📈 2025 Focus: AI, Decision Analysis, and LiveOps Deep Dives
Happy New Year everybody! A quick overview on our focus for 2025...
Hey GameMakers,
Happy New Year!
I’ve taken some time to think more deeply about how we can deliver the most useful and compelling content in 2025.
To that end, you’ll start to see more interviews, and later this year, we will try to expand with more podcast content. We will also try to differentiate ourselves a bit with specific focus areas.
These three focus areas are AI x Gaming, Decision Analysis, and LiveOps Deep Dives.
Read below for more details on what I’m thinking of for 2025.
Finally, we are partnering with more people to create newsletter content. If you’re interested in collaborating or contributing, please DM me!
In this newsletter:
Top Revenue: Ending 2024, the two 4X games Last War Survival and Whiteout Survival take #1 and #3 spots in Worldwide revenue. Also, Justice Online at #4 China is definitely worth checking out, especially its use of AI.
Top Downloads: At #1 Worldwide and USA, Block Blast continues to dominate downloads somehow.
Top Steam Revenue: At #2, Path of Exile 2 continues to crush it. At #3, Marvel Rivals seems to be the new release in 2024 that may have the best potential to be an enduring hit game.
Highlight: Read more about why I believe AI x Gaming, Decision Analysis, and LiveOps are the three most important areas to focus on in 2025.
Top 10 Mobile Revenue (Worldwide, US, and China)
Ending 2024, the two 4X games Last War Survival and Whiteout Survival take #1 and #3 spots in Worldwide revenue.
At #6 Worldwide, DNF Origins makes a comeback over Honor of Kings at #9. DNF Origins hits #1 for China.
At #4 Worldwide, Pokemon TCG holding strong.
At #4 China, 逆水寒 (Ni Shui Han) aka Justic Online, is a Netease developed MMORPG based on a famous martial arts novel. This game is notable for its use of advanced AI for NPC behaviors.
More details on Justice Online below:
Top 10 Mobile Downloads (Worldwide, US, and China)
At #1 Worldwide and USA, Block Blast continues to dominate downloads somehow.
At #8 Worldwide, Squid Game made a big jump into top 10 last week.
At #3 China, 仙遇 (Xianyu) is another 3D martial arts MMORPG
At #4 China, 火柴人联盟3 (Ni Shui Han) is the same #4 China revenue game noted above.
Top 10 Steam Charts by Revenue
At #2, Path of Exile 2 continues to crush it.
At #3, Marvel Rivals seems to be the new release in 2024 that may have the best potential to be an enduring hit game.
As the gaming industry continues to change and evolve, understanding and mastering certain areas is paramount for staying competitive and relevant.
In 2025, three content areas—AI's impact on game development, decision analysis, and deep dives into specific LiveOps issues—stand out as critical focal points for game development studios and executives.
1. AI's Impact on Game Development and Gaming (AI x Gaming)
Artificial intelligence has not yet fully transformed game development or the gaming experience, but the technology is advancing at such a rapid pace that its impact is inevitable.
From generative AI tools that promise to create assets and narratives faster than ever before to the potential for AI-driven NPCs that react dynamically to player behavior, the possibilities are vast and expanding. While the gaming industry is still exploring these tools, their growing capabilities will soon redefine how games are developed, experienced, and monetized.
Studios must prepare for this shift by experimenting with AI to streamline workflows, reduce development costs, and unlock new creative opportunities. For executives, understanding AI's trajectory and strategic potential is crucial—not only for improving development efficiency but also for delivering personalized player experiences, such as adaptive difficulty and tailored content.
The time to prepare for AI's transformative impact is now; those who fail to embrace and innovate with it risk being left behind as the technology matures.
2. Decision Analysis
Game development is becoming increasingly complex, challenging, and costly, making decision analysis more critical than ever. The stakes are high, and success often hinges on navigating difficult trade-offs: balancing creative ambition with budget constraints, selecting the right monetization model, or determining the optimal scope for a game's launch. With rising development costs and player expectations, efficient and well-informed decision-making can mean the difference between a game's success and failure.
Decision analysis provides the structured tools and frameworks needed to maximize efficiency and mitigate risks. By employing methods such as decision trees, Monte Carlo simulations, and scenario planning, executives can make data-driven choices that align with business objectives and player satisfaction.
In an industry where a single poor decision can have multimillion-dollar consequences, decision analysis is not just helpful—it’s essential. Moreover, it fosters team alignment, ensuring stakeholders understand the rationale behind key decisions. This ultimately drives efficiency and improves outcomes.
3. Deep Dives into Specific LiveOps Issues
In 2024, we witnessed just how transformative LiveOps can be for game performance and revenue. Consider the example of Brawl Stars, which demonstrated the power of well-executed LiveOps to dramatically boost revenue and player engagement. On PC, the contrasting trajectories of PUBG, which continues to grow, and Apex Legends, which has struggled to maintain momentum, underscore the critical role LiveOps plays in shaping a game's long-term success. It’s become clear that LiveOps is no longer a routine, "turn-the-crank" operation—it’s a strategic, high-impact capability that can redefine a game’s trajectory.
Deep expertise in LiveOps is now non-negotiable. Studios and executives must go beyond generic strategies and focus on tackling the specific, high-leverage challenges that drive results. This includes optimizing event designs to maximize engagement, crafting reward systems that enhance retention, and leveraging real-time analytics for continuous iteration. Solving nuanced problems—such as balancing limited-time monetization offers with long-term player trust or perfecting battle pass progression—can unlock tremendous value. By prioritizing detailed analysis and strategic execution in LiveOps, studios can sustain player engagement, improve satisfaction, and drive significant revenue growth.
Conclusion
Stay tuned, everybody. I’m excited and optimistic about 2025 and looking forward to diving deep into all three areas. We will share more with you and hope to hear more feedback on these topics and any ways you think we can improve this newsletter.
Happy 2025!