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 showing an energetic atmosphere. Web3 gaming is gaining legitimacy and producing visually appealing games, although the top tier is still not on par with web2 games. The middle may be dropping out of the mobile app market – you either need to be a giant or small, nimble company to survive. The industry is recovering from the impact of COVID-19, with increased hiring and a more stable environment. iOS privacy changes, such as ATT and SKAN, have likely had a significant impact on industry layoffs and shifts. Non-gaming apps are becoming increasingly important and are capturing a larger share of consumer spend. Asia and North America dominate consumer spend, but emerging markets offer significant growth opportunities. The future of the gaming industry is uncertain, with projections and forecasts subject to various factors and trends. Podcast Chapters 00:00 – Opening remarks and intro 00:39 – Notes from GDC, MAU, NFT.NYC 15:26 – The (possibly) bright future of mobile 31:43 – Outro and sponsor message