Naavik Gaming Podcast

This is the audio version of the Naavik Digest newsletter published on February 22nd, 2026. We explore how niche subgenres – Block, Sort, and Screw – are reshaping the mobile puzzle market.You can read the newsletter (with even more sections and visual detail) here: https://www.naavik.co/digest/how-niche-subgenres-are-reshaping-the-mobile-puzzle-marketMeet us at GDC 2026 by filling out this short form: https://naavik.typeform.com/to/gVDtj4UO Let us know what you think by sending us a note at podcast@naavik.co.Watch our episodes: YouTube ChannelFor more episodes and details: Podcast WebsiteFree newsletter: Naavik DigestFollow us: Twitter | LinkedIn | WebsiteSound design by Gavin Mc Cabe.

Sam Glassenberg, founder of Level Ex and veteran game developer who builds medical games to improve training and patient outcomes. He explains why modern game design beats superficial gamification. They discuss mapping medical problems to game genres, live-ops for fast clinical updates, playable ads and sponsorship business models, and the massive healthcare market opportunity for games.

This is the audio version of the Naavik Digest newsletter published on February 15th, 2026. We explore Turkish game development in 2026, discussing what other countries can learn from its ascent and considerations for its next era.You can read the newsletter (with even more sections and visual detail) here: https://naavik.co/digest/why-turkish-game-development-matters-in-2026/ Meet us at GDC 2026 by filling out this short form: https://naavik.typeform.com/to/gVDtj4UO Let us know what you think by sending us a note at podcast@naavik.co.Watch our episodes: YouTube ChannelFor more episodes and details: Podcast WebsiteFree newsletter: Naavik DigestFollow us: Twitter | LinkedIn | WebsiteSound design by Gavin Mc Cabe.

Aaron Bush, managing partner and co-founder at Novik with deep experience advising game companies. He outlines Novik’s fractional talent rollout and previews the State of UGC 2026. They dissect EA’s Battlefield resurgence, Ubisoft’s turmoil, Roblox’s 2025 growth spurt, console and chip dynamics, AI world models like Genie 3, and shifting AAA/AA economics.

A fast take on Project Genie and what AI-generated 3D scenes mean for game tech. Discussion of world models versus game engines and why probabilistic outputs clash with deterministic games. Notes on real developer use cases like prototyping and mood-setting. A look at why markets may have overreacted to Genie's demo and how narrow AI tools quietly win in production.

David Lee, Co-founder and CEO of Nex, led a pivot from mobile apps to a family-first consumer gaming console. He discusses building playful active experiences, why TV and on-device AI matter, retail demo strategies, subscription and safety-first product design, and plans for international expansion and connected, family-focused play.

A deep look at action RPGs that prioritize fairness over traditional gacha mechanics. Comparison of three modern titles and how their different monetization choices played out. Analysis of revenue efficiency, retention, and breakeven outcomes. Discussion of community reaction and whether cosmetics-only or direct-purchase models can succeed.

Analysis of SensorTower's State of Mobile 2026 and how AI is reshaping mobile engagement and monetization. A deep dive into Square Enix’s recent financial hits, consolidation moves, and cost-saving plans. Discussion of activist investor pressure and criticisms of large AAA development models. Exploration of near-term release gaps and strategic options like layoffs, AI adoption, or mobile reinvestment.

Vadim Andreev, CEO of Rokky and former founder of PlayKey, delves into the complex world of the PC games gray market. He explains how regional price arbitrage and promo stockpiling drain publisher margins by 20-40%. Vadim discusses the evolution of digital key resale, highlighting its vulnerabilities and the need for strong defenses like API checks. He also critiques common publisher mistakes and suggests that Valve could enhance control over key exploitation. The conversation combines technology with strategy for a deeper understanding of this hidden economy.

Dive into the booming Match-3 and Merge genres of 2025, exploring top titles like Royal Match and Candy Crush. Discover what sets leading publishers apart, including rising challengers and new subgenres like Match Pair and Block. Learn about key strategies driving success, from understanding player demographics to leveraging LiveOps for engagement. Hybrid monetization methods, blending ads and in-app purchases, show how games cater to diverse audiences. Finally, insights on the competitive landscape suggest that innovation will shape the future of puzzle gaming.