Robert Stevenson

Recap of Consensus 2024: why does this event exist? TLDR Thx for the BBQ, Austin! And it was great to meet up with old and new friends including EJ Ayala, Michael Dershewitz, Max Kaufman ⚡️, Erica Hamilton, Ron Cao, Colleen Sullivan, Alex M., Paul Thind, Dante Reminick, Parker Heath, Kiernan Fitzsimons, Conrad Sain, George V., Rodrigo Etcheto, Kelly DiGregorio, and more! In all it was a great time meeting with incredible partners. It's clear that: - Cloud compute and distributed hosting x web3 gaming has a lot of potential - Gaming-focused chains are ready to rock and roll, esp. powered by Sequence - Investments are increasingly sophisticated and focused on sustainability - Traditional gaming is headed into the space in droves, with strong teams with incredible backgrounds who truly understand gamers, data, A/B testing and more But Consensus, as with many generalist crypto or web3 events, is obsolete. Events in new industries are important, but as the space matures and consolidates, I'm not sure that there's a need for several days devoted to basic underlying technology. It's like going to Servers 2024! We all get it, we know what servers are, what they do. How this gets applied, what benefits it brings to developers, players, users, that's what matters. I'd love to see Consensus get a bit more serious around specific tracks or reconsider its focus.

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I am thrilled about this year's RDC and the surge in brand interest in Roblox. The UGC gaming market is truly dynamic, with platforms like Roblox, UEFN, and Sandbox leading the way in innovation. As a veteran with over 20 years in the industry, I find it fascinating to witness the creativity emerging from UGC platforms. Brands are leveraging these platforms to engage with audiences in unique ways. I see three key pillars in how brands are interacting in this space: 1. The Canvas: UGC platforms offer a versatile canvas where brands can unleash their creativity, enabling groundbreaking game mechanics and reimagining the gaming landscape. 2. The Paint: Brands can introduce themselves to new audiences, creating experiences that bridge virtual and real-world engagement, such as the "Games to life" concept. 3. The Artist: By fostering interactive relationships among brands, gamers, and platforms, developers can seamlessly merge the virtual and real worlds, creating immersive experiences. In 2024, Atlas Creative achieved significant milestones: - Average game session length: 27 minutes - Total lifetime game sessions: 3.5 Billion - Players spent approximately 91 Billion minutes playing our games. If you'll be at RDC next month and want to connect, feel free to reach out. Let's schedule a meeting! #RDC #Roblox #UEFN #UGC #UGCGAMING #ATLASCREATIVE

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Our new quarterly report is out. Pearls of wisdom here!

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It’s fantastic to see another major player in the gaming industry, Atari’s Infogrames, placing game preservation at the heart of its business strategy. As highlighted in a recent article, Atari CEO Wade Rosen is committed to preserving and re-releasing classic games in ways that respect their original integrity while making them accessible to modern audiences. This move further underscores the increasing importance of game preservation, not just as a cultural necessity but as a viable business opportunity. Recent reports, such as the 2023 Video Games Europe Key Facts and Newzoo’s insights, have highlighted the growing significance of preserving our gaming heritage. Initiatives like #StopKillingVideoGames, which has gained record popularity, are part of a broader trend recognizing the need to safeguard video games' cultural and historical value. With GOG already making game preservation a core aspect of its business model, it’s encouraging to see this movement gain more momentum across the industry. As more companies and initiatives join forces, the preservation of gaming history is becoming an essential focus that will benefit both the industry and players alike. https://lnkd.in/d_Mz8NM5

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🙏 A Big Thank You to Our Friends at Tekkie Pinas! 🙏 Grateful to Mark Anthony Wagan for this fantastic article on the recent launch of the Kaia Mainnet. 🎉 It’s exciting to see our efforts being recognized as we continue to push the boundaries of Web3 with LINE’s NEXT WEB SDK. Check out the full article to learn more about how Kaia is set to reshape the future of blockchain. 👉 https://lnkd.in/eSKQMyDu #JBlaze #KaiaBlockchain #MainnetLaunch #Web3 #TekkiePinas #Innovation #Blockchain

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Cloud game is growing!!

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I'm a bit late to the discussion on IGN Entertainment's acquisition of the Gamer Network. Seeing IGN Entertainment acquire the Gamer Network hits close to home for me. I grew up getting my gaming news and guides from mid-level publishers like Eurogamer and VG247. This consolidation trend is troubling, especially considering the layoffs and reduced editorial diversity that often follow. With my experience at ReedPOP, a subsidiary of Reed Exhibitions, I have insider knowledge of the dynamics at play. Reed should have invested more in these publishers because they didn't fit into the broader B2B portfolio strategy. This oversight has contributed to the consolidation we're witnessing now, where a few major entities control most of the gaming news landscape, pushing out smaller, independent voices. #GamingNews #IndustryTrends #Consolidation https://lnkd.in/eEDx-bfJ

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Check out the latest in GMU Esports news in this week's version of the Weekly Replay!

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The experts' guide to mobile games monetisation: Part two

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Come learn about Xsolla's strategies to improve your mobile games revenue.

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🔋⚡️Calling all gaming & entertainment website owners! Big news at Overwolf today as we announce the acquisition of industry-leading gaming ad tech company Nitro (formally Nitropay), bringing unprecedented net-7 payouts to all website publishers on our platform. As part of our aligned vision with the Nitro team to revolutionize the ad tech industry, we’re offering website publishers unparalleled opportunities for monetization including: 🏆Net-7 payouts ⚡️Lightning fast ad loading ☎️Same-day support 📈More demand for ad inventory Prior to the acquisition, Overwolf was already ranked by Comscore, Inc. as a Top 10 US Game Publisher, with our unique proprietary solution allowing advertisers to reach over 45 million monthly gamers across premium game titles like Minecraft, Fortnite and League of Legends. Our partners include global powerhouse brands and media agencies such as P&G, Pringles, KFC, Intel, Monster Energy, Dentsu, WPP, Havas and more. Today, we more than double our reach to 100M unique gamers monthly across a rich ecosystem of desktop apps, mods, private servers and now over 500 premium websites - becoming a simple marketing buy for anyone looking to advertise to gamers at scale. A big welcome to Cody Bye and the Nitro team joining our growing pack of wolves. Read more about the acquisition here: https://lnkd.in/dRs_MzKN If you’re a gaming/entertainment website owner interested in net-7 payouts and increased demand for your ad inventory reach out to our Nitro team via the website: https://lnkd.in/dAxtkU5V #Publishers | #GamingIndustry | #GamingAds | #Monetization | #AdTech

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When I started Combat Waffle Studios I didn’t have a roadmap, just a vision and a relentless drive to make it a reality. I raised $1.2M from a single investor—non-ownership shares—and got to work. Two years later, we’ve turned that into $20M in sales, and I still own 100% of my company. Call this cliche; but success isn’t about taking the easiest route. It’s about betting on yourself when no one else will. It’s about refusing to sell your soul for the promise of “easy money.” Stop taking “dumb money” from investors looking for a quick buck in a rising industry. I’ve turned down two acquisition offers for insane amounts of money because I refuse to let someone else dictate my future. I didn’t work this hard to build someone else’s dream—I built mine. If you’re grinding right now, wondering if you’ll ever break through, let me tell you this: keep going. The path isn’t easy, but it’s worth it. The reward isn’t just in the money or the numbers; it’s in knowing you stayed true to yourself, your vision, and your values. Be your own boss. Write your own story. Take the risks that matter and stop selling your soul to people who don’t understand your worth. Whether you succeed or fail, make sure the story is yours. No one else can live your dream but you. You’ve got this. Keep pushing. #Motivation #BetOnYourself #Entrepreneurship #BeYourOwnBoss

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Q3 2024 Video Game Confidence Survey Summary is Now Live! Curious about the latest trends shaping the video game industry? Dive into our Q3 2024 Game Confidence Index, where we unpack the highs, lows, and everything in between from July to September. Key Insights: Shifts in economic sentiment and profitability expectations Rising development costs and intensified market competition Evolving funding strategies amid a tightening financial landscape Read the full analysis to see how industry leaders are responding to these trends and positioning for Q4: Q3 2024... Stay ahead with the insights that matter for navigating this rapidly changing industry! #VideoGames #GamingIndustry #GameDevelopment #MarketInsights #Q32024

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