Blog

Stories from the field

Notes from the team — what we learn building AI monetization for Unity and Unreal studios.

• Jul 6, 2026 · 4 min read

  Payment method localization: beyond cards and store billing

  In many of your biggest growth markets, cards aren't the default. Here's why payment method localization moves conversion more than price tuning

• Jul 6, 2026 · 4 min read

  Mobile game M&A in 2026: what acquirers actually value

  Downloads and DAU used to sell a mobile studio. In 2026 acquirers price on retention durability and revenue diversification instead. Here's why

• Jul 6, 2026 · 5 min read

  Live-ops calendars that outlast the person who built them

  A live-ops calendar built as one-off events dies when its owner leaves. Templated events survive team turnover and cut event-prep time in half.

• Jul 5, 2026 · 5 min read

  Structured beta cohorts catch what launch metrics won't

  A small beta cohort with structured feedback finds problems a bigger unstructured test group misses. Here is how to run one before your next launch

• Jul 5, 2026 · 4 min read

  Licensed IP collaborations and when they earn their cost

  Crossover events with outside brands can spike revenue fast, but the licensing cost and calendar disruption are real. Here is how to size the bet

• Jul 5, 2026 · 4 min read

  Competitive mode monetization without breaking fairness

  Ranked and competitive modes can't sell power without losing the players who make them worth playing. Here is what monetizes without pay-to-win

• Jul 4, 2026 · 4 min read

  Portfolio live-ops governance for multi-game studios

  Studios with more than one live game keep rebuilding the same live-ops systems per title. Here is what shared governance actually saves

• Jul 4, 2026 · 4 min read

  Apple's new ad slots and Google's Power Pack: what shifted

  App store search ads and Google's app campaigns both changed shape in 2026. Here is what the new placements and tools actually mean for your UA budget.

• Jul 4, 2026 · 5 min read

  Ad mediation is quietly moving from waterfall to hybrid

  Pure waterfall ad mediation is losing fill value to hybrid bidding setups. Here is what changed and what to check before you touch your stack

• Jul 3, 2026 · 4 min read

  Sunsetting a live game: the wind-down players remember

  Shutting down a live-service game badly costs you the next one too. Here is what a responsible wind-down actually requires, for players and revenue both.

• Jul 3, 2026 · 4 min read

  Hybrid-casual consolidation: what it means for smaller studios

  Larger publishers are acquiring hybrid-casual studios that break out fast. Here is what that consolidation wave means if you're not the one being bought.

• Jul 3, 2026 · 4 min read

  Accessible design isn't a checkbox — it's a revenue lever

  Remappable inputs, captions, and forgiving difficulty aren't just for players with disabilities. Here is the monetization case for building them in early.