Naavik Digest: 30 Years of Gaming at LEGO

What Game Studios Can Learn from the AI Microdrama Boom

In this episode, host Kalie Moore [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaliemoore/] sits down with Angela Yu, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of StoReel, to explore one of the fastest-growing entertainment categories that gaming executives should be paying attention to: AI-native microdramas. While many still think of microdramas as shortened TV shows, Angela argues they have far more in common with mobile games, relying on retention loops, emotional hooks, creator ecosystems, user acquisition economics, and increasingly interactive experiences. She shares how StoReel is building both a consumer platform for AI-generated serialized stories and a creation suite that enables creators to produce content dramatically faster and cheaper than traditional production methods. Along the way, they unpack the KPI performance of AI-produced titles and what game studios can learn from the category’s rapid growth. The conversation also explores one of the most fascinating cultural divides in technology today: why attitudes toward AI look dramatically different in China versus the West. Having spent half her life in both markets, Angela offers a unique perspective on why creators, companies, and consumers in China have embraced AI far more aggressively, and what that means for the future of entertainment. They discuss creator ownership, AI-powered storytelling, underserved content genres, interactive characters, and why the next generation of entertainment may look less like Hollywood and more like a creator-driven marketplace where anyone can build, monetize, and distribute serialized stories. The episode ultimately examines how AI is reshaping not just production workflows, but the entire relationship between creators, audiences, and entertainment itself. We’d also like to thank Heroic Labs for making this episode possible! Thousands of studios have trusted Heroic Labs to help them focus on their games and not worry about gametech or scaling for success. To learn more and reach out, visit https://heroiclabs.com/?utm_source=Naavik&utm_medium=CPC&utm_campaign=Podcast [https://heroiclabs.com/?utm_source=Naavik&utm_medium=CPC&utm_campaign=Podcast]  If you like the episode, please help others find us by leaving a 5-star rating or review! And if you have any comments, requests, or feedback shoot us a note at podcast@naavik.co [podcast@naavik.co]. Who’s On: Guest - Angela Yu: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angela-yu-0a0379112/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/angela-yu-0a0379112/] Host - Kalie Moore: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaliemoore/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaliemoore/]  Watch the episode: YouTube Channel For more episodes and details: Podcast Website [https://naavik.co/podcast] Free newsletter: Naavik Digest [https://naavik.co/digest] Follow us: Twitter [https://twitter.com/naavik_co] | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/naavik-co/] | Website [https://naavik.co/] Sound design by Gavin Mc Cabe [http://www.gavinsound.net/] Links mentioned: https://storeel.com/ [https://storeel.com/]

Naavik Digest: 30 Years of Gaming at LEGO

This episode covers the Naavik Digest newsletter published on Sunday, June 21st. In today’s issue, we dive deep into LEGO’s 30-year history, examining its roots, how it is quietly starting to change, and what comes next for the company in gaming.  You can read the newsletter (with even more sections and visual detail) here: https://www.naavik.co/digest/ [https://naavik.co/digest/2023-genre-analysis/]thirty-years-of-gaming-at-lego [https://www.naavik.co/digest/thirty-years-of-gaming-at-lego]  Want to explore working with Naavik? Shoot us a note: https://naavik.co/contact-us/ [https://naavik.co/contact-us/]  Let us know what you think by sending us a note at podcast@naavik.co [podcast@naavik.co]. Watch our episodes: YouTube Channel [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0_Eoa7bNooD2w2FNQpVqog] For more episodes and details: Podcast Website [https://naavik.co/podcast] Free newsletter: Naavik Digest [https://naavik.co/digest] Follow us: Twitter [https://twitter.com/naavik_co] | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/naavik-co/] | Website [https://naavik.co/] Sound design by Gavin Mc Cabe [http://www.gavinsound.net/].

Naavik Digest: The Microdrama Volume vs. Value Paradox

This episode covers the Naavik Digest newsletter published on Sunday, June 14th. In today’s issue, we discuss the current state of microdramas — a category which rapidly evolved from a niche Chinese entertainment phenomenon into one of the fastest-growing mobile content categories in the world — exploring the widening gap between audience expansion and monetization, a trend which raises important questions about the category’s long-term economics. You can read the newsletter (with even more sections and visual detail) here: https://www.naavik.co/digest/ [https://naavik.co/digest/2023-genre-analysis/]the-microdrama-volume-vs-value-paradox [https://www.naavik.co/digest/the-microdrama-volume-vs-value-paradox]  Want to explore working with Naavik? Shoot us a note: https://naavik.co/contact-us/ [https://naavik.co/contact-us/]  Let us know what you think by sending us a note at podcast@naavik.co [podcast@naavik.co]. Watch our episodes: YouTube Channel [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0_Eoa7bNooD2w2FNQpVqog] For more episodes and details: Podcast Website [https://naavik.co/podcast] Free newsletter: Naavik Digest [https://naavik.co/digest] Follow us: Twitter [https://twitter.com/naavik_co] | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/naavik-co/] | Website [https://naavik.co/] Sound design by Gavin Mc Cabe [http://www.gavinsound.net/].

Lessons from Real M&A Transactions: Getting Studios Bought

Gaming M&A is no longer just a story about strategics buying obvious hits. In this episode, Alexandra Takei [https://www.linkedin.com/in/takeit-eazy/], VP of Platform Revenue at Medal [https://medal.tv/], sits down with Brogan Keane [https://www.linkedin.com/in/brogankeane/], Managing Partner at Double Black Capital [https://doubleblackcap.com/], to unpack what actually happens when a game studio reaches the end of its company lifecycle: sale, exit, or recapitalization. The conversation breaks down who is buying game companies today, from private equity firms and Korean strategics to non-gaming entertainment companies looking for transmedia exposure. Brogan explains why PE buyers care most about profitability and risk mitigation, while strategics may pay more aggressively for IP, portfolio gaps, genre expertise, or future revenue replacement. The episode also gets practical for founders. Alexandra and Brogan discuss what makes a studio acquirable, why the “million units sold” threshold matters, and why founders should focus on one valuable IP rather than distracting side projects. They also walk through deal structure, including upfront cash, retention-based earnouts, performance earnouts, and why headline deal values are often misleading. We’d also like to thank Medal.tv [https://medal.tv/] for making this episode possible. If you're a PC gamer and want to clip your moments or a studio, publisher, or marketer looking to reach a high-quality gaming audience and get your game in front of the right players, check out all Medal has to offer at https://grow.medal.tv [https://grow.medal.tv/]. If you like the episode, please help others find us by leaving a 5-star rating or review! And if you have any comments, requests, or feedback shoot us a note at podcast@naavik.co.   Watch the episode: YouTube Channel [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0_Eoa7bNooD2w2FNQpVqog] For more episodes and details: Podcast Website [https://naavik.co/podcast] Free newsletter: Naavik Digest [https://naavik.co/digest] Follow us: Twitter [https://twitter.com/naavik_co] | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/naavik-co/] | Website [https://naavik.co/] Sound design by Gavin Mc Cabe [http://www.gavinsound.net/].

Naavik Digest: Embracer Splits Again

This episode covers the Naavik Digest newsletter published on Sunday, June 7th. In today’s issue, we shine a light on Embracer after the company recently announced it is splitting up again. We look back at the key strategic decisions the company has made and what they might mean for its future. You can read the newsletter (with even more sections and visual detail) here: https://www.naavik.co/digest/ [https://naavik.co/digest/2023-genre-analysis/]embracer-splits-again [https://www.naavik.co/digest/embracer-splits-again]  Want to explore working with Naavik? Shoot us a note: https://naavik.co/contact-us/ [https://naavik.co/contact-us/]  Let us know what you think by sending us a note at podcast@naavik.co [podcast@naavik.co]. Watch our episodes: YouTube Channel [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0_Eoa7bNooD2w2FNQpVqog] For more episodes and details: Podcast Website [https://naavik.co/podcast] Free newsletter: Naavik Digest [https://naavik.co/digest] Follow us: Twitter [https://twitter.com/naavik_co] | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/naavik-co/] | Website [https://naavik.co/] Sound design by Gavin Mc Cabe [http://www.gavinsound.net/].