Mobile Games Playbook

Join GameRefinery’s Brendan Fraher and industry veteran Carlos Salvado for another episode of the Mobile Games Playbook. With 15 years of experience across mobile, PC, and console, Carlos shares his expertise on why the industry demands continuous adaptation, touching on new business models, emerging tech, and AI integration. This episode tackles the major challenges facing developers today, inclu...

Join us for another episode of the Mobile Games Playbook as we dive into the world of mobile growth marketing and user acquisition. Guiding us through these crucial aspects of mobile games development is industry expert Saikala Sultanova. Saikala, accompanied by host Jon Jordan, will break down the importance of structured processes in UA, including effective methods for testing and pilot testing...

In today's hyper-competitive app stores, intellectual property is the ultimate power-up for mobile games. Join us on this episode of the Mobile Games Playbook as we explore the strategic value of licensing, from the instant recognition of beloved brands to the revenue boost of limited-time events.  Join host Jon Jordan and Rovio’s User Acquisition (UA) Manager Kentaro Sugiura as they dive int...

This episode of the Mobile Games Playbook explores Liftoff’s new AppRefinery platform. Building on the success of GameRefinery, AppRefinery offers deep insights into the strategies driving engagement across over 20 consumer app verticals.  We've just launched a brand new listener survey, and your feedback is invaluable in helping us make The Mobile Games Playbook even better. We want to know...

This episode of the Mobile Games Playbook is all about celebrating and breaking down the 2025 Mobile AppDev Awards winners, brought to you by Liftoff.  We've just launched a brand new listener survey, and your feedback is invaluable in helping us make The Mobile Games Playbook even better. We want to know what you enjoy, what you'd like to hear more of, and how we can continue to bring y...

This episode of the Mobile Games Playbook explores current monetization trends in mobile gaming and touches on subjects such as hybrid monetization, header bidding, and the challenges of in-app purchases.  Join Andrew Seow (Director of Monetization at Tripledot Studios) and Ravid Sela (Ad Monetization Lead at Play Studios), along with host Jon Jordan as they discuss the ever-shifting nature of mob...

This episode of the Mobile Games Playbook peers into the crystal ball to forecast the mobile gaming landscape of 2025 with GameRefinery’s experts, Kalle Heikkinen, Senior Chief Market Analyst, and Wilhelm Voutilainen, Chief Game Analyst. We'll delve into how we expect monetization models such as DTC and subscriptions to evolve, the continued growth of LiveOps, and the upcoming genres/games we...

This episode of the Mobile Games Playbook dives into the mobile landscape of 2024 with GameRefinery’s experts, Erno Kiiski, Chief Game Analyst, and Teemu Palomaki, Chief Game Analyst. They’ll explore the trends that have shaped 2024 in mobile games, analyzing how midcore genres like 4X and CCGs are adapting to wider audiences and the rise of hybrid casual games before delving into the growth of tr...

Dominating the App Store charts, Chinese mobile games are captivating players worldwide. But what's their secret?  This episode of the Mobile Games Playbook dives deep with Liftoff’s experts, Kalle Heikkinen, Chief Game Analyst, and Inka Reinola, Game Analyst, to unpack the winning formula behind China's mobile gaming giants. We'll explore how China’s mobile market became a global f...

In this episode of the Mobile Games Playbook, we explore the power of UGC to effectively acquire users (UA). UGC is a goldmine for mobile game marketers, but how do you leverage it for maximum impact? Join our expert guests, Nicole Danser, Senior Manager of Creative Strategy & Production at Liftoff Influence, and Sydney Bruce, Creative Account Strategy—UGC, as they share insights into identify...

Join us as we break down the best ways to build a winning User Acquisition (UA) strategy for your mobile game. This episode of the Mobile Games Playbook is about all things UA. In the crowded mobile gaming market, cutting through the noise and figuring out how to acquire users can be challenging. Join our expert guests, Kentaro Sugiara, Senior Performance Marketing Manager at Rovio, and Christie C...

Join us as we discuss the first half of 2024 and examine the trends dominating the mobile landscape so far. This episode of the Mobile Games Playbook is a mid-year deep dive. From Supercell’s comeback with Squad Busters to the emergence of hybrid casual and other core gameplay types, there are lots of lessons to learn from 2024 mobile trends.  Join our expert guests, Kalle Heikkinen, Chief Game An...

Join us as we explore the ever-evolving Japanese mobile market. In this episode, we set our sights on the lucrative world of Japanese mobile games. We’ll dive into player preferences, effective monetization strategies, and the cultural nuances that influence this thriving market. Join industry experts Teemu Palomäki, Chief Games Analyst, and Sonja Skoglund, Games Analyst at GameRefinery, a Liftoff...

Discover the strategies that drive award-winning LiveOps! In this episode, we analyze the Mobile GameDev Award winners, revealing their secrets to boosting engagement and revenue. Join host Jon Jordan and GameRefinery experts Erno Kiiski, Kalle Heikkinen, and Jiri Saarinen as they break down the essential components of successful LiveOps. Learn how to master collaborations, competitions, seasonal...

Join us as we explore the latest trends, challenges, and innovations in mobile game design for 2024.  In this episode, we’re looking at the most prominent trends to shape the mobile games landscape for the year ahead. We’ll dive into the anticipation surrounding upcoming game releases and explore key trends poised to dominate the industry. Join industry experts Wilhelm Voutilainen, Sr. Chief Game...

Join us as we explore the latest trends, challenges, and innovations in mobile game design. As 2023 comes to a close, we’ll uncover the latest trends dominating mobile games and driving changes within the industry in this episode. We’ll explore the innovative ways games differentiate themselves in the market and elevate player engagement. And reflect on the standout moments in the mobile gaming in...

Join us as we explore the latest trends, challenges, and innovations in mobile game design, advertising, and revenue generation. In this episode, we thoroughly examine the mobile gaming landscape, focusing on the constantly evolving dynamics of advertising and revenue with industry experts Kenneth Wong, Senior Director of Ads Revenue at Scopely, and Yimin Gu, Director of Performance Marketing at S...

Welcome to the 50th episode of the Mobile Games Playbook podcast! We're thrilled to have reached this milestone; thank you to all the listeners who’ve been a part of this amazing journey. In this special edition, we’re taking a deep dive into the dynamic world of mobile gaming in China. We’ll discover what makes China an unrivalled hub for mobile gaming as we delve into the fascinating phenom...

Join us as we explore the exciting world of Final Fantasy. In this episode, we'll uncover the legacy of this iconic franchise within the JRPG genre and its transformative impact on the world of mobile games. From its inception to its latest mobile adaptations, we'll discuss Final Fantasy's remarkable evolution and ability to captivate a new generation of gamers. We’ll look into how...

Join us as we unravel the exciting details of the latest addition to the Pokémon universe: Pokémon Sleep. This innovative app has taken the concept of gamification to a whole new level by transforming how we approach sleep. Are there benefits to merging gaming with sleep? Find out how Pokémon Sleep stacks up against other sleep-related apps. We'll delve into the unique features that make Poké...

This episode delves into the dynamic and diverse world of women in gaming. Karen Chen, Account Executive at Liftoff, and Paula Neves, Senior Product Manager at Zynga, join us to spotlight women's challenges and discuss their unique perspectives on the industry. Despite the proliferation of mobile games aimed at women, there remains a concern for more representation of women in various job rol...

In this episode, we will be delving into the latest trends in LiveOps and how game studios are utilizing live events to increase player engagement and revenue. Expert analysts from GameRefinery, a Liftoff Company, will discuss their new Live Events Tracker tool, which enables game developers to stay ahead of the competition by comparing and analyzing live events across various games and genres. In...

Say farewell to The Mobile GameDev Playbook, as we introduce the new and improved Mobile Games Playbook, brought to you by Liftoff.  Investing in young talent is crucial for the growth and development of the game development industry because it brings fresh perspectives, new ideas, and diverse backgrounds to the industry, which is vital to safeguard the future of game development.  Join us as we d...

Is there room for others to succeed in a market dominated by so few companies? Join us as we explore the current state of the mobile shooter market, the top games dominating the market, their market shares, and the different types of shooters available. You won't want to miss our overview of games like CoD: Warzone Mobile, Arena Breakout, Undawn Vitality, Division Mobile, Destiny Mobile, and...

Why have some of the biggest names in the industry pivoted away from gacha-based monetization systems? Join us as we explore the response from players to these changes in popular games like Brawl Stars, Mario Kart, Diablo Immortal, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, Overwatch, Marvel Snap, and Arena Breakout. We'll examine how these changes have affected players' progression and gameplay experie...