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In this episode of ByteAction, I sit down with Miikka Luotio, VP Europe at Appcharge and a games industry operator with more than 20 years across development, production, publishing, partnerships and D2C commerce. We talk about the early days of mobile games, why Finland produced such a strong generation of studios, and what has changed now that the market is more crowded, more expensive and harder to break into. Miikka shares a frank view on publishing deals, why studios need proof rather than a polished pitch deck, and why chasing the latest trend rarely beats building something players genuinely want. We also get into D2C, what Appcharge is building for game publishers, and why a direct-to-player strategy is about much more than putting up a web shop. Finally we touch on discoverability, direct-to-consumer gaming, payments, AI and where he thinks the games industry is heading next. Chapters 00:00 Introduction 01:32 Growing up in Finland and discovering games 03:41 Quake modding, game school and the early Finnish games scene 07:54 First games role at Frozenbyte 09:46 Learning to make mobile games at Digital Chocolate 16:10 Career moves and the boom years of mobile free-to-play 22:23 Discoverability, attention and the appeal of simple games 28:55 From production to publishing 34:00 What a healthier publisher-developer relationship looks like 40:08 Funding game studios: data, product and avoiding hype cycles 44:50 Why Turkey has become a games hotspot 48:45 The industry reset: consolidation, cost and discoverability 55:54 Appcharge and the case for D2C 01:04:50 Why D2C is about more than a web shop 01:10:39 The future of distribution, discovery and game business models 01:21:17 Persistence and relationships: career advice from Miikka 01:26:00 Close

In this episode of ByteAction, I sit down with Guillaume Rambourg, a true operator of the games industry who’s quietly helped shape some of the biggest brands in gaming. Guillaume started his career in a QA department at CD Projekt during the final stretch of The Witcher 1, went on to help build GOG, opened CD Projekt’s US office, he then moved to Riot Games to launch their Paris office and get the company closer to players across Europe. Most recently, he was brought into Respawn (EA) to build a European publishing team for Apex Legends.We talk about what it’s actually like to build teams and offices from scratch, why Riot’s long hiring process actually makes more sense than people think, and why self-awareness and a growth mindset matter more than raw talent. Guillaume shares what “player-first” really means in practice, and why a lot of live service games fail.We also talk extensively about leadership, hiring, esports, community building, novelty in games, and where the industry is heading next. This one is part career story, part leadership masterclass, and part honest reflection on what it takes to build things that actually last in games. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Guillaume 03:00 Guillaume's Journey in Gaming 05:58 Early Influences and Career Switch 09:14 The Growth of CD Projekt 11:48 Cultural Shifts at CD Projekt 15:01 The Launch of The Witcher 3 17:50 Establishing the US Office 20:50 Transition to Riot Games 23:57 Building the Paris Office at Riot 27:06 Understanding Player Needs at Riot 30:04 Conclusion and Future Aspirations 34:03 The Evolution of eSports Management at Riot 37:10 Recruitment Standards and Criteria at Riot 41:39 Diversity and Team Chemistry in Hiring 46:39 Leadership Style and Clarity in Decision Making 51:45 Keys to Successful Live Service Games 57:28 The Future of Gaming: Trends and Predictions 01:01:42 Advice for Aspiring Game Industry Professionals

In this episode of the ByteAction Podcast, we sit down with Christian Gascons, COO and co-founder of Games for a Living (GFAL), to explore the journey of building sustainable gaming studio, their upcoming launch of Diamond Dreams, and how their team is redefining the match3 space.From Christian’s start at Blizzard Entertainment, to co-founding a studio in Barcelona, to building highly player focused games, this episode dives into the realities of the gaming industry today➡️ If you’re into gaming, startups, Web3, or entrepreneurship, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.0:54 – Welcome to the Podcast1:18 – Announcing the early launch of Diamond Dreams2:20 – Why launch now? Timing & market conditions2:28 – Who is Christian Gascons?3:20 – Early career: from Blizzard to VR studies6:25 – Founding Games for a Living & the vision8:30 – Building infrastructure before launching Diamond Dreams9:35 – The founding team & creative leadership11:45 – Raising $1.2M with just a PowerPoint13:00 – Making Web3 gaming accessible & optional14:10 – Why “game first” matters in blockchain gaming15:01 – Physical jewelry linked to in-game collectibles16:45 – How the gameplay & collectibles work18:20 – Digital collectibles vs NFTs20:20 – Building community, influencer program & Proof of Lux campaign23:35 – The hardest challenges: legal, compliance & iteration27:05 – Free-to-play, user acquisition & market realities28:18 – Gaming industry downturn & layoffs30:22 – The role of a COO in a gaming startup33:37 – Leadership style & company culture36:12 – Lessons from 13 years as an entrepreneur39:35 – Why fun matters more than graphics42:19 – Retention & what makes players come back44:00 – Future vision for Games for a Living45:02 – Leaving a mark in Web3 gaming46:10 – Advice for young people entering the gaming industry-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------https://gfal.com/

In this episode I’m joined by Darius Misiukevicius - Product Owner at Honeygain - the largest crowdsourced web-intelligence network. We talk about the the origins and evolution of HoneyGain, a platform that allows users to share their unused internet bandwidth for monetary rewards. Darius shares insights into the B2B model, user education, and the challenges faced during the company's growth, especially during the pandemic. Finally, we explore the importance of leadership, team dynamics, and the future of AI in business, while also touching on the startup culture in Lithuania and the values that drive personal and professional growth. 0:00 Introduction 07:07 Understanding the B2B Model 12:54 Evolution of HoneyGain's Product 16:55 Challenges and Timing of Launch 21:17 User Trust and Security Concerns 23:43 Diversity in Platforms and Services 24:51 Solving Problems for Game Studios 25:32 Future Developments and Personal Impact 26:39 Navigating Leadership Responsibilities 27:20 The Essence of Leadership Skills 28:13 Proud Moments in Team Development 29:01 Unlocking Potential in Others 30:40 Core Values in Family and Business 32:28 Hiring for Soft Skills vs. Hard Skills 35:24 The Importance of Mutual Respect in Work Relationships 37:21 Open Communication in Team Dynamics 40:19 Building a Tech Company in Lithuania 42:21 The Future of AI in Business 45:27 Fueling Energy and Passion in Leadership 46:16 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs https://www.honeygain.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/misiukevicius-darius/

In this episode I’m joined by Rafał Bieniek - co-founder & CEO of Metashift Labs. We discuss Rafał’s journey in game development, the challenges of starting a studio, and the importance of community engagement. He shares insights on transitioning from a side project to a full-time endeavor, the dynamics of working with investors versus publishers, and the innovative concepts behind their upcoming game. The discussion also touches on the future of game development, the role of AI, and advice for aspiring developers. 00:00 Introduction and Personal Background 03:17 Journey into Game Development 05:46 Starting a Game Studio 08:19 Transitioning from Side Hustle to Full-Time 10:53 Hiring and Team Growth 13:25 Working with Publishers vs. Investors 15:55 New Game Development Approach 18:15 Innovative Game Concept 20:51 Connection Between Players and Characters 23:16 Game Mechanics and Strategy 25:54 Conclusion and Future Plans 26:26 Validating Ideas Early in Game Development 28:37 Finding Your Niche in Game Design 31:33 Building a Community Around Your Game 34:10 The Current State of the Game Industry 39:41 Leveraging AI in Game Development 42:40 Creativity Within Constraints 44:50 Personal Gaming Preferences and Inspirations 48:24 Future Aspirations for Metashift Labs https://metashiftlabs.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/rafbie/ https://dominusautoma.com/

In this episode I’m speaking to Antek Krowicki, and Zach Howe - the co-founders of Nyx Studios. Nyx Studios is a multimedia entertainment company. They’re currently promoting their first tabletop game Havoc: Gen Zero (The Nyxlands of Havoc), which just wrapped up its successful Kickstarter campaign after raising 572% of its goal. We talk about designing with storytelling at the core, building worlds inspired by literary sci-fi and strategy classics, and why community-driven creation is the future of indie games. We also discuss Antek’s and Zack’s journey from writers to worldbuilders, and how a dream project launched in a Telegram group became a Kickstarter success and a growing game universe. 00:00 Building Bonds: The Power of Friendship in Gaming 06:17 The Genesis of Havoc: Founding a Game Company 09:12 From Writers to Game Designers: A Unique Journey 11:56 Inspiration Behind Havoc: Games and Literature 15:03 The Evolution of Havoc: Naming and Universe Building 17:50 The Future of Havoc: Expanding the Universe 20:50 What Makes a Game Successful? Insights from the Industry 23:17 The Art of Game Design: Iteration and Improvement 26:07 Creating a Rich Universe: The World of Havoc 29:01 Gameplay Mechanics: Understanding Havoc 31:53 Kickstarter Success: The Journey to Funding 38:41 Building a Thriving Community 40:17 The Evolution of Community Engagement 43:17 Insights on the Gaming Industry 49:57 Team Dynamics and Collaboration 51:59 Imagining a Future with Unlimited Resources 56:29 Balancing Work and Personal Life 01:02:17 Future Plans for Nyx Studios 01:06:20 Advice for Aspiring Game Developers https://enterhavoc.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/nyx-studios-games/about/

In this episode of ByteAction, I speak with Hanin Fakhriddin - a mobile marketing expert whose journey spans across Gameloft, Ubisoft, and beyond. From pre-smartphone gaming to leading high-impact launches like Hungry Dragon and Might and Magic: Elemental Guardians she shares her insights on how mobile games are brought to market, and what makes them thrive. We discuss the evolution of marketing in games, the role of community building, testing strategies before launch, and why data and psychology are at the heart of great marketing. Hanin also offers a candid look at her shift into freelancing and the challenges (and joys) of teaching, consulting, and staying ahead in a fast-paced industry. Whether you’re a dev, a marketer, or just curious about how mobile games succeed, this episode is a masterclass in mobile growth marketing. Link to Hanin’s mobile marketing academy: https://hanin-fakhriddin-s-school.teachable.com/?preview=logged_out 00:00 Introduction03:15 The Roles of Networking and Graphics in Game Development  09:30 Turning Creative Visions into Playable Realities16:40 Tackling "Impossible" Problems in Game Programming22:50 The Secrets to Great Multiplayer Games29:10 Remote Work: Challenges and Opportunities in Game Development35:45 VR Gaming: The Next Frontier?41:20 How to Break Into Game Development—and Thrive?36:45 Balancing Innovation with Market Demand46:55 Predictions for the Future of Gaming Technology

In this episode, I’m speaking with two incredibly talented programmers, Nikita and Michal, who’ve worked on some of the most challenging aspects of game development, including networking, rendering, and creating multiplayer systems for AAA games like Six Days in Fallujah and Saints Row 3 Remastered. Together, we uncover the intricate craft of game programming and its pivotal role in shaping the experiences we all enjoy as gamers. They share insightful stories about overcoming "impossible" technical problems and what it truly means to succeed as a senior programmer in today’s fast-evolving gaming industry. Finally, we explore the human side of game development—working remotely, building meaningful connections with teams across the globe, and maintaining passion for gaming in a demanding industry. Whether you’re a budding developer or a gaming enthusiast, this episode is packed with behind-the-scenes insights and practical advice from two industry veterans. 00:00 Introduction 03:15 The Roles of Networking and Graphics in Game Development 09:30 Turning Creative Visions into Playable Realities 16:40 Tackling "Impossible" Problems in Game Programming 22:50 The Secrets to Great Multiplayer Games 29:10 Remote Work: Challenges and Opportunities in Game Development 35:45 VR Gaming: The Next Frontier? 41:20 How to Break Into Game Development—and Thrive 46:55 Predictions for the Future of Gaming Technology

In this episode, I’m speaking with Gabriele Aimone - COO and Co-Founder of TIFO, a gaming startup focused on enhancing fans engagement, as well as a strategic advisor at Systems Heavy. We dive into his journey through the gaming industry, starting from his early days at Supercell, where he witnessed the rapid growth of mobile games like Clash of Clans. We also discuss his path from finance to gaming, the challenges he faced, and how he found his calling in team operations and company culture. He shares valuable insights into the process of raising funds, navigating today’s tough investment landscape, and the importance of finding the right investor-partner fit. Finally, we explore future trends in gaming, like the potential for transmedia experiences. This episode is packed with practical advice for anyone in the industry, from founders to aspiring developers. 00:00 Introduction 02:53 Breaking into the Gaming Industry 06:44 Supercell and the Mobile Gaming Boom 09:50 Career Transitions and Burnout 14:20 Challenges of Raising Funds Today 20:10 The Value of Staying True to Your Vision 27:44 Future Trends: Transmedia in Gaming 31:00 Building Effective Teams for Startups 36:45 Balancing Innovation with Market Demand 41:00 Insights for Young Professionals Breaking In

In this episode I'm speaking to Dino Patti - Founder @ Coherence - a network engine, platform and a series of tools to help anyone create a multiplayer game and a Co-Founder of Playdead. We talk about his journey in the gaming industry, the creation of Limbo. We also discuss Coherence, how the company powers the multiplayer gaming and the importance of creating experiences that last. Lastly we touch on the topic of raising money in the industry, the role of publishers, and the keys to launching a successful game. It was a great conversation, and I hope that you will all enjoy it, and take something away from it. 00:00 Introduction 04:17 Game Development 06:44 Starting Playdead and the Challenges Faced 09:27 Securing Funding and Hiring the First Employee 12:53 Pitching to Investors and Publishers 17:17 The Vision Behind Limbo and its Execution 19:49 Development Timeline 24:45 The Impact of Unity and the Changing Gaming Landscape 26:48 Raising Money for Game Development 40:46 The Keys to Success in the Gaming Industry 47:13 The Role of Publishers in Community Building 49:12 Emphasizing Uniqueness and Innovation in Game Design 52:24 Prioritizing Gameplay over Monetary Success

This time I'm joined by Jesus Bosch. Jesus is a General Manager @ Product Madness, and previously a Founder & CEO at Starloop Studios. In the podcast we discuss Jesus experience of building a Starloop Studio from 0 to 70 people as well as his experience of growing Product Madness from 0 to 120 people, we also talk about today’s gamedev market, talk about the importance of choosing the right people for your company, and the definition of what makes a company successful. It was great meeting Jesus, and learning from him and his experience. Hope you will enjoy listening to it! 00:00 Introduction & 2024 hiring market 02:22 What do you do at Product Madness? 05:20 How did you enter the industry? 06:54 Starloop Studios 14:58 What defines a successful company? 16:44 When should you consider adding HR to the team? 18:17 When should you pivot? 22:19 What games do you play currently? 23:25 Things you look for in people when hiring 27:22 The impact of wrong hires 30:45 Most challenging time in the career 33:09 Being let go in Europe vs ROW 34:31 How do you continue growing as a leader? 38:21 Investment vs Publishing deals 42:15 Finding work for hire gigs back in the day 45:33 Advice for younger generations 46:38 What the future holds for you? Product Madness: https://www.productmadness.com/ Product Madness careers: https://aristocrat.wd3.myworkdayjobs.com/AristocratExternalCareersSite?hiringCompany=410fe4438ac610086a9d308831790002

This time I'm joined by Pasqual Batalla. Pasqual is a COO @ Sandsoft, and previously he held a similar position at Socialpoint studio. In the podcast Pasqual talks about his experience with both studios, we also discuss Barcelona game development scene, scaling gaming studios and game publishing. Hope you’ll enjoy this one, and can take something from it. 00:00 Introduction & a bit about football 05:06 Let’s talk about video games 07:45 Why this industry in particular? 08:32 Startup vs Scaleup 10:30 Beginnings of Socialpoint 14:00 Barcelona gamedev scene 15:45 Challenges @ Socialpoint 22:00 Mergers & Acquisitions 25:21 Working through Covid 29:30 Effective communication 32:00 Sandsoft 39:00 How to cut through the noise? 41:25 Choosing games to invest in 44:25 Being both: investor & publisher 47:00 What kind of leader are you? 54:30 Building successful teams 1:02:19 More about Barcelona gamedev scene 1:11:40 Advice for younger generation Sandsoft: https://sandsoft.com/ Sandsoft careers: https://career.sandsoft.com/jobs

This time I'm joined by Andrei Podoprigora. Originally from Lithuania, Andrei currently runs Forklift Interactive - a video games publisher specializing in smart, systemic titles for PC & consoles. He's also a Venture Partner @ The Games Fund, and he was one of the first employees of tinyBuild, helping it transform itself from an indie games publisher to a huge global operation with 10+ internal studios. In the podcast Andrei discusses his experience with tinyBuild and Forklift Interactive, he also shares insights into the publishing and venture capital industries, including the changing landscape of project funding. We discuss the life in Barcelona & Andrei's predictions for the future of the games industry. 00:00 Introduction 03:53 Living in Barcelona 14:39 Andrei's Journey in the Games Industry 20:37 Starting Forklift and the Importance of Original IPs 27:49 Balancing Work for Hire and Original IPs 33:49 Market Conditions for Work for Hire Studios 37:04 Building a Team of Producers 39:57 Success of Systemic Games 55:25 Rise of Project Funding 01:14:17 Importance of having a clear Creative Vision 01:21:25 Future of Forklift Interactive Forklift Interactive: https://www.forklift.gg/ The Games Fund: https://www.gamesfund.vc/

In this episode, I'm joined by Mathias Royer - Chief Studios Officer and a founding member of Tilting Point Barcelona. We discuss the challenges of setting up a new studio, the importance of building a cohesive team and the significance of cultural fit in hiring. We also talk about the evolving landscape of mobile gaming, and how the industry looked like when Mathias was first starting out in games back in 2009. Hope you’ll enjoy this! 0.00 - 4:00 What brought you to Barcelona? 4:00 - 8:00 Growing up in France 8:00 - 12:00 First job in the industry 12:00 - 14:00 Benefits of living abroad 14:00 - 17:00 Favourite project 17:00 - 20:00 Being a Producer vs being a GM 20:00 - 25:00 Culture fit in hiring 25:00 - 33.00 Building Tilting Point 33.00 - 38:00 Communication systems 38.00 - 40.00 Importance of long term vision 40.00 - 44.00 How do you handle stress? 44.00 - 48.00 If you were building a new game studio from scratch? 48.00 - 52.00 As a Publisher - what do you look for in games? 52.00 - 56.00 How different is the market now to how it was a few years ago? 56.00 - 59.00 Advice for younger generation

In this episode, I'm speaking with Dima Pinchuk, the former VP of Marketing at SocialPoint studio in Barcelona and the ex-Global Marketing Director at Wargaming. Dima joined Wargaming when it was a small studio of just 60 people and experienced firsthand its remarkable transformation into the global gaming powerhouse it is today. We delve into the challenges of Marketing in games, the strategies behind successful game launches, and the importance of building trust within a team. Dima also shares his experiences at PokerStars and SocialPoint, and we explore the future of marketing in the video game industry. Hope you’ll enjoy this! 0.00 - 3:00 Where did you grow up? 3:00 - 5:00 Did you always know you’re going to work in video games? 5:00 - 8:00 Witnessing the Wargaming transformation 8:00 - 14:00 Wargaming’s marketing strategy 14:00 - 16:00 Growth & struggles 16:00 - 20:00 What do companies get wrong in marketing when launching a game? 20:00 - 24:00 Monetization 24:00 - 25.00 Do you need a lot of investment in order to launch the game successfully? 25.00 - 26:00 Premium games 26.00 - 28.00 PokerStars 28.00 - 30.00 Moving to Barcelona 30.00 - 33.00 Covid 33.00 - 42.00 SocialPoint 42.00 - 46.00 How to build a great team? 46.00 - 48.00 Common denominator that all great companies have 48.00 - 52.00 The future of video games 52.00 - 54.00 - Your personal future