Naavik Gaming Podcast

In this episode, podcast David Taylor [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdavetaylor/] is joined by Alexander Hicks [https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexander-hicks-81a194b4/], the co-founder of Twin Atlas, one of the most innovative studios in the Roblox ecosystem. Twin Atlas is the team behind blockbuster experiences like Creatures of Sonaria, which ranks among the top 30 Roblox games in terms of revenue and engagement according to CreatorExchange.io [http://creatorexchange.io]. At the time of this recording, Twin Atlas experiences are drawing 50,000+ concurrent players, with recent peaks nearing 100,000 CCU. They've also built three experiences that have surpassed 1 billion plays—a rare feat on the platform. What sets Twin Atlas apart is their ability to consistently launch original hits, in contrast to the growing trend of game acquisitions among top Roblox developers. From his early work with Red Manta to the strategic merger that formed Twin Atlas, Alex shares valuable insights into: * Building high-performing games from scratch * Navigating the evolution of the Roblox platform * Pushing the boundaries of animation, gameplay, and live ops * The creative process behind long-term engagement If you're curious about how top-tier Roblox games are made—and what it takes to build a sustainable studio in the UGC ecosystem—this episode is a must-listen. We’d also like to thank Overwolf for making this episode possible! Whether you're a gamer, creator, or game studio, Overwolf is the ultimate destination for integrating UGC in games! You can check out all Overwolf has to offer at https://www.overwolf.com/ [https://www.overwolf.com/]. We’d also like to thank nSure.ai for making this episode possible! As a proven industry leader, nSure.ai provides scalable payment fraud prevention that’s not just effective but tailored specifically to your needs. To learn more, visit https://www.nsure.ai/contact [https://www.nsure.ai/contact] 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].   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/].

In this episode, host Alexandra Takei [https://www.linkedin.com/in/takeit-eazy/], Director at Ruckus Games [https://www.ruckus-games.com/], sits down with Derek Qiu [https://www.linkedin.com/in/minjie-derek-qiu-33643287/], Head of Overseas Operations at NetEase, to explore the cross-border distribution journey of Once Human [https://www.oncehuman.game/], a supernatural survival game from Starry Studio. They discuss the rapid evolution of China's gaming market, how Chinese developers like NetEase are increasing their presence in the West, and how Once Human represents a new wave of globally ambitious titles. Derek shares why the team prioritized a PC-first launch, how they maintained a cosmetic-only monetization strategy despite mobile market pressures, and how the game achieved a top spot in mobile downloads across 166 regions. The conversation also covers the key differences in publishing and LiveOps strategies between East and West, how self-publishing enabled NetEase to stay agile, and why strong internal infrastructure and cross-cultural research were critical to success. They close with insights on how China's strengths in rapid iteration and operational efficiency are reshaping global competition—and why future gaming growth will favor studios that focus on vertical audiences rather than mass-market appeal. For anyone curious about China’s growing global influence in gaming, this is a must-listen. We’d also like to thank Neon – a merchant of record with customizable webshops optimized for conversion – for making this episode possible! Neon is trusted by some of the biggest names in gaming and can help you sell direct without the typical overhead. To learn more, visit https://www.neonpay.com/?utm_source=naavik [https://www.neonpay.com/?utm_source=naavik]  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/].

Our guest today, has led teams overseeing some of the biggest commercial successes from the MMORPG genre, and has leveraged those experiences to support dozens more through publishing roles for Xbox Game Studios Publishing and ArenaNet.  In this conversation, David Taylor [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdavetaylor/] sat down with Crystin Cox [https://www.linkedin.com/in/crystin-cox-a779573/], Head of Publishing at ArenaNet and a 20-yr veteran of the video game industry, to discuss her experiences leading live-ops on Maple Story, monetization on Guild Wars 2, and publishing at Xbox Game Studios Publishing and now ArenaNet. They explore how the landscape has evolved over time and what the future holds during this tumultuous time in the video game industry. We’d also like to thank TikTok for making this episode possible. Whether you’re launching or scaling, TikTok supports full-funnel growth with creative impact, always-on engagement, and advanced measurement. Learn more at https://bit.ly/tiktokmorelevels [https://bit.ly/tiktokmorelevels] 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].   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/].

In this episode, host Devin Becker [https://www.linkedin.com/in/devinbecker/] welcomes fellow Naavik host and consultant David Taylor [https://www.linkedin.com/in/devinbecker/] to discuss insights from Naavik’s recent State of UGC Gaming deep dive [https://naavik.co/deep-dives/the-state-of-ugc-games-2025-deep-dive/] and beyond. We discuss how leading UGC platforms are evolving and where they face the most promise and challenges, from Roblox’s growing ad and brand integrations to Fortnite’s challenge of escaping its battle royale roots.  We also explore emerging contenders like mods, Highrise, speculate on how GTA VI might impact the UGC landscape, and consider whether we’re due for a new wave of platforms altogether. Lastly, David reflects on how AI could shape the future of creation and how developers might adapt as the UGC ecosystem continues to expand. We’d like to thank TikTok for making this episode possible. In a dynamic gaming market where a majority of games fail within three years, TikTok has become a critical partner in helping games achieve long-term player retention and substantial revenue growth. Learn more: https://bit.ly/LiveOpsProgramNAVPodcast [https://bit.ly/LiveOpsProgramNAVPodcast]  We’d also like to thank Overwolf for making this episode possible! Whether you're a gamer, creator, or game studio, Overwolf is the ultimate destination for integrating UGC in games! You can check out all Overwolf has to offer at https://www.overwolf.com/ [https://www.overwolf.com/]. 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 [https://www.linkedin.com/in/gavin-mc-cabe-557339227/].

In this episode, host, Alexandra Takei [https://www.linkedin.com/in/takeit-eazy/], Director at Ruckus Games [https://www.ruckus-games.com/], dives into the intersection of brand marketing, live streaming, and culturally relevant branded experiences. Joined by Wiktoria Wójcik [https://www.linkedin.com/in/vikivojcik/], co-founder of InStreamly [https://instreamly.com/], the conversation explores how brands can integrate into live streaming platforms like Twitch, YouTube, and Kick. InStreamly connects brands with thousands of streamers, facilitating authentic collaborations through technology that allows for large-scale, interactive campaigns. Wójcik shares insights on bridging the gap between brand safety and engaging streamers, as well as the power of parasocial relationships in gaming. They discuss case studies with big brands like Cheetos [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xt7NFOc1cZ0] and Danone [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-4d5BHy0-g], showcasing how live streaming is reshaping marketing strategies, from contextual gameplay to driving brand affinity. It's a must-listen for anyone interested in the evolving world of influencer marketing or those interested in partnering with a contextual marketing agency in the United States. We’d like to thank Lightspeed Venture Partners for making this episode possible! With its dedicated gaming practice, "Lightspeed Gaming," the firm is investing from over $7B in early- and growth-stage capital — the by far largest fund focused on gaming and interactive technology. If you’re interested in learning more, go to https://gaming.lsvp.com/ [https://gaming.lsvp.com/]. We’d also like to thank nSure.ai! As a proven industry leader, nSure.ai provides scalable payment fraud prevention that’s not just effective but tailored specifically to your needs. To learn more, visit https://www.nsure.ai/contact [https://www.nsure.ai/contact] 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/].