by Naavik
The Naavik Gaming Podcast is a business-focused exploration of the companies, trends, strategies and leaders that are defining the future of games. To learn more and see other great content visit www.naavik.co.
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🇺🇲
Publishing Since
5/21/2021
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April 29, 2025
<p><br>In this episode, host <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/takeit-eazy/">Alexandra Takei</a>, Director at <a href="https://www.ruckus-games.com/">Ruckus Games</a>, sits down with <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/minjie-derek-qiu-33643287/">Derek Qiu</a>, Head of Overseas Operations at NetEase, to explore the cross-border distribution journey of <a href="https://www.oncehuman.game/">Once Human</a>, a supernatural survival game from Starry Studio.</p><p><br>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.</p><p><br>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.</p><p><br>For anyone curious about China’s growing global influence in gaming, this is a must-listen.</p><p>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 <a href="https://www.neonpay.com/?utm_source=naavik">https://www.neonpay.com/?utm_source=naavik</a> </p><p><br></p><p>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 [email protected].</p><p> </p><p>Watch the episode: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0_Eoa7bNooD2w2FNQpVqog">YouTube Channel</a></p><p>For more episodes and details: <a href="https://naavik.co/podcast">Podcast Website</a></p><p>Free newsletter: <a href="https://naavik.co/digest">Naavik Digest</a></p><p>Follow us: <a href="https://twitter.com/naavik_co">Twitter</a> | <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/naavik-co/">LinkedIn</a> | <a href="https://naavik.co/">Website</a></p><p>Sound design by <a href="http://www.gavinsound.net/">Gavin Mc Cabe</a>.</p>
April 22, 2025
<p>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. </p><p><br></p><p>In this conversation, <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdavetaylor/">David Taylor</a> sat down with <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/crystin-cox-a779573/">Crystin Cox</a>, Head of Publishing at Arena Net 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 Arena Net.</p><p><br></p><p>They explore how the landscape has evolved over time and what the future holds during this tumultuous time in the video game industry.</p><p><br></p><p>We’d also like to thank TikTok for making this episode possible. In a dynamic gaming market where<strong> </strong>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: <a href="https://bit.ly/LiveOpsProgramNAVPodcast">https://bit.ly/LiveOpsProgramNAVPodcast</a> </p><p><br></p><p>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 <a href="https://heroiclabs.com/?utm_source=Naavik&utm_medium=CPC&utm_campaign=Podcast">https://heroiclabs.com/?utm_source=Naavik&utm_medium=CPC&utm_campaign=Podcast</a> </p><p><br></p><p>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 <a href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a>.</p><p> </p><p>Watch the episode: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0_Eoa7bNooD2w2FNQpVqog">YouTube Channel</a></p><p>For more episodes and details: <a href="https://naavik.co/podcast">Podcast Website</a></p><p>Free newsletter: <a href="https://naavik.co/digest">Naavik Digest</a></p><p>Follow us: <a href="https://twitter.com/naavik_co">Twitter</a> | <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/naavik-co/">LinkedIn</a> | <a href="https://naavik.co/">Website</a></p><p><br></p><p>Sound design by <a href="http://www.gavinsound.net/">Gavin Mc Cabe</a>.</p>
April 8, 2025
<p>In this episode, host <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/devinbecker/">Devin Becker</a> welcomes fellow Naavik host and consultant <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/devinbecker/">David Taylor</a> to discuss insights from Naavik’s recent <a href="https://naavik.co/deep-dives/the-state-of-ugc-games-2025-deep-dive/">State of UGC Gaming deep dive</a> 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. </p><p>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.</p><p><br>We’d like to thank TikTok for making this episode possible. In a dynamic gaming market where<strong> </strong>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: <a href="https://bit.ly/LiveOpsProgramNAVPodcast">https://bit.ly/LiveOpsProgramNAVPodcast</a> </p><p><br></p><p>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 <a href="https://www.overwolf.com/">https://www.overwolf.com/</a>.</p><p><br></p><p>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 [email protected].</p><p> </p><p>Watch the episode: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0_Eoa7bNooD2w2FNQpVqog">YouTube Channel</a></p><p>For more episodes and details: <a href="https://naavik.co/podcast">Podcast Website</a></p><p>Free newsletter: <a href="https://naavik.co/digest">Naavik Digest</a></p><p>Follow us: <a href="https://twitter.com/naavik_co">Twitter</a> | <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/naavik-co/">LinkedIn</a> | <a href="https://naavik.co/">Website</a></p><p><br></p><p>Sound design by <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/gavin-mc-cabe-557339227/">Gavin Mc Cabe</a>.</p><p><br></p>
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