Unpredictable Hits is a series of sharp, fun, and brutally honest conversations with the people shaping the future of mobile gaming in the AI era.In this episode, we sit down with Jon Bellamy, CEO of Jagex, to explore what it takes to lead RuneScape, a 25-year-old world that millions still treat as home. Jon explains why running Jagex often feels “more like government than game development,” and how community and trust shape every decision.From his early years as a RuneScape player to roles in VC, Huge Games, and now the CEO seat, Jon’s path spans every side of the industry. We discuss legacy, community governance, the real impact of AI on development, and what it takes to keep a living game thriving across generations.We dive into:(00:00:00) Intro and Jon's journey to Jagex(00:02:42) Managing a community like a government(00:06:51) The 70% poll threshold for new features(00:09:23) Dragonwilds and early access success(00:14:10) Card Game: Hardest lessons and unsolvable problems(00:20:06) Strategy: Betting on 10 bold things(00:26:21) Balancing new players vs. loyal community(00:37:43) The truth about AI in game development(00:46:04) Human creativity vs. "AI Slop"Check other episodes: https://www.sett.ai/podcastLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sett-ai/posts/?feedView=all
Unpredictable Hits is a series of sharp, fun, and brutally honest conversations with the people shaping the future of mobile gaming in the AI era.
In this episode, we sit down with Shaun Rutland, ex-PlayStation and founder of Hutch, to explore how the playbook for building a studio is shifting, and what it takes to do it with clarity and speed.
From Royal Mail to PlayStation to Hutch, Shaun’s career moved across roles, platforms, and company sizes — all the way to building his own AI-first studio today. It’s a look at how experience, adaptability, and timing shape the way modern game studios are built.
We dive into:
(00:00) Intro: AI, Mobile Games, and the Unfiltered Truth
(01:17) Shaun's Path: Postman, PlayStation, and Hutch's Origin
(08:22) Crucial Lesson: Why You Must Ship the Game
(15:25) The Danger of Hyper-Growth & Team Alignment
(28:25) AI-First Studio: Why Now is the Best Time to Build
(34:29) AI's Biggest Impact: Why It's Not Just Art Assets
(45:50) Competitive Edge: Distribution Trumps Execution
(50:10) Early Marketing Hire: Finding the Science-Driven Marketer
(57:15) Founder Advice: Community, Focus, and Giving Back
Check other episodes: https://www.sett.ai/podcast
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sett-ai/posts/?feedView=all
Unpredictable Hits is a series of sharp, fun, and brutally honest conversations with the people shaping the future of mobile gaming in the era of AI.
In this episode, we sit down with Zeynep Tasoz Cataner, Senior Marketing Creative Director at Zynga, to talk about the tension between speed, data, and authenticity in mobile gaming. She shares what it takes to build creative teams that move fast without losing their edge, and why AI won’t replace artists, but will raise the bar for them.
We dive into:
(00:00) Intro
(01:31) From Brand Entrepreneur to Zynga’s Creative Lead
(05:00) The Crisis of Authenticity in an AI World
(07:50) Balancing Scale, Authenticity, and Retention with Authentic Ads
(15:38) The "Deconstruction" Method: How to Find Your Next Hero Creative
(28:22) The Secret to Ending UA vs. Creative Team Tension
(31:36) What is a "Data-Driven Artist"?
(39:38) Launching New Games: Creative Strategy for Soft Launch
(45:10) Advice for Creative Leaders and Entrepreneurs
Check other episodes: https://www.sett.ai/podcast
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sett-ai/
Unpredictable Hits is a series of sharp, fun, and brutally honest conversations with the people shaping the future of mobile gaming in the era of AI.
Most founders dream of building a gaming empire. Akin Babayigit actually did it.
In this episode, we sit down with the co-founder of Tripledot Studios, one of Europe’s fastest-growing game companies, to unpack his journey from Turkey to the global gaming stage. Akin shares some unfiltered perspectives on risk, resilience, and building from zero to one.
We dive into:
Global forces in mobile gaming
The personal bets and early risks behind founding Tripledot
How Akin thinks about scaling a gaming company (and why he thrives in the zero-to-one stage)
What it means to build for the long game vs chasing short-term wins
The mindset shift that separates good founders from legendary ones
If you care about games, startups, or building something that lasts, this one’s for you
What happens when AI collides with mobile gaming? This is Unpredictable Hits, a series of sharp, fun, and brutally honest conversations with the people shaping what’s next. We’re here to find out what’s actually happening and where it's all headed, straight from the source.
Each episode, Amit, Co-Founder & CEO of Sett, teams up with brilliant guests to talk shop and ask the hard questions.
Join us as we explore the weird, the brilliant, and the broken sides of AI in gaming and try to make sense of it all.