Karl Reader

Great games aren’t defined by a moment of popularity. Their real measure is longevity. Do players keep coming back? Does the experience stay fun and meaningful? Does the community continue to grow? At GDC 2026, leaders from Tencent Games share what it takes to build games that last. #GDC2026 #GameDevelopment #TencentGames

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Bragg Gaming Group plans to reduce its workforce by 12% at an anticipated cost of €10 million, including termination costs, during the first quarter of 2026. https://lnkd.in/g_TrgPQU

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🚀 PopOK Gaming x LuckyStreak PopOK Gaming has partnered with LuckyStreak to bring its full portfolio of innovative slots to a wider network of operator partners through LuckyStreak’s LuckyConnect aggregation platform. 🎰 Highlights: >slot portfolio featuring a mix of modern and classic games >Fully optimized for seamless play on desktop and mobile >Includes innovative titles like the recent dice game Color Hunt >Back-office tools for operators to run real-time, targeted promotions 🌍 This collaboration expands PopOK Gaming’s global reach and enhances LuckyStreak’s content offering, providing operators with diverse, feature-rich gaming experiences designed to boost player engagement and retention. Read more at IGU: https://lnkd.in/dVF8C9RE

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I know it's a bit late, but there’s something different about being in a room where you can feel an industry shifting in real time. That was my takeaway from the Mobidictum Mixer Ho Chi Minh City. Vietnam’s game scene doesn’t feel like “emerging” anymore. It feels in motion. A few things really stood out to me: Global attention is no longer hypothetical. Publishers and VCs are actively looking for opportunities here now. Founders are thinking beyond the next launch. More openness to scaling, partnerships, and long-term growth. AI isn’t a buzzword anymore. It’s already part of how top teams operate. And maybe most importantly, people are sharing. There’s a sense that building together will move everyone forward faster. At the same time, there’s another layer to all of this. As ambition grows, so does the pressure on growth. Scaling globally today is about making sure your acquisition actually holds up when CPIs rise, competition increases, and testing cycles get shorter. That’s exactly where we see many teams hit a wall. At Point2Web, we spend a lot of time helping studios move past that, from “we’re testing” to something that actually scales and sustains. Really glad to be part of this moment and see where things are heading. #MobidictumMixer #VietnamMarket #MobileGrowth #Point2Web

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Talent, discipline, and storytelling define the incredible journey of Stephen Oyoung. In this episode of Asian Pacific Voices, Stephen, an accomplished actor, motion capture stunt performer, and voiceover artist—shares his path through the entertainment industry and how he brings complex characters to life across film, television, and gaming. Best known for his role as Martin Li/Mister Negative in the Spider-Man video game series, Stephen reflects on the craft behind performance capture and how his background in martial arts enhances his work on screen and in motion capture. He also opens up about his journey into acting and the pivotal support of his father, offering insight into the dedication and resilience required to succeed in a competitive industry. From action-packed performances to emotionally driven storytelling, Stephen continues to push boundaries and inspire audiences through his versatility and commitment to his craft. 🎧 Watch the full episode again and get inspired by his journey: https://lnkd.in/gVZv9c4X #AsianPacificVoices #StephenOyoung #VoiceActor #MotionCapture #StuntActor

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Growth often begins when someone gives you the chance to step forward. As we reflect on this year's International Women's Day theme, "Give to Gain", we're spotlighting Jane's journey at MOONTON GAMES—from entering the gaming industry as a newcomer, to leading MPL #Philippines Season 16 Festival Superfan City, among the largest #MLBB esports fan events in the country to date. Her team's work also earned them the title "Team of the Year Award (2025)" at MOONTON Games. Jane's story shows how growth often starts when opportunities are shared. When leaders create space for others to step up, confidence grows, ideas flourish, and new paths open for the next generation. In this feature, she shares her reflections on navigating a new industry, her proudest moment, and her advice to women carving their paths in gaming. #MOONTONGames #LifeAtMoonton #MobileLegendsBangBang #Esports #MPLPH #EsportsForEveryone #Gaming #GamingJobs #GamingCareers #GameIndustryJobs #Partnerships #Opportunity #Community #Diversity #Inclusivity #JoinUs #IWD2026 #WhatIWDMeansToMe #GiveToGain #WomenInGaming

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Are we turning into zombies after eating this? 🧟‍♂️ This is smart viral marketing. Instead of hard-selling the Resident Evil IP, they leaned into the meme and built brand heat indirectly. It’s fun, unexpected, and shareable. That’s the point. When audiences are constantly bombarded with heavy IP pushes, a light, casual activation like this cuts through better and elevates awareness without feeling forced. #grabbermedia

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Expanding into alternative app stores allows developers to claim higher margins and reach new players outside the usual two platforms. By distributing games across these diverse channels, studios can increase their revenue and audience reach with minimal upfront investment. Check out the animation below for a quote from Silas Ng, COO of NovaSonic, about the opportunity of alternative app stores and why they chose to work with Flexion. #MobileGaming #AppStores #GameDev #AlternativeAppStores #MobileGames #RevenueGrowth

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When performance and player experience go hand in hand, great things happen. 🎯🎮 We teamed up with Southeast Asia's leading game company, Rocket Game Studio, to bring in-game audio ads to some of their biggest titles. The goal? Boost revenue without disrupting gameplay. Here’s what happened: 🟪 Up to 10% revenue uplift across key markets 🟪 No impact on playtime, retention, or engagement 🟪 Scalable audio monetization across multiple titles Smart format. Seamless experience. Real results. Huge thanks to Kimmie Vu and the Rocket team for the incredible collaboration. Check out the full case study, link in the comments 👇 #mobilegaming #monetization #revenue

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Southeast Asia's games market is on the rise, driven by the popularity of mobile games and now expanding with broader game development. Nam Nguyen, Krit Pattanateacha and Darang C. highlight the region's growth potential as we look at the state of Southeast Asia's games industry in 2025. Find the link to the full article in the comments below 👇

PUBG might not be the buzzy game it was nearly a decade ago when it hit Early Access, but it's still cranking out content as one of the most prolific and successful live service games in the business. Of course, PUBG Mobile and its Chinese version, Game For Peace, are massive hits. But the the old school PC version on Steam is probably my favorite online game, even if chicken dinners come few and far between for these dad eyes. One of the fun aspects of PUBG is that new content is never far away. The Erangel Sub Zero map, bringing winter to the OG island map is terrific. Falling satellites, braving the elements and the same steady mix of gunplay and strategy are all part of the fun. And while I'm playing extraction, it's still one of the early Battle Royale games that floats my boat. This patch notes video released recently shows us skins, new content and more. It's a good snappy look at one of Steam's most popular games. Speaking of that, its still consistently peaking daily at more than 700K CCU. And while the game is far from perfect, the consistent content releases keep me coming back. Have you found yourself freezing on the island too?

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In the latest episode of How to Pitch Games, Artyom S. gave some valuable insight into what to leave out of your pitch deck. Watch the full episode for more: https://lnkd.in/e6VWDTaP

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Web3 platform STIX has announced a new partnership with Korean esports organisation Dplus KIA for the launch of a fan token program. The initiative aims to leverage community-created memes in a campaign tied to offline events. https://lnkd.in/dcHx6TWX

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Rolling Burger & Chef Universe: Expanding Hybrid Casual Game Economies Onchain https://lnkd.in/gMjAW7HC Rolling Burger, co-built by GRAMPUS° and Zenga games, is a hybrid casual, gambling-style game where players roll dice on a board, collect ingredients, and turn the results into burgers. In hybrid casual games, success isn’t about fine-tuning difficulty. What really matters is how long a session feels, how players come back over time, and how live operations are designed. Unlike AAA titles, hybrid casual games win through fast launches and quick iteration. That speed is a strength—but without enough operating experience, it can easily turn into friction. And because LTV is a built-in constraint of the genre, it’s important to think early about how one game can naturally grow into the second and third titles. Rolling Burger started from a simple idea: Web3 can help break through the limitations of hybrid casual games. Instead of forcing complexity into gameplay, Rolling Burger focuses on short, satisfying sessions and clear outcome-based rewards—and moves everything else outside the game. Inside the game, players just roll dice and make burgers. But the results can be converted into onchain ingredient tokens based on real-world food ingredients, such as BEEF, WHEAT, BUTTER, and beyond. Those ingredients live inside Chef Universe, where they act as soft currency across cooking games, communities, events, and experimental content. Some players trade ingredients like merchants in Uncharted Waters, while others hold onto key materials, betting on future demand and price shifts. Rolling Burger can move the out-of-game elements of a hybrid casual game beyond the game itself thanks to its strong alignment with the Base App. 1. Base Account, players can check and manage their onchain game assets without dealing with complex wallet flows. 2. Social feed makes it easy to see how ingredient tokens move and change in value—even without opening the game. 3. And with builders across the ecosystem, including tools like Minting Club, already making it easy to mint and trade all 129 ingredient tokens onchain. Rolling Burger was selected as a Top 50 Finalist in the Base Batches 002 Builder Track. Looking ahead, we plan to keep expanding the project—possibly through programs like IncuBase—with the goal of becoming one of Base’s core games. The strategy behind Rolling Burger and Chef Universe is still Day One. As hybrid casual game economies break out of single-game bundles and move onchain, new player behaviors and new markets will naturally follow. Follow Rolling Burger and Daehan Base Games Guild to see where this onchain game economy goes next.

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“Why do I want to do the exact same thing everybody else is doing? I’m going to try and come up with an idea.” Glen Schofield shares with us why ideas remain the core of great game development. – gamescom asia #gamescomasia #thailandgameshow #GameDevelopment

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