In this episode, learn how the TikTok ban stands to impact marketers, content creators, and users in the United States. Plus, get a look at Meta’s Q1 earnings report, what it says about Meta as a performance channel, and challenges and opportunities for marketers. Finally, learn why Embracer Group is splitting into three new entities – and what lessons the games industry can learn from their trial and error. Takeaways The “TikTok ban” has become law in the United States, raising concerns...

Explore the importance and unique aspects of India as a gaming market. Joining us is Shloak "Spidey" Pacheriwala – the Founder of BharatGG, an Indian games guild. Spidey challenges misconceptions about the market and discusses the opportunities in India. Learn about the demographics of Indian gamers, monetization differences between iOS and Android, the lack of local Indian game developers, the challenges of web3 gaming in India, and the role of gaming guilds in bridging the gap. Plus,...

Get notes from the trenches of GDC, MAU, and NFT NYC. Spirits are high and hiring is up – even if budgets are still tight. There are hints of mobile gaming making a bit of a comeback. Following the dissection of this anecdotal evidence, we dive into the latest games industry report from Sensor Tower and Data.ai – which forecasts massive growth in global spending and downloads over the next six years. Takeaways The gaming industry is experiencing growth and vibrancy, with events like GDC...

Subscription gaming has yet to hit critical mass – but it could be one of gaming's next big disruptors. Take a deep dive into Netflix's approach to games and advertising. Plus, get a breakdown of the growth strategies used by today's biggest gaming companies. TAKEAWAYS Netflix is taking a conservative approach to gaming, focusing on high-ROI opportunities. The adoption of gaming on streaming platforms has been slow due to differences in intent. Netflix is doubling down on becoming an...

Sensor Tower's recent acquisition has come as a bit of a shock to many in the industry – not in the least because many thought Data.ai was the company with more purchasing power. Learn what this acquisition means for the industry and how it will likely impact you. Additionally, dive into Apple's new legal fight against the United States and see why Embracer's divestment of Gearbox to Take-Two Interactive highlights the shortcomings of the "federated states" business model. TAKEAWAYS ...

Everyone knows that data is king when it comes to gaming and marketing. But what are the best ways to get, analyze, and utilize this data? John Uke, Founder of GameTree, explains how the company captures user data to find highly compatible matches for gamers, and how this data can be leveraged for user acquisition, retention, and personalization. TAKEAWAYS Data and personalization are crucial for better targeted advertising and great customized user experiences. While matchmaking is...

Learn how the potential ban of TikTok in the United States (which is looking more plausible than ever) and the ongoing legal battle between Apple and Epic Games stand to impact the gaming and marketing industries. Additionally, explore how Web3 games are leveraging traditional user acquisition strategies – with Heroes of Mavia used as a prime example. Finally, learn how this kind of strategy is likely to impact the web3 games space going forward. QUICK TAKEAWAYS A national ban on TikTok...

Learn how game developers are merging the best of web2 and web3 to create games that are fun and engaging in both traditional and innovative ways. Explore token utility within a game's economy – as well as the role of tokens in Web3 games more broadly. Understand how VC funding can impact game design and token utility. Get insights on the role of DAOs – and whether they make sense for a business organization at all. Learn about how to utilize web2 growth strategies and target web2 audiences...

In this episode, delve into the latest news in the crypto space – including the rise of Bitcoin, its impact on NFTs, and the war for creator compensation. Then, explore the recent layoffs and project cancellations at major tech and gaming companies – highlighting the changing landscape of these industries. Understand what the cancellation of the Apple Car represents in the larger scheme of things. Finally, learn about Reddit's upcoming IPO and how it is finally starting to utilize its...

Explore the intersection of measurement and growth marketing for web2 and web3 gaming. Learn about the challenges of measuring on-chain and off-chain events. Opportunities and limitations on the supply side of web3 advertising are explored, with a focus on the lack of web3-native ad networks. Joining us are Adam Smart, Director of Product – Gaming at AppsFlyer, and Antonio Garcia-Martinez, the Founder of Spindl. We dive into the partnership between AppsFlyer and Spindl which provides a full...

Explore the current challenges and opportunities in Web3 gaming. Get up to speed on the the failures and pitfalls of previous Web3 games and potential solutions going forward. Learn about bad tokens and good game design. Additionally, understand the role of DAOs and different ways they can be structured. Joining us are Felix Norden, Co-Founder of Mure, and Francis Brankin, Head of Economy at Shrapnel. Felix is a full-time Web3 entrepreneur, developer, mentor, and advisor, working with...

Dive deep into the latest gaming disruption in the industry – including Meta’s and Disney’s earnings, the future of Xbox, and Disney’s gigantic investment in Epic Games. Find out how these things stand to impact game developers and marketers in our latest episode! Takeaways ⦿ Meta’s earnings showed substantial growth and increased efficiency, with revenue and user numbers reaching all-time highs. ⦿ Microsoft’s pivot away from exclusivity for first-party games show a shift toward...

Palworld continues to soar and Microsoft sees a big revenue boost – partly due to the impact of the Activision Blizzard acquisition, but the games industry continues to see layoffs. Meanwhile, the Apple vs. Epic saga adds a new twist over Apple’s new app store policy. Plus, there are rumors of Hasbro selling the Dungeons and Dragons brand to Tencent. Learn what all of this means for game developers and marketers in our Games Growth podcast. Takeaways Palworld has seen significant growth...

Delve deep into the evolving landscape of the PC and console gaming industry – and learn how to best spend your digital marketing dollars – with our guests from Gamesight: CEO Adam Lieb and Solutions & Support Team Lead Christian Thomas. Gamesight is a Seattle-based venture-backed startup that has been instrumental in helping game developers understand and grow their fanbase through community, marketing, and analytics integration and insights. The episode starts with a comprehensive...

In this episode of Upptic’s Games Growth podcast, we dive into the latest trends shaking the gaming industry. The episode begins with a critical analysis of the recent gaming layoffs at major companies such as Microsoft, Unity, and Riot Games – especially when paired with the news that the S&P 500 and QQQ are hitting new highs. Combined, we discuss what these narratives mean regarding the health of the gaming industry. We then discuss Apple’s recent strategic moves, including the overhaul...

Hosts Warren Woodward and Xander Agosta, alongside special guest Mike Schmid, VP of Growth at Backbone, delve into the 2023 Upptic Games Growth Awards. This episode breaks down the highlights from multiple award categories, starting with the "Narrative of the Year." Here, the trio explores the creative potential of AI in game-building, economic uncertainty, and the shift toward sustainability in gaming experiences – emphasizing the importance of customer experience and retention. Moving on...

Google and Epic have their day in court – and it goes differently then some might have expected. With two different rulings regarding Apple and Google's practices, what does it mean for the industry? In web3 news, the ESRB slaps an Adults Only rating – usually reserved for sexually explicit content or ultraviolence – onto web3 game "Gods Unchained" for its potential to... generate real-world value for players? What does this precedence mean now for the web3 space – and for the ESRB? In...

The world has been inundated with AI news recently. We highlight some of the latest news – from places like Pika, Gemini, and Oolo – and dissect what’s real and what’s hot air. Joining the podcast is Upptic Creative Lead Josh Chakka – who has a strong background in games and marketing, previously working for companies like Electronic Arts and Machine Zone. Josh shares his insights on what AI tools are actually worth a damn in the current marketing landscape, what’s come up lacking, and...

This week, we dive into some of the big news in the industry – including Elon Musk's latest remarks to advertisers, the situation around Binance and its CEO, and ByteDance winding down Nuverse. But more than simply regurgitating what you've already heard, we provide key insights on how to take advantage of Twitter advertising right now, why things are looking bright for crypto and web3, and much more. MORE FROM UPPTIC:...

Last month, we asked "Is the web3 gaming dream dead?" The answer to that question was a resounding "no, but..." This month seems to have proven our roundtable correct – as crypto markets surge, breathing new life into the web3 games space. We sit down with Upptic's Web3 Growth Lead Sherif (aka Chr0nicle) and web3 consultant Dan Casale. Sherif is also the founder of Nucleus and is Neo Tokyo's Community Lead. Dan is a serial entrepreneur with several startups focused on gaming, esports, and...

2023's Q3 earning reports have dropped – and they are full of insights. Xander and Warren sift through mountains of information to pull together insights on the winners and losers of Q3 2023 – both in terms of individual companies and sectors of gaming. PC and console look to be doing well – mobile, not so much. But Xander and Warren have insights and remedies to share to help those struggling to move forward. We also take a look at brands and IP – and that sometimes the company brand can be...

Earlier this year, we asked, is UA dead? The answer then was a definitive "no." However, with 2023 largely in the rearview mirror, it's a good time to look and see how user acquisition has evolved over the course of the year – and where things might be heading next. Magda Zaręba and Rob Garfinkle join us in the studio to give their insights on gaming UA. Magda has spent nearly a decade in the marketing industry and is one of our own UA Managers here at Upptic – helping clients grow their...

News is making a comeback on the Games Growth with Upptic podcast – with our new "Games Growth Update" segment! In this episode, we go over the latest gaming M&A report, which isn't very rosy, we dive into the Microsoft-Acvitision acquisition, and we walk through the Unity situation that has the entire industry up in arms. Every step of the way, get our industry insider opinions and learn what these could mean for you individually. GET MORE FROM UPPTIC:...

In 2022, investment surged in web3 gaming – taking nearly half of all gaming investment in terms of dollars and raw numbers. However, for all of that investment, there was a lot of speculation, but not a lot of games. With the crypto crash, web3 gaming has gone through a downturn – with layoffs, panic, and uncertainty surrounding the sector. In this podcast roundtable, Upptic's Ian Brent and Sherif join hosts Xander Agosta and Warren Woodward in discussing what went wrong with web3 gaming,...