The Game Business Show Scopely CEO: There’s less of a need for new games
Mar 24, 2026
Javier Ferreira, Co-CEO of Scopely and veteran mobile games executive, talks about mobile market shifts and lessons from Niantic. He covers M&A priorities, fandom vs IP, expanding to PC and console, AI adoption, and why Scopely values iterative learning and culture. Multiple short takes on hybrid casual, platform fee impacts, and balancing organic growth with acquisitions.
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Normalize Being Wrong To Learn Faster
- Scopely normalizes being wrong to accelerate learning and iteration across the company.
- Javier Ferreira says leaders who admit mistakes get promoted, which embeds 'we're never right' into the operating system.
Niantic's GoFest Shows Community Power
- Niantic impressed Scopely with deep community commitment through live events like GoFest.
- Ferreira describes GoFest bonding and says Niantic's mission-oriented discipline energized Scopely.
Acquire To Add Capabilities Not Just Revenue
- Acquire companies that enhance your platform and accelerate strategic capabilities, not just for revenue or scale.
- Ferreira cites Niantic for community assets and Loom for a prototyping culture that complements Scopely's strengths.