Deconstructor of Fun
Deconstructor of Fun
Deconstructor of Fun podcast is created by games professionals for games professionals. We explore the business side of the games industry with the goal of bringing listeners content that is relevant, insightful, and entertaining on a weekly basis.
Hosts:
Michail Katkoff www.linkedin.com/in/michailkatkoff/
Eric Kress www.linkedin.com/in/erickress/
Phillip Black www.linkedin.com/in/phillip-black-economist/
Jen Donahoe www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferdonahoe
Hosts:
Michail Katkoff www.linkedin.com/in/michailkatkoff/
Eric Kress www.linkedin.com/in/erickress/
Phillip Black www.linkedin.com/in/phillip-black-economist/
Jen Donahoe www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferdonahoe
Episodes
Mentioned books
May 11, 2026 • 54min
From Mobile Games to Apps: Play Ventures $500M Fund
Harri Manninen, founding partner at Play Ventures with mobile games and consumer apps operational experience, and Henric Suuronen, founding partner focused on early-stage game studios and global investing. They discuss why gaming VCs are moving into consumer apps, how to evaluate founder chemistry and co-founder risks, the rationale for a two-year vesting cliff, and how investors give fast, constructive pass decisions.
14 snips
May 7, 2026 • 1h 3min
TWIG #382: Merge Mansion Falls, Xbox Fires the Wrong People, and the Math That Killed Gaming VC
Ethan Levy, seasoned game designer who focuses on monetization and live-ops. John Wright, studio CEO with operational and monetization experience. Josh Chandley, CEO and UA specialist with mobile strategy chops. They discuss Supercell’s Metacore takeover and why Merge Mansion faded. They cover Xbox’s leadership shakeup and non-gaming hires. They unpack the collapse of gaming VC math and what it means for studios.
9 snips
Apr 30, 2026 • 1h 2min
TWIG #381: Xbox Loses the Plot, Ubisoft on Life Support & Western Gaming's Darkest Take
They debate Xbox’s sudden shift to daily active users as the north star and why that strategy feels hollow. Ubisoft’s Canadian shakeup and neglected franchises get examined. A grim LinkedIn take on Western gaming’s investability sparks a wide discussion about China’s structural edge and what western studios can realistically do.
Apr 28, 2026 • 44min
Puzzle Monthly #2: Match-3 Is Broken, Pixel Flow Clones, and Royal Kingdom’s Rise
A fast tour of the current puzzle market, from Turkish startups landing fresh seed rounds to major studios trying puzzle again. They unpack clone drama and a notable Pixel Flow takedown. Royal Kingdom’s rapid relaunch and growth trajectory is tracked against Candy Crush scale. The discussion also covers UA costs, clone monetization tactics, and why match-3 faces high risk today.
Apr 23, 2026 • 1h 7min
TWIG #380: Game Pass Gets Cheaper, China's Mobile Dominance & Division Resurgence Reviewed
A deep dive into Xbox cutting Game Pass prices and the fallout from pulling day-one Call of Duty. A data-packed look at China’s surge to 30% of Western mobile revenue and rising new development hubs. Discussion of Pokémon Go’s anniversary spike, why high-fidelity shooters struggle in the West, and Disney quietly removing dozens of licensed Steam games.
Apr 22, 2026 • 51min
TWIG JR: Gen Alpha's Honest Take on Roblox, Brain Rot & Growing Up as a Gamer
Rocky and Mickey, two candid Gen Alpha gamers, give blunt takes on Roblox, brain-rot and why they’re shifting from mobile to PC/Steam. They explain “friend slop,” call out in-game money grabs, compare Discord vs iMessage for gaming chats, and debate graphics versus style. Expect unfiltered opinions, age-verification antics, and why some games stick while others get ditched.
Apr 22, 2026 • 1h 20min
UA Monthly #3: Freecash Ban, Unity Kills ironSource & Vector’s Rise
Vincent, CMO at 52 Entertainment, brings monetization and Unity/ironSource experience. Warren Woodward, Co-founder of Uptick, focuses on rewarded ad networks and UA strategy. They dissect Freecash’s deplatforming and its risks for rewarded networks. They discuss Unity shutting down ironSource and the rise of Vector. Short takes on policy risk, creative practices, and whether Vector delivers beyond marketing.
Apr 20, 2026 • 1h 5min
Left VC to Become a Founder Again. Here's What They Don't Tell You About Running a Fund
Joakim Achren, serial entrepreneur, former GP at F4 Fund and now building AI-first ventures, shares his return to founding. He explains why running a micro-fund drains time and pay, the fundraising and LP relationship pitfalls, how AI boosts solo creators yet cannot buy distribution, and why he wrote a sleep book aimed at founders navigating burnout.
Apr 16, 2026 • 1h 2min
TWIG #379: Roblox's Age Problem, Xbox Game Pass & Pokemon's 30th Takeover
Kids are finding ways around Roblox's new age verification and parents' controls. Xbox Game Pass faces internal panic over pricing and possible ad tiers. A surprise stealth launch for Borderlands Mobile raises monetization questions. Pokémon is executing a massive 30th anniversary marketing blitz across media and merch. Destiny Rising strips monetization after a steep revenue drop.
Apr 13, 2026 • 1h 16min
What Newzoo's 2026 PC & Console Report Actually Says
Ben Porter, Director of Consulting at Newzoo and data-driven games analyst, breaks down Newzoo's 2026 PC and console market findings. They debate Roblox's surprising dominance and whether it counts as a game. Conversation covers shifting play habits away from narrative AAA, the rise of $30–$50 mid-price launches, Game Pass trade-offs, and how premium live-service and discoverability reshape the market.
