Retargeting isn’t a tactic anymore—it’s a must-have.

In this PocketGamer.biz episode, Kentaro Sugiura (Lead UA Manager, Rovio) and Nick Blake (Head of Growth, Bigabid) join us to explore how leading game studios are leveling up their re-engagement strategies in 2025 and beyond.

From redefining the inactive window (spoiler: 14 days might be your sweet spot) to testing icon changes for organic lift, this episode covers practical, measurable ways to stop wasting ad spend and bring lapsed players back.

🎯 Learn how Rovio segments audiences for high-LTV recovery, how Bigabid enables retargeting on iOS again, and how both teams use creative refreshes, A/B testing, and incrementality measurement to drive results across the game lifecycle.

Kentaro Sugiura, Rovio:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kentarosugiura/

Rovio: https://www.rovio.com 

Nick Blake, Bigabid:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickdblake/ 

Bigabid

https://www.bigabid.com 

#Retargeting #MobileGames #UserAcquisition #GameMarketing #Bigabid #Rovio #PocketGamer #Incrementality #CreativeTesting #GameGrowth #LTV #PerformanceMarketing

PocketGamer.biz head of content Craig Chapple and news editor Aaron Astle talk through the latest games industry news on the 77th episode of the Week in Mobile Games Podcast.

On this week’s show we take a look at the biggest trends of the year. We cover:

• 2025 market data from Newzoo and the world's highest grossing games, most downloaded titles, and top publishers, per AppMagic estimates.
• China's rising global influence.
• How developers are utilising generative AI and what it means for the industry.
• The world of transmedia and whether there are any practical gains for publishers.
• How legal battles and regulators are changing the shape of the mobile games sector and sparking the direct-to-consumer revolution.
• Why apps are taking over games on the App Store.
• Craig's nightmare Christmas tree story.

** Let's Connect **

👉🏻 Twitter - https://twitter.com/pgbiz

👉🏻 LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/company/pocketgamer-biz/

👉🏻 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/PGbiz

👉🏻 Website - https://www.pocketgamer.biz

👉🏻 Pocket Gamer Connects - https://www.pgconnects.com

👉🏻Pocket Gamer Connects Speaker Submission form - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdoS5n-vdHu6aU-2d_rR7x1FAgewG51y3nlU1aB8RdetiKaGw/viewform

👉🏻 The Top 50 Mobile Game Makers 2025 - https://www.pocketgamer.biz/the-top-50-mobile-game-makers-of-2025/

👉🏻 Download the PocketGamer.biz Mobile Games Developer Trends Survey Winter 2024/25 report - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf3tbjUxVkG17CuHHljMblfmUC3DZ6gNAzV8qiz8bAALUXSvQ/viewform

👉🏻 Join the AI Gamechangers newsletter - https://aigamechangers.substack.com

👉🏻 The Top 30 MENA Game Makers 2025 - https://www.pocketgamer.biz/the-top-30-mena-game-makers-of-2025

👉🏻 The mobile games industry trends that shaped 2025 - https://www.pocketgamer.biz/the-mobile-games-industry-trends-that-shaped-2025/

In this PocketGamer.biz episode, Peggy Anne Salz sits down with Lemon Choi (founder of HyperJoy and author of Lemon Game Talks) to unpack the rise of WeChat mini games in China and what this “mini game Gold Rush” means for studios in Vietnam and the West.🎮 What mini games really are – a no-download app store inside super apps – and why frictionless UX, instant play and social sharing are driving explosive growth📈 Inside the numbers: a $7B market growing 15% year on year, 500M monthly players, 400K active developers and hit titles making more than $1M per day on the WeChat mini game channel alone💰 How Chinese teams design monetization and deep meta systems first, then layer on simple, accessible gameplay to build long-term LTV and staying power🧪 Why the best studios treat UA, re-engagement and CRM as one connected strategy, using creative testing, segmentation and localisation to turn ads into a seamless part of the player journey🌏 A realistic playbook for Western and Vietnamese studios: when a proven title should go WeChat mini game, how to test demand with UA creatives before full launch and why social features and community are non-negotiable🔮 Lemon’s bold prediction for 2026 – and why he believes more WeChat-born mini games will break into the US top-grossing charts

Recorded on location at Think Apps @ The Google Apps Summit APAC in Vietnam.

PocketGamer.biz head of content Craig Chapple and news editor Aaron Astle talk through the latest games industry news on the 76th episode of the Week in Mobile Games Podcast.

On this week’s show we take a look at:

• Netflix and Paramount's battle to acquire Warner Bros.
• Claims by the Netflix co-CEO that the streaming firm didn't attribute any value to Warner Bros. Games in the deal.
• Duolingo's big Genshin Impact partnership.
• The debate around mobile games recognition at awards shows like The Game Awards and the Baftas.
• Industry veteran Michael Rubinelli's tips on how to navigate industry trends.
• Why Starberry Games is going all-in on AI.

** Let's Connect **

👉🏻 Twitter - https://twitter.com/pgbiz

👉🏻 LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/company/pocketgamer-biz/

👉🏻 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/PGbiz

👉🏻 Website - https://www.pocketgamer.biz

👉🏻 Pocket Gamer Connects - https://www.pgconnects.com

👉🏻Pocket Gamer Connects Speaker Submission form - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdoS5n-vdHu6aU-2d_rR7x1FAgewG51y3nlU1aB8RdetiKaGw/viewform

👉🏻 The Top 50 Mobile Game Makers 2025 - https://www.pocketgamer.biz/the-top-50-mobile-game-makers-of-2025/

👉🏻 Download the PocketGamer.biz Mobile Games Developer Trends Survey Winter 2024/25 report - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf3tbjUxVkG17CuHHljMblfmUC3DZ6gNAzV8qiz8bAALUXSvQ/viewform

👉🏻 Join the AI Gamechangers newsletter - https://aigamechangers.substack.com

👉🏻 The Top 30 MENA Game Makers 2025 - https://www.pocketgamer.biz/the-top-30-mena-game-makers-of-2025

PocketGamer.biz head of content Craig Chapple and news editor Aaron Astle talk through the latest games industry news on the 75th episode of the Week in Mobile Games Podcast.

On this week’s show we take a look at:

• What happened at the Wiggin Games Summit, with insights on games market definitions, mobile industry challenges, and how developers are using AI.
• How Pikmin Bloom blossomed to $100 million.
• Our interview with LinkedIn influencer Ali Farha and why more people should share their views and insights with others.
• Sega's reveal of a fifth Sonic the Hedgehog movie before the fourth one has released.
• Discord's decision to sell skins for Marvel Rivals within the platform.

** Let's Connect **

👉🏻 Twitter - https://twitter.com/pgbiz

👉🏻 LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/company/pocketgamer-biz/

👉🏻 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/PGbiz

👉🏻 Website - https://www.pocketgamer.biz

👉🏻 Pocket Gamer Connects - https://www.pgconnects.com

👉🏻Pocket Gamer Connects Speaker Submission form - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdoS5n-vdHu6aU-2d_rR7x1FAgewG51y3nlU1aB8RdetiKaGw/viewform

👉🏻 The Top 50 Mobile Game Makers 2025 - https://www.pocketgamer.biz/the-top-50-mobile-game-makers-of-2025/

👉🏻 Download the PocketGamer.biz Mobile Games Developer Trends Survey Winter 2024/25 report - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf3tbjUxVkG17CuHHljMblfmUC3DZ6gNAzV8qiz8bAALUXSvQ/viewform

👉🏻 Join the AI Gamechangers newsletter - https://aigamechangers.substack.com

👉🏻 The Top 30 MENA Game Makers 2025 - https://www.pocketgamer.biz/the-top-30-mena-game-makers-of-2025

👉🏻 4 takeaways from RovioCon and Slush 2025: AI reimagining game dev, China's growth threatens Western studios, and EU regulation concerns - https://www.pocketgamer.biz/4-roviocon-and-slush-takeaways-ai-reimagining-game-dev-chinas-growth-threatens-western-studios-and-eu-regulation-concerns

Nick Button-Brown has helped shape some of the biggest forces in gaming. In this PocketGamer.biz episode he joins us to break down what it really takes to build a sustainable studio, raise smart money, and strengthen the UK’s position as a global games powerhouse.From leading global teams at EA to helping Improbable scale to a $600M raise, guiding Sensible Object through its sale to Niantic, and supporting founders through The Games Angels, Nick has seen every corner of the industry.He shares candid stories about the shift from operator to advisor, why angels matter more than ever, and how founders can pitch with clarity and conviction in a crowded market.🎯You’ll learn: • Why 2026 is the return of “hustler rounds” and how hybrid funding is reshaping early stage deals • What investors really want to see in pitch decks (hint: professionalism beats buzzword bingo every time) • How Games Angels formed during lockdown and why founders need experienced support, not just cash • The UK’s biggest scaling challenges and why Nick is pushing for a Games Growth Tax Credit to keep value in the country • Why games are a cure for loneliness and a force for social good far beyond entertainment • The skills gap, the business gap, and how founders can bridge both to build enduring studiosNick Button-Brown: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickbuttonbrown/PocketGamer.biz Podcast https://www.pocketgamer.biz/podcast

PocketGamer.biz head of content Craig Chapple and news editor Aaron Astle talk through the latest games industry news on the 74th episode of the Week in Mobile Games Podcast.

On this week’s show we take a look at:

• Why Ubisoft's financials were delayed and Tencent's strange deal for Vantage Studios.
• The Roblox CEO's car crash interview on child safety.
• The big IPs making their way to mobile.
• The first anniversaries of Royal Kingdom and Infinity Nikki.
• PLUS some ramblings on level scaling in games.

** Let's Connect **

👉🏻 Twitter - https://twitter.com/pgbiz

👉🏻 LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/company/pocketgamer-biz/

👉🏻 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/PGbiz

👉🏻 Website - https://www.pocketgamer.biz

👉🏻 Pocket Gamer Connects - https://www.pgconnects.com

👉🏻Pocket Gamer Connects Speaker Submission form - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdoS5n-vdHu6aU-2d_rR7x1FAgewG51y3nlU1aB8RdetiKaGw/viewform

👉🏻 The Top 50 Mobile Game Makers 2025 - https://www.pocketgamer.biz/the-top-50-mobile-game-makers-of-2025/

👉🏻 Download the PocketGamer.biz Mobile Games Developer Trends Survey Winter 2024/25 report - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf3tbjUxVkG17CuHHljMblfmUC3DZ6gNAzV8qiz8bAALUXSvQ/viewform

👉🏻 Join the AI Gamechangers newsletter - https://aigamechangers.substack.com

👉🏻 The Top 30 MENA Game Makers 2025 - https://www.pocketgamer.biz/the-top-30-mena-game-makers-of-2025

👉🏻 4 takeaways from RovioCon and Slush 2025: AI reimagining game dev, China's growth threatens Western studios, and EU regulation concerns - https://www.pocketgamer.biz/4-roviocon-and-slush-takeaways-ai-reimagining-game-dev-chinas-growth-threatens-western-studios-and-eu-regulation-concerns

PocketGamer.biz head of content Craig Chapple and news editor Aaron Astle talk through the latest games industry news on the 73rd episode of the Week in Mobile Games Podcast.

On this week’s show we take a look at:

- Takeaways from RovioCon and Slush, including data and insights on generative AI in game development, European tech regulation, the rise of non-gaming apps, investment challenges, and how China could kill the Western mobile games industry.

- Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney gatecrashing Unite to announce a major partnership with Unity.

- Sonic Rumble's revenue after its first 10 days on the market and plans to revise some of the gameplay.

** Let's Connect **

👉🏻 Twitter - https://twitter.com/pgbiz

👉🏻 LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/company/pocketgamer-biz/

👉🏻 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/PGbiz

👉🏻 Website - https://www.pocketgamer.biz

👉🏻 Pocket Gamer Connects - https://www.pgconnects.com

👉🏻Pocket Gamer Connects Speaker Submission form - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdoS5n-vdHu6aU-2d_rR7x1FAgewG51y3nlU1aB8RdetiKaGw/viewform

👉🏻 The Top 50 Mobile Game Makers 2025 - https://www.pocketgamer.biz/the-top-50-mobile-game-makers-of-2025/

👉🏻 Download the PocketGamer.biz Mobile Games Developer Trends Survey Winter 2024/25 report - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf3tbjUxVkG17CuHHljMblfmUC3DZ6gNAzV8qiz8bAALUXSvQ/viewform

👉🏻 Join the AI Gamechangers newsletter - https://aigamechangers.substack.com

👉🏻 The Top 30 MENA Game Makers 2025 - https://www.pocketgamer.biz/the-top-30-mena-game-makers-of-2025

👉🏻 4 takeaways from RovioCon and Slush 2025: AI reimagining game dev, China's growth threatens Western studios, and EU regulation concerns - https://www.pocketgamer.biz/4-roviocon-and-slush-takeaways-ai-reimagining-game-dev-chinas-growth-threatens-western-studios-and-eu-regulation-concerns

👉🏻 Supercell's AI masterplan explained - https://www.pocketgamer.biz/supercells-ai-masterplan-explained

PocketGamer.biz head of content Craig Chapple talks through the latest games industry news on the 72nd episode of the Week in Mobile Games Podcast.

On this week’s show we take a look at:

• Our investigation into how Epic and Google plans to police how the top grossing mobile games monetise on Android and exactly who the newly proposed Play store policies impact.
• The Top 30 MENA Game Makers.
• Playtika's direct-to-consumer growth.
• Supercell's FAQ shining a light on why it closed Squad Busters.
• The plethora of new mobile games with big IP attached.

** Let's Connect **

👉🏻 Twitter - https://twitter.com/pgbiz

👉🏻 LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/company/pocketgamer-biz/

👉🏻 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/PGbiz

👉🏻 Website - https://www.pocketgamer.biz

👉🏻 Pocket Gamer Connects - https://www.pgconnects.com

👉🏻Pocket Gamer Connects Speaker Submission form - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdoS5n-vdHu6aU-2d_rR7x1FAgewG51y3nlU1aB8RdetiKaGw/viewform

👉🏻 The Top 50 Mobile Game Makers 2025 - https://www.pocketgamer.biz/the-top-50-mobile-game-makers-of-2025/

👉🏻 Download the PocketGamer.biz Mobile Games Developer Trends Survey Winter 2024/25 report - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf3tbjUxVkG17CuHHljMblfmUC3DZ6gNAzV8qiz8bAALUXSvQ/viewform

👉🏻 Join the AI Gamechangers newsletter - https://aigamechangers.substack.com

👉🏻 Top 50 mobile games could all face higher 20% fee under Epic and Google's Play Store plans - https://www.pocketgamer.biz/top-50-mobile-games-could-all-face-higher-20-fee-under-epic-and-googles-play-store-plans

👉🏻 The Top 30 MENA Game Makers 2025 - https://www.pocketgamer.biz/the-top-30-mena-game-makers-of-2025

PocketGamer.biz head of content Craig Chapple talks through the latest games industry news on the 70th episode of the Week in Mobile Games Podcast.

On this week’s show we take a look at:

• Google and Epic's new proposals that seek to shake up how developer's monetise on Android.
• The top grossing and most downloaded mobile games on mobile in October 2025.
• PUBG Mobile's dramatic fall.
• Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket's $1.3 billion revenue milestone after one year.
• Nintendo Switch 2's launch sales.

** Let's Connect **

👉🏻 Twitter - https://twitter.com/pgbiz

👉🏻 LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/company/pocketgamer-biz/

👉🏻 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/PGbiz

👉🏻 Website - https://www.pocketgamer.biz

👉🏻 Pocket Gamer Connects - https://www.pgconnects.com

👉🏻Pocket Gamer Connects Speaker Submission form - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdoS5n-vdHu6aU-2d_rR7x1FAgewG51y3nlU1aB8RdetiKaGw/viewform

👉🏻 The Top 50 Mobile Game Makers 2025 - https://www.pocketgamer.biz/the-top-50-mobile-game-makers-of-2025/

👉🏻 Download the PocketGamer.biz Mobile Games Developer Trends Survey Winter 2024/25 report - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf3tbjUxVkG17CuHHljMblfmUC3DZ6gNAzV8qiz8bAALUXSvQ/viewform

👉🏻 Join the AI Gamechangers newsletter - https://aigamechangers.substack.com

PocketGamer.biz head of content Craig Chapple talks through the latest games industry news on the 70th episode of the Week in Mobile Games Podcast.

On this week’s show we take a look at:

- Supercell's decision to shut down Squad Busters.

- Google Play's changes in the US to enable alternative payment methods.

- Our interview with Fingersoft and the soft launch of Hill Climb Racing 3.

- Layoffs at Amazon's games division.

- Krafton's AI-first ambitions.

- Scopely's Monopoly Go Chat app.

- Rovio's newly soft-launched Angry Birds Match World.

** Let's Connect **

👉🏻 Twitter - https://twitter.com/pgbiz

👉🏻 LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/company/pocketgamer-biz/

👉🏻 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/PGbiz

👉🏻 Website - https://www.pocketgamer.biz

👉🏻 Pocket Gamer Connects - https://www.pgconnects.com

👉🏻Pocket Gamer Connects Speaker Submission form - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdoS5n-vdHu6aU-2d_rR7x1FAgewG51y3nlU1aB8RdetiKaGw/viewform

👉🏻 The Top 50 Mobile Game Makers 2025 - https://www.pocketgamer.biz/the-top-50-mobile-game-makers-of-2025/

👉🏻 Download the PocketGamer.biz Mobile Games Developer Trends Survey Winter 2024/25 report - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf3tbjUxVkG17CuHHljMblfmUC3DZ6gNAzV8qiz8bAALUXSvQ/viewform

👉🏻 Join the AI Gamechangers newsletter - https://aigamechangers.substack.com

How do you build a brand that parents trust and kids love—and scale ad creative to 70+ tests without burning out your team?

Felix Boudreax, VP of Growth and Marketing at PokPok, joins the PocketGamer.biz podcast to lift the lid on how his small team delivers big results. From structured creative testing to using AI tools for rapid iteration, Felix shares the real strategy behind PokPok’s success—including naming conventions, Figma workflows, UGC tactics, and why they stuck with a hard paywall.

🎯 Learn how PokPok is becoming the brand for non-addictive screen time, why AI can’t (yet) replace real parents in ads, and how creative performance can directly inform product development.

Félix Boudreax: https://www.linkedin.com/in/felixboudreau/

PokPok: https://playpokpok.com/

Other Mentions

Kitchn.io: https://www.kitchn.io/

PocketGamer.biz head of content Craig Chapple and news editor Aaron Astle discuss the latest games industry news on the 69th episode of the Week in Mobile Games Podcast.

On this week’s show we discuss:

• A US judge grants Google a one-week extension to comply with Epic Games injunction to enable rival stores and payment options.
• The big Amazon Web Services crash that impacted Clash Royale, Pokémon Go, Fortnite, Roblox and more.
• The UK's Competition and Markets Authority's decision to label Apple and Google with strategic market status.
• Unity's direct-to-consumer play and how it could play into its Vector ambitions.
• HoYoverse’s next big game: Petit Planet.
• How games design their opening levels, tutorials and onboarding.

** Let's Connect **

👉🏻 Twitter - https://twitter.com/pgbiz

👉🏻 LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/company/pocketgamer-biz/

👉🏻 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/PGbiz

👉🏻 Website - https://www.pocketgamer.biz

👉🏻 Pocket Gamer Connects - https://www.pgconnects.com

👉🏻Pocket Gamer Connects Speaker Submission form - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdoS5n-vdHu6aU-2d_rR7x1FAgewG51y3nlU1aB8RdetiKaGw/viewform

👉🏻 The Top 50 Mobile Game Makers 2025 - https://www.pocketgamer.biz/the-top-50-mobile-game-makers-of-2025/

👉🏻 Download the PocketGamer.biz Mobile Games Developer Trends Survey Winter 2024/25 report - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf3tbjUxVkG17CuHHljMblfmUC3DZ6gNAzV8qiz8bAALUXSvQ/viewform

👉🏻 Join the AI Gamechangers newsletter - https://aigamechangers.substack.com

The European Commission’s Digital Fairness Act has recently stirred a flurry of industry debate on its potential impact on the games industry and free-to-play economics, following Supercell CEO Ilkka Paananen’s open letter sounding the alarm.The Clash of Clans studio founder went as far to say new rules could kill the European games industry..To break down what's at stake, Arcanix CSO Oscar Clark and Flux Digital Policy director of policy and public affairs Celia Pontin got together on the PocketGamer.biz Podcast to go through the act in detail.They cover:- Exactly what the Digital Fairness Act is and the potential impacts of any legislation for gaming - which remains some way off.- How regulators perceive the games market and why the industry should engage during the consultation period.- Why the sector should acknowledge the minority of bad actors in the space, rather than ignore these examples.- How games companies can ultimately work with regulators to ensure a better outcome for the Digital Fairness Act, rather than against them.00:00Introduction to the hosts and regulations in the European Union02:49Understanding the Digital Fairness Act05:24Consumer Protection in the Games Industry07:58Cultural Perceptions of Gaming and Regulation10:40The Role of In-Game Purchases and Currencies13:22Transparency and Consumer Trust16:07The Impact of Urgency and Scarcity in Marketing18:40Navigating Regulatory Challenges21:30The Future of Game Development and Regulation32:17Understanding In-Game Currency and Pricing Transparency34:40The Complexity of Currency Systems in Gaming36:54The Impact of Regulation on Game Design40:33Consumer Perception and Game Monetization43:21The Nuances of Game Engagement and Microtransactions45:38The Importance of Fair Regulation in Gaming49:15Engaging with Regulatory Consultations53:08The Future of Game Regulation and Industry Impact

** Let's Connect **

👉🏻 Twitter - https://twitter.com/pgbiz

👉🏻 LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/company/pocketgamer-biz/

👉🏻 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/PGbiz

👉🏻 Website - https://www.pocketgamer.biz

👉🏻 Pocket Gamer Connects - https://www.pgconnects.com

👉🏻Pocket Gamer Connects Speaker Submission form - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdoS5n-vdHu6aU-2d_rR7x1FAgewG51y3nlU1aB8RdetiKaGw/viewform

👉🏻 The Top 50 Mobile Game Makers 2025 - https://www.pocketgamer.biz/the-top-50-mobile-game-makers-of-2025/

👉🏻 Download the PocketGamer.biz Mobile Games Developer Trends Survey Winter 2024/25 report - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf3tbjUxVkG17CuHHljMblfmUC3DZ6gNAzV8qiz8bAALUXSvQ/viewform

👉🏻 Join the AI Gamechangers newsletter - https://aigamechangers.substack.com

If you think retention is about mechanics and monetization—you’re missing the point.

In Part 2 of this special PocketGamer.biz podcast, Bastian Bergmann, CEO of Solsten and author of the new book Press Play: Designing Games That Understand Us, joins Peggy Anne Salz and Brian Baglow to explore the biggest blind spots in today’s game design—and how behavioral science can fix them.

Bastian digs into:

• Why fun is a byproduct, not a goal

• How many studios misuse the word “player-centric”

• What happens when we design games based on who people are, not just what they do

He also shares examples of games that inspire behavioral transformation—not just dopamine loops—and offers a vision of an industry where creative teams include psychologists, not just analysts.

🎧 This is Part 2 of a two-part conversation.

Bastian Bergmann: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bergmannbastian/

Solsten:  https://solsten.io/

Elaris: https://elaris.new

PocketGamer.biz head of content Craig Chapple and news editor Aaron Astle discuss the latest games industry news on the 68th episode of the Week in Mobile Games Podcast.

On this week’s show we discuss:

• The reveal of the Top 50 Mobile Game Makers 2025 list.
• Supercell CEO Ilkka Paananen's letter sounding the alarm on potential EU regulation he says could kill the region's industry.
• New Texas age verification laws for app stores.
• The SEC's AppLovin investigation and why it could spread to other ad tech firms.

** Let's Connect **

👉🏻 Twitter - https://twitter.com/pgbiz

👉🏻 LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/company/pocketgamer-biz/

👉🏻 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/PGbiz

👉🏻 Website - https://www.pocketgamer.biz

👉🏻 Pocket Gamer Connects - https://www.pgconnects.com

👉🏻Pocket Gamer Connects Speaker Submission form - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdoS5n-vdHu6aU-2d_rR7x1FAgewG51y3nlU1aB8RdetiKaGw/viewform

👉🏻 The Top 50 Mobile Game Makers 2025 - https://www.pocketgamer.biz/the-top-50-mobile-game-makers-of-2025/

👉🏻 Download the PocketGamer.biz Mobile Games Developer Trends Survey Winter 2024/25 report - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf3tbjUxVkG17CuHHljMblfmUC3DZ6gNAzV8qiz8bAALUXSvQ/viewform

👉🏻 Join the AI Gamechangers newsletter - https://aigamechangers.substack.com

What if your most powerful game mechanic isn’t in your code—but in your players’ minds?In Part 1 of this special PocketGamer.biz podcast, Solsten CEO Bastian Bergmann joins hosts Peggy Anne Salz and Brian Baglow to unpack how behavioral science is transforming how great games get made.Bastian—also the author of the new book Press Play: Designing Games That Understand Us—shares how neuroscience, psychometrics, and player psychology can unlock deeper engagement, better retention, and more meaningful play.From building for subconscious needs to busting myths about “data-driven design,” this episode is packed with insights for anyone ready to design with empathy—and build games that truly resonate.🎧 This is Part 1 of a two-part conversation. Stay tuned for Part 2 next week!Bastian Bergmann: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bergmannbastian/Solsten:  https://solsten.io/Elaris: https://elaris.new

PocketGamer.biz head of content Craig Chapple and news editor Aaron Astle discuss the latest games industry news on the 67th episode of the Week in Mobile Games Podcast.

On this week’s show we discuss:

• That $55 billion EA acquisition by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, Silver Lake and Affinity Partners.
• Genshin Impact's fifth anniversary.
• The Xbox Game Pass price hike and where Microsoft goes from here.
• A slow start for Nintendo's surprise new mobile game Fire Emblem Shadows.

** Let's Connect **

👉🏻 Twitter - https://twitter.com/pgbiz

👉🏻 LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/company/pocketgamer-biz/

👉🏻 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/PGbiz

👉🏻 Website - https://www.pocketgamer.biz

👉🏻 Pocket Gamer Connects - https://www.pgconnects.com

👉🏻Pocket Gamer Connects Speaker Submission form - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdoS5n-vdHu6aU-2d_rR7x1FAgewG51y3nlU1aB8RdetiKaGw/viewform

👉🏻 The Top 50 Mobile Game Makers 2024 - https://www.pocketgamer.biz/the-top-50-mobile-game-makers-of-2024/

👉🏻 Download the PocketGamer.biz Mobile Games Developer Trends Survey Winter 2024/25 report - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf3tbjUxVkG17CuHHljMblfmUC3DZ6gNAzV8qiz8bAALUXSvQ/viewform

👉🏻 Join the AI Gamechangers newsletter - https://aigamechangers.substack.com

PocketGamer.biz head of content Craig Chapple and news editor Aaron Astle discuss the latest games industry news on the 66th episode of the Week in Mobile Games Podcast.

On this week’s show we discuss:

- UGC platform revenue share after Fortnite lets developers sell in-game items.

- Nintendo's surprise launch of its latest mobile game: Fire Emblem Shadows.

- Theories on why Apple and Google are releasing new gaming features to their stores.

- How Ukranian studio Oxiwyle is making games during a time of war.

** Let's Connect **

👉🏻 Twitter - https://twitter.com/pgbiz

👉🏻 LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/company/pocketgamer-biz/

👉🏻 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/PGbiz

👉🏻 Website - https://www.pocketgamer.biz

👉🏻 Pocket Gamer Connects - https://www.pgconnects.com

👉🏻Pocket Gamer Connects Speaker Submission form - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdoS5n-vdHu6aU-2d_rR7x1FAgewG51y3nlU1aB8RdetiKaGw/viewform

👉🏻 The Top 50 Mobile Game Makers 2024 - https://www.pocketgamer.biz/the-top-50-mobile-game-makers-of-2024/

👉🏻 Download the PocketGamer.biz Mobile Games Developer Trends Survey Winter 2024/25 report - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf3tbjUxVkG17CuHHljMblfmUC3DZ6gNAzV8qiz8bAALUXSvQ/viewform

👉🏻 Join the AI Gamechangers newsletter - https://aigamechangers.substack.com

👉🏻 Making games in Ukraine: "It's hard to focus on creative tasks when your city is under attack" - https://www.pocketgamer.biz/making-games-in-ukraine-its-hard-to-focus-on-creative-tasks-when-your-city-is-under-attack

How do you bring a beauty brand into Final Fantasy without losing authenticity?

In this special episode recorded live at Gamescom, Paulina Besmehn, Brand Manager at Henkel, shares the story behind Henkel’s first-ever gaming activation—a bold crossover between their Schwarzkopf got2b hair color line and the iconic world of Final Fantasy.

The result? Limited edition shades inspired by in-game avatars, influencer partnerships, and a full offline/online campaign designed around self-expression and community fit.

Paulina shares how her team chose the right game, pitched the idea internally, collaborated with Square Enix, and made sure the activation respected the culture of gaming—not just the business opportunity.

Whether you’re a brand exploring new touchpoints or a game studio open to partnerships, this episode is a masterclass in meeting players where they are—with purpose, not just product.

Paulina Besmehn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pbesmehn/

Henkel Consumer Brands: https://www.henkel-brand-hub.com/business-units/Henkel-Consumer-Brands.html

Final Fantasy XIV: https://na.finalfantasyxiv.com/

Schwarzkopf gӧt2b: https://www.schwarzkopf.com/brands/haircolor/got2b-brand.html