Journal

Revenue ShareRevenue share determines how profits (net revenue of UA) are split between the developer and publisher, typically based on: Risk & Investment – More funding = lower revenue share for the developer. Market Potential – Projected higher-performing games get better splits. Long Term Relations - Normally if the studio is tried and tested with the publisher they get better splits. Studio Burn CoverageBurn coverage determines if the publisher funds the studio’s operational costs or not, this could also be done on the title/project level: Full Coverage – Publisher covers all costs but takes a bigger revenue cut. Partial Coverage – Some funding, but better long-term revenue for the studio. No Coverage – Developer self-funds but keeps more revenue.If milestones (statement of works) aren’t met, funding may be delayed or cut off. Commercial TermsBeyond revenue share and burn, contracts […]

Claude, the AI, is taking on Pokémon Red—and it's struggling. Hours into its Twitch stream, the model found itself blocked by a simple rock wall. No matter how hard it tried, walking through solid stone wasn’t an option. The Twitch chat had a field day: “Who would win? A computer AI with thousands of hours of programming, or one rock wall?” Eventually, Claude figured out it could just go around. Watching Claude play is both maddening and mesmerizing. It moves at a Slowpoke’s pace, deliberating every step with excruciating caution. Onscreen, its left side displays an intricate breakdown of its reasoning, while the right shows the game in real-time—turning simple actions into a saga of decision-making. At one point, Claude attempted to find Professor Oak in his lab but got confused by other NPCs in the room. Spotting a character […]

The greenlight process is the final stage of due diligence, where the publishing team comes together to review all aspects of a game and decide whether to sign it. While each publisher has its own approach, the ultimate goal is the same: Do we believe in this game enough to invest in it?Here’s how the decision-making unfolds: Stage 1: The Cross-Team ReviewThe publishing team evaluates all major areas of the game, typically led by designated owners for each function: Product & Design – Is the gameplay engaging? Does it meet genre benchmarks? Production – Can the studio execute on time and at scale? Marketing – Are CPI, CTR, IPM and retention strong enough to support profitable UA? Do we have monetisation metrics already? Commercial Viability – Can it scale profitably? How much will we need to invest to get it […]

As reported by MobileGamer, Space Ape Games is no more. Following Supercell’s full acquisition in November 2024, the studio’s fate has now taken shape: 70 staff join Supercell London, 30 are laid off, and the rest take their projects to new homes. Supercell confirmed that “around 70” former Space Ape employees will be part of Supercell London, marking a major expansion of the Finnish giant’s UK presence. Meanwhile, Chrome Valley Customs and Fastlane are moving to Offroad Games, a new startup led by ex-Space Ape GM Geoffrey Gilles, bringing along 10-12 team members. Transformers: Earth Wars shifts to Chinese publisher Yodo1, which will now handle the game globally, taking 10 Space Ape employees with it. Unfortunately, around 30 staff were left without roles, though Supercell reportedly worked to minimize layoffs and support transitions. Some declined offers at Supercell or the […]