Games Growth with Upptic

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...

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 li...

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 busine...

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....

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 Fou...

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 Shrap...

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....

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 developer...

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 communit...

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 o...

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 sustainab...

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 re...

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...

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, an...

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...

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...

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 deca...

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 the...

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 S...

In science, biopsychosocial factors are physical, psychological, and social factors that impact an individual. What does this have to do with gaming? Joe Schaeppi, Founder and CEO of Solsten, connects the dots in this episode. Joe has a background in both psychology and gaming – starting out as a psychotherapist before moving into gaming as the Sr. Manager of User Experience at Big Fish Games. At...

The games industry is in a transitory state and many factors are making it difficult for effective games growth. Data is fragmented and attribution methodology is incomplete. Creative workflows can be messy and digital assets are often all over the place. These issues make it hard to understand what is and isn't working. Amid this volatile climate, Upptic has been growing its games portfolio t...

VC investments have long been a key funding resource for fledgling startups – including indie game studios and companies promising innovative solutions for the games industry. How much of an impact has VC funding had on the games industry, though? Are VC investors directing the trajectory of the space with their money – either directly or indirectly? We sit down with a16z Games Partner Josh Lu and...

With their scalability and flexibility, appchains may be the future of web3 gaming. But what is an appchain and how does it differ from other blockchain technology and solutions? Atif Khan, VP Business at thirdweb, and Ed Chang, Head of Gaming at Ava Labs, give us a crash course in appchains, dapps, sidechains, and more. They also dive deep into the web3 gaming sector and how it's liable to im...

UGC, or user-generated content, is a big buzzword these days. Amid the buzz, Viraaal has created a UGC platform where content creators can quickly find campaigns, shoot videos, and get paid. Founded and helmed by CEO Alexei Chemenda, a veteran of start-ups, Viraaal seeks to revolutionize the world of UGC agencies. Alexei shares his insights on the differences between influencer marketing and UGC m...

Both Web2 and Web3 are going through times of change and are in need of a bit of a renaissance. While Web3 can provide the technology for some interesting new mechanics, onboarding can be clunky at best while marketing pipelines are almost non-existent. Meanwhile, Web2 is the current gold standard for mass-market appeal – but is in need of ongoing innovation and fresh ideas. Amid these two forces,...