301. Duolingo, Tinder, DraftKings: How Top Apps Have Been Gamified

The TWIG crew dives into Unity’s latest missteps and what they signal for the future of game development, breaks down Discord’s push toward a blockbuster IPO, and unpacks how Nintendo’s big announcements could reshape the company’s next chapter. We also examine TikTok’s potential U.S. acquisition, Apple’s quiet but bold moves to redefine its gaming app strategy, the explosive rise of AI-driven apps, and go behind the scenes of Diablo Immortal’s development, while debating what Supercell must do to navigate a turbulent year ahead.Chapters01:21 Community Engagement & Updates02:38 Game Economist Podcast Highlights07:01 Unity’s Strategic Missteps11:23 Diablo Immortal Dev Insights16:04 Apple’s Gaming App Strategy28:18 TikTok’s US Acquisition Talks30:59 The Rise of AI-Driven Apps33:31 Discord’s Upcoming IPO42:57 Nintendo’s Big Announcements54:24 Supercell’s Struggles & Future

What really happens when brands collide with games? Mishka Katkoff sits down with Bastian Bergmann, COO of Solsten, to break down why gaming is the most transformative medium of our time, how consumer psychology shapes player engagement, and why authenticity in games runs circles around social media. 00:20 The Power of Reading and Writing01:12 Video Games as a Medium for Transformation02:57 Parenting and Gaming: Finding Balance08:25 Understanding Consumer Psychology13:39 The Importance of Human Connection in Marketing19:50 Gaming and Emotional Engagement23:09 Games Driving Social Change28:37 The Business Impact of Gaming on Brands30:42 Navigating Risks in Gaming Investments32:56 Starting Small: Testing the Waters in Gaming36:08 Key Performance Indicators for Gaming Initiatives39:26 Authenticity in Gaming vs. Social Media43:49 Integrating Brands into Games: Challenges and Opportunities45:47 Myth Busting: Data, Creativity, and Gaming Audiences

From Roblox’s RDC bombshells to Destiny Rising’s flop, this week’s DoF crew breaks down the biggest shifts in gaming. We get into NetEase’s bets, China’s growing power, and why analytics from Newzoo’s 2025 report matter more than ever. Plus: Blizzard’s messy leadership shakeups, Roblox’s new monetization tricks, Xbox’s subscription struggles, and the hype around Hollow Knight: Silksong. Oh, and yes, Jen’s got a big personal update too. <3Chapters00:00 Introduction and Personal Updates03:55 Shills and Upcoming Events06:00 Medical Leave and Personal Challenges10:40 Corrections and Analytics Discussion15:13 Destiny Rising and Community Reception18:54 Chinese Developers and Western IPs23:56 Warframe: A Case Study in Game Development31:56 Market Trends and Player Demographics36:26 Blizzard's Mobile Strategy: A Shift in Focus40:40 Silksong: Success of Indie Games45:11 Developer Exchange Rate and Its Implications45:39 Roblox RDC: Key Announcements and Changes54:33 Monetization Strategies: Rewarded Ads and Developer Insights58:34 Roblox Moments: The TikTok Integration and Its Impact01:00:31 Concerns Over Aggregation and Control in the Gaming Industry

Jen Donahoe is joined by Joe Ferencz (GameFam) and Stephen Dypiangco (Max Power Gaming) to break down the biggest takeaways from Roblox Developer Conference (RDC) 2025. The crew digs into Roblox’s massive milestone of 112M DAUs, the 8.5% bump in the developer exchange rate to lure in more professional talent, and the new “ad flywheel” that streamlines campaigns while adding rewarded video into the mix. They also tackle the tricky business of bringing IP into Roblox, how AI is supercharging UGC, and why the company is doubling down on safety with 100+ new tools and policies. 00:18 Roblox's Growth and Platform Dominance00:51 Overview of RDC 202504:39 RDC Vibes and Attendee Insights09:48 Roblox's Monetization and Developer Payouts18:21 Advertising and Rewarded Video Innovations26:29 Brand Integrations and Campaigns on Roblox28:34 Integration vs Standalone Brand Experience30:46 Rewarded Video and Its Benefits32:22 Challenges with Brand Hubs on Roblox36:26 New IP Platform and Licensing42:53 AI Tools for Developers and Players46:11 Roblox Moments: TikTok Meets Roblox50:38 Safety Measures and Brand Concerns53:31 Roblox's Growing Influence

Mishka Katkoff sits down with Pranav Singhvi (General Catalyst, Customer Value Fund) and Joe Wadakethalakal (PVX Partners) to unpack the rise of UA financing, a new capital instrument that lets gaming and app companies scale user acquisition without giving up massive chunks of equity.We break down:1. Why traditional VC or debt financing is often a poor fit for customer acquisition.2. The origins of UA financing and why treating cohorts as “assets” changes the game.3. The differences between PVX Partners’ gaming-first model and General Catalyst’s broader CVF.4. Success stories like Superplay’s $2B exit, powered by UA financing.5. How founders should think about timing, risk, and capital allocation.6. Why CAC is the new CAPEX, and how EBITCAC could replace EBITDA as the real profitability metric for gaming and app businesses.00:00 – Guest Intros (Pranav Singhvi & Joe Wadakethalakal)01:00 – What is UA Financing05:30 – PVX Partners vs. Customer Value Fund15:00 – Equity vs. UA Financing: Which Capital Fits Which Stage?19:15 – Founders as Capital Allocators: Balancing Risk, Growth & Dilution22:30 – What Returns Look Like in UA Financing (Real Economics)24:30 – Scaling Beyond Balance Sheet Limits28:00 – When Is the Right Time to Use UA Financing? 32:00 – LTV Curves, Incremental ROAS & Product Readiness35:30 – Case Study: How Superplay Used UA Financing to Reach a $2B Exit38:50 – PVX Success Stories 41:40 – Managing Risk: Oversight & Skin in the Game48:00 – What Counts as CAC? Influencers, Celebs, and Brand Marketing49:40 – The Future of UA Financing & Cohorts as a New Asset Class52:40 – CAC is the New CAPEX: Rethinking EBITDA as EBITCAC57:30 – Why Tech Companies Look Unprofitable but Aren’t59:00 – Advice for Founders Considering UA Financing01:04:00 – Capturing Market Share Before Competitors Catch Up01:07:00 – Final Takeaways & Closing Thoughts

This week, we cover Google’s latest courtroom headaches, the evolution of KPIs in gaming analytics, and the incoming Call of Duty live-action movie. We unpack Rec Room’s layoffs, compare Roblox vs Rec Room head-to-head, and dig into Microsoft’s IP bets from Perfect Dark to Halo. Plus, we debate Star Wars: The Old Republic, break down Roblox’s latest monetization trends, and ask what the rise of real-money gaming in India means for the global market.00:00 Introduction and Hosts’ Banter02:38 Upcoming Gaming News Highlights03:35 Cress’s Personal Update05:39 Phil’s Podcast Review07:16 Debate on Star Wars: The Old Republic10:32 Google’s Legal News and Impact12:58 New KPIs in Gaming Analytics20:19 Call of Duty Live Action Movie Discussion29:15 Google Play’s New Public Profiles31:15 Rec Room Layoffs and Analysis34:05 Capital Deployment and Venture Capital Concerns34:47 Roblox vs. Rec Room: A Comparison38:12 Perfect Dark and Microsoft’s IP Strategy39:11 Halo and Hell Divers Collaboration44:29 Destiny Rising and the Mobile Shooter Market55:26 Roblox’s Monetization and UGC Trends01:03:57 Real Money Gaming in India01:07:00 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Phillip Black and Michail Katkoff break down why they left the Nordics, trading modesty-maxxing for Mediterranean chaos and a bit more sun. The two dive into the quiet conservatism baked into Scandinavian life, the erosion of hunger that comes with too much comfort, and the calculus behind moving to Cyprus and Greece. 00:00 The Conservative Psyop of Scandinavia04:31 Cultural Reflections and Personal Experiences in Sweden09:07 Transitioning to Cyprus: Opportunities and Challenges13:37 Understanding the Swedish Welfare State18:03 Career Reflections and the Consulting Path24:30 Navigating the Gaming Industry's Landscape26:54 The Challenges of Client Management29:51 Decisiveness in Consulting32:41 The Emotional Rollercoaster of Consulting34:36 Building a Sustainable Deal Flow37:26 Establishing Expertise vs. Personality41:39 Life Choices and Career Reflections42:34 Balancing Work and Personal Life46:13 Relocation and Family Decisions48:58 Cultural Differences and Education Challenges55:28 Economic Growth and Finland's Future61:04 Reflections and Future Aspirations

TWIG crew dives into Gamescom chaos, funding trends, and post-Ibiza IV drips. From Supercell’s leadership addition, to IP-powered collabs (Raid x TMNT) and the EU’s regulatory squeeze on F2P, this episode cuts through the noise with sharp insights, hard takes, and a few too-real laughs.02:07 Gamescom Highlights and Industry News02:50 PlayStation Portal and American Football06:45 DOF Talent Network and Scopely Controversy10:39 EU Regulation Impact on Free-to-Play Games14:43 Gamescom Vibes and Funding Trends27:33 Raid: Shadow Legends x Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles31:51 The Risks and Rewards of Using IPs36:09 King’s Internal Struggles and Solutions39:51 Severance Packages and Labor Laws45:15 Supercell’s New Leadership and Strategy49:12 Innovative Game Concepts and Licensing55:48 Twitch’s Crackdown on View Botting56:32 Debate on Game Innovation and Industry Growth

This one’s for the shooter heads. Host Phil Black (ex-DICE) is joined by Chris Sides (ex-Bungie) and longtime strategist Chris Anjos (ex-Activision) to dig into the decade-long arms race between Battlefield and Call of Duty. The muzzles are off.Chapters:02:01 Meet the Experts03:54 Historical Context: Battlefield and Call of Duty Sales13:04 Battlefield’s Comeback: Beta Impressions16:06 Gameplay Mechanics: Evolution and Innovations32:21 Progression Systems: Challenges and Solutions43:31 Core Gameplay and Player Feedback44:55 Product Management in Gaming52:25 UGC and Portal in Battlefield01:02:04 Mobile Gaming and Its Impact01:08:09 The Future of FPS Games01:16:41 Final Thoughts and Recommendations

We dive into Duolingo’s ruthless gamification, how BeReal is evolving beyond its viral gimmick, why Tinder is betting big on live events, the surprising social features inside DraftKings, and the stickiness of Crypto.com’s engagement loops. Each case study is a window into how apps are blurring the line between entertainment, habit, and monetization.Guest: Kalle Heikkinen, Lead Analyst at App Refinerywww.linkedin.com/in/kalleheikkinen/Chapters:[00:00] App Refinery [05:30] Duolingo's Gamification [12:15] BeReal's Evolution [20:45] Tinder's Live Events [28:00] DraftKings' Social Features [35:20] Crypto.com's Engagement Mechanics [42:50] Conclusion and Insights