Deconstructor of Fun

352. AI Made Every Team Faster. Then It Got Messy.

TWIG #404: AI Game Mashups Go Viral, Google Launches Playground and Mobile Studios Are Cheap Again

351. Why Great Hires Fail at Startups | Garry Hill, Makers Fund

TWIG #403: The Market Only Grew 2%, Friendslop Hits the PC Charts and China Drafts Off GTA VI

The gaming industry is currently defined by extreme market maturation and consolidation, where growth is primarily driven by existing players in Western and Chinese markets rather than new user acquisition. Development costs have surged, forcing publishers to retreat into established franchises, while the PC and mobile...

Shooter Monthly #10: War Dogs Sells 2.2M, Cash Economy Breakdown and the 1v1v1 Debate

"War Dogs" has achieved significant commercial success, selling 2.2 million copies in its initial days, driven by a unique in-round cash economy that incentivizes objective-based play and tactical coordination. This persistent currency system allows players to purchase equipment and reinforcements, effectively solving ...

350. Zynga Founder Mark Pincus: Why Your Favourite Ideas Are Almost Always Wrong

Product management requires a rigorous, truth-seeking approach that distinguishes between reliable instincts and fallible ideas. Mark Pincus, founder of Zynga, emphasizes that founders must be willing to kill losing ideas while maintaining a singular, North Star vision. Effective scaling functions as a "democratic dict...

TWIG #402: Xbox Bets on Kojima, Halo Gets Handed to CoD and AppLovin Hits the Road

Puzzle Monthly #6: Disney Solitaire's Big Win, Playtika's Earn-Out Trap and Solitaire vs Puzzle

From Zero Offers To Record Revenue I Michael Martinez, CEO of FunCraft

TWIG #401: Blizzard Goes All In, Roblox Breaks Out of Its Own App and Aniimo Nails Launch Day

348. Why None of Us Saw Cyberpunk Coming Apart I Michal Nowakowski. joint CEO, CD PROJEKT RED

TWIG #400: Is the Game Industry Actually Crashing, OpenAI's Astra and 8 Years of Hot Takes

347. Questions Istanbul Founders Stopped Asking I Akin Babayigit, Arcadia Gaming Partners

The Turkish mobile gaming ecosystem operates as a highly competitive, Darwinian environment where success hinges on rapid execution and mastery of complex user acquisition algorithms, particularly those governing AppLovin. While early visionaries like Siddhar established a blueprint for scaling gaming companies, the in...

TWIG #399: GTA VI Breaks Netflix, EU Targets Roblox and Zero Company's Studio Implodes

Gamescom’s recent resurgence reflects a shift toward fan-centric engagement, contrasting with the executive-heavy focus of events like GDC. The record-breaking reception of the GTA VI trailer underscores the efficacy of cross-platform, top-of-funnel marketing, while the EU’s classification of Roblox as a "very large on...

Shooter Monthly #9: Battlefield's Hot Streak, Gears Goes Helldiving, and the Battle Pass Plateau

First-person shooter (FPS) franchises are undergoing significant shifts in monetization and retention strategies to sustain long-term engagement. Battlefield’s recent growth stems from its free-to-play SKU and the integration of ranked play, while Apex Legends continues to dominate by leveraging consistent live ops and...

346. Why Mattel Wants Studios to Pitch the Uncomfortable

Mattel is aggressively expanding its digital gaming footprint to ensure its 80-year-old brand portfolio remains culturally relevant. By shifting from a traditional, restrictive licensing model to a more collaborative approach, the company now empowers external creators to build immersive experiences on platforms like R...

TWIG #398: Gaming's 2026 Reality Check, The GTA 6 Leak Nightmare and Why Jobs Are Still Vanishing

The gaming industry is transitioning into a mature, consolidated market where growth is increasingly driven by established franchises rather than new, independent titles. While global revenue projections remain positive, North American growth is stalling, forcing developers to prioritize retention and monetization over...

345. The Good, The Bad and The Ugly of UA Financing

Cohort financing has become a dominant but often misunderstood tool for scaling mobile game user acquisition. Unlike traditional receivables financing, which leverages verified platform payments, cohort financing relies on predictive modeling of future player behavior, introducing significant risk and complexity. Effec...

344. The Truth About Taking Over A Company

Assuming a CEO role in the gaming industry requires immediate, decisive action to align organizational focus with core product success. Both Jon Bellamy of Jagex and Alexis Bonte of Stillfront prioritized narrowing their companies' strategic scope, divesting non-essential assets to concentrate on high-performing franch...

TWIG #397: Roblox Under Fire, Apple’s EU App Store Shake-Up and Netflix Games’ Studio Retreat