10:46 - #5 Patrick McSteen, Logan Square Consulting 15:02 - #4 Ryan Filsinger, Iron Fox Games 18:43 - #3 Maria Sayans, ustwo games 22:00 - #2 Teis Anker Mikkelsen, Multiscription 26:02 - #1 Daniel Tchernahovsky, AppLovin 30:41 - Year #2 of the Pocketgamer.biz Podcast * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *  ** Let's Connect ** 👉🏻 X - https://x.com/pgbiz 👉🏻 LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/groups/144491/  👉🏻 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/PGbiz  👉🏻 Website - https://www.pocketgamer.biz  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

    33 min
  5. 12/09/2024

    Week in Mobile Games E39 - Mobile's hot new releases and the loot box investigation unpacked

    PocketGamer.biz head of content Craig Chapple, deputy editor Paige Cook and news editor Aaron Astle discuss the latest mobile games industry news from the past week. On this week's episode we discuss mobile's hottest new releases, including Infinity Nikki, delve into the BBC's loot box investigation, and debate Ubisoft's obsession with launching Rainbow Six on mobile. ** Let's Connect ** 👉🏻 Twitter - https://twitter.com/pgbiz 👉🏻 LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/company/pocketgamer-biz/ 👉🏻 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/PGbiz 👉🏻 Website - https://www.pocketgamer.biz 👉🏻 Pocket Gamer Connects - https://www.pgconnects.com 👉🏻Pocket Gamer Connects Speaker Submission form - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdoS5n-vdHu6aU-2d_rR7x1FAgewG51y3nlU1aB8RdetiKaGw/viewform 👉🏻Pocket Gamer Mobile Games Awards Winners - https://www.pocketgamer.biz/mga2024/winners/ 👉🏻 The Top 50 Mobile Game Makers 2024 - https://www.pocketgamer.biz/the-top-50-mobile-game-makers-of-2024/👉🏻 Everything is a games platform - https://www.pocketgamer.biz/everything-is-a-games-platform/ 👉🏻 Pocket Gamer Awards 2024 - https://www.pocketgamer.biz/pocket-gamer-awards-2024-winners-revealed/ 👉🏻 Are the UK's top grossing mobile games really breaking loot box rules? - https://www.pocketgamer.biz/are-the-uks-top-grossing-mobile-games-really-breaking-loot-box-rules/ 👉🏻Pokémon TCG Pocket matches 91% of Pokémon Go’s launch month revenue through the power of playground rumours - https://www.pocketgamer.biz/pokmon-tcg-pocket-matches-91-of-pokmon-gos-launch-revenue-through-the-power-of-playground-rumours/ 👉🏻 Rainbow Six Mobile returns with Season Ice Storm ending a near eight-month hiatus - https://www.pocketgamer.biz/rainbow-six-mobile-returns-with-season-ice-storm-ending-a-near-eight-month-hiatus/ 👉🏻 Nominations open for the first Top 30 UK Game Makers 2025 - https://www.pocketgamer.biz/nominations-open-for-first-top-30-uk-game-makers-2025/

    54 min
  6. 12/04/2024

    Investor Trends Set to Dominate Gaming M&A in 2025 ft. Drake Star’s Michael Metzger

    What made gaming acquisitions attractive in 2024, and what do investors have on their wishlist for 2025? Michael Metzger, Managing Partner at global tech investment bank Drake Star, takes the mic in this episode of the Pocketgamer.biz Podcast to shine a light on the new era of M&A and share advice with studios shaping their growth strategies for the upcoming year. Alongside our host, Peggy Anne Salz, and special co-host Craig Chapple, Michael reveals insights from Drake Star's Global Gaming Report Q3 2024, explaining why 2024 saw a surge in M&A activity—with a 70% year-over-year increase in gaming sales—and how factors like private equity interest, strategic acquisitions, and profitability-focused deals are shaking up the industry status quo. Tune in to determine what's driving the shift, what it means for developers, and why diversification into non-gaming sectors should be on your growth radar for 2025. Drake Star’s Global Gaming Report Q3 2024 - https://www.drakestar.com/news/global-gaming-report-q3-2024 Michael Metzger - https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelmmetzger/ Drake Star - https://www.drakestar.com/ CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Intro 02:41 - Getting to close 05:42 - Length of acquisition 08:56 - What's driving gaming M&A? 13:00 - Is it sustainable? 17:11 - What are acquiers looking for? 19:49 - Rollups in 2025 23:37 - The financing climate 30:15 - Bullish on blockchain 33:43 - Diversification 35:44 - Investments in 2025 42:09 - Advice for studios * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *  ** Let's Connect ** 👉🏻 X - https://x.com/pgbiz 👉🏻 LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/groups/144491/  👉🏻 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/PGbiz  👉🏻 Website - https://www.pocketgamer.biz  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

    49 min
  7. 11/30/2024

    Week in Mobile Games E38 - Xbox and Adjust mishandle their PR and Supercell's culture revolution

    PocketGamer.biz head of content Craig Chapple and news editor Aaron Astle discuss the latest mobile games industry news from the past week. On this week's episode we delve into the PR mishandling of Xbox's mobile marketplace plans and the Adjust layoffs. Elsewhere we discuss Supercell CEO Ilkka Paananen's insights into the structural and cultural changes at the Clash of Clans developer and how the top grossing charts are evolving. ** Let's Connect ** 👉🏻 Twitter - https://twitter.com/pgbiz 👉🏻 LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/company/pocketgamer-biz/ 👉🏻 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/PGbiz 👉🏻 Website - https://www.pocketgamer.biz 👉🏻 Pocket Gamer Connects - https://www.pgconnects.com 👉🏻Pocket Gamer Connects Speaker Submission form - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdoS5n-vdHu6aU-2d_rR7x1FAgewG51y3nlU1aB8RdetiKaGw/viewform 👉🏻Pocket Gamer Mobile Games Awards Winners - https://www.pocketgamer.biz/mga2024/winners/ 👉🏻 The Top 50 Mobile Game Makers 2024 - https://www.pocketgamer.biz/the-top-50-mobile-game-makers-of-2024/👉🏻 Everything is a games platform - https://www.pocketgamer.biz/everything-is-a-games-platform/ 👉🏻 Pocket Gamer Awards 2024 https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-pocket-gamer-awards-2024-tickets-1042651016257 👉🏻 Microsoft delays Xbox Android store after US court temporarily pauses Google Play remedies - https://www.pocketgamer.biz/microsoft-delays-xbox-android-store-after-us-court-delays-google-play-remedies/ 👉🏻Adjust names new CEO amid layoffs - https://www.pocketgamer.biz/adjust-names-new-ceo-amid-layoffs/ 👉🏻 Supercell CEO Ilkka Paananen: “I was actually quite worried about the company" - https://www.pocketgamer.biz/supercells-ilkka-paananen-i-was-actually-quite-worried-about-the-company/ 👉🏻 Full Slush 2024 transcript: Supercell CEO Ilkka Paananen on the Clash of Clans developer's evolving culture - https://www.pocketgamer.biz/full-slush-2024-transcript-supercell-ceo-ilkka-paananen-on-the-clash-of-clans-developers-evolving-culture/ 👉🏻 Royal Kingdom is here - Are new hits reshaping the top grossing mobile games charts? - https://www.pocketgamer.biz/royal-kingdom-is-here-are-new-hits-reshaping-the-top-grossing-mobile-games-charts/ 👉🏻"Unconventional characters" and "respect for creative freedom" drive Reverse: 1999’s $100m success - https://www.pocketgamer.biz/unconventional-characters-and-respect-for-creative-freedom-drive-reverse-1999s-100m-success/

    44 min

About

Welcome to your regular glimpse into the business of mobile games. Featuring interviews with games industry experts! Your hosts are the insiders at PocketGamer.biz, the top B2B site for the mobile games industry. It covers the people, technology and deals that drive this multi-billion dollar sector. In our ongoing podcast, you’ll hear the editorial team and their guests dive into the topics and themes at the forefront of the industry. You’ll get unique insight and exclusive Q and As, taking you behind the scenes on the international mobile games scene.

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