Ghibli-Style AI Art Takes Over ChatGPT

If your social feeds have turned into a dreamy, anime-soaked wonderland, you're not alone. The internet’s latest obsession? AI-generated Studio Ghibli-style images, transforming everything from historical icons to meme culture into magical stills straight out of My Neighbor Totoro. But here’s the plot twist: this viral trend is powered by OpenAI’s new GPT-4o model, and it's already shaking up the creative world, including mobile gaming. Isn't it illegal? AI’s Copycat Moment: The Copyright Storm Is Here. AI giants like OpenAI are already under fire for using creators’ work without consent, and a new viral image generator just turned up the heat. Here’s why it’s a tipping point: Artists recognize their own style. This tool mimics with eerie precision, revealing that copyrighted works were likely used to train the AI. It skirts the law, not the ethics. The AI alters just […]

Ömer Yakabagi March 27

Journal

8 Things Games Do Better Than Any Art

8 Things Games Do Better Than Any Art People say games aren’t art. ❌ Wrong!Games do what no other art form can.Here’s 8 ways games outshine everything:𝟭. 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘉𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘚𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘌𝘭𝘴𝘦• Books make you imagine.• Movies make you feel.• Games make you live it.Mass Effect → Choices shape your story.𝟮. 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘘𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧• A book shows a hero making tough choices• A game forces you to make it.Spec Ops: The Line → Regret every step.𝟯. 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘌𝘹𝘱𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘉𝘦𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺• Movies show only what’s filmed.• Games let you look everywhere.RDR2 → Secrets in every town.𝟰. 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯 𝘣𝘺 𝘋𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨• ‘Fast & Furious’ won’t teach driving.• With racing games you’ll pick up skills fast.F1 → Even Formula 1 champions use it.𝟱. 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘍𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘭 𝘍𝘦𝘢𝘳• In movies, the hero is never YOU.• In games, your instincts kick in.Resident Evil 4 → […]

Sergei Vasiuk March 27

Journal

Offerwalls: What is it for Publishers and Advertisers?

Ad El Dorado - Inside the Incentivized Ad Platforms Quest for Gold Gold Diggers, Welcome! The number of Incentive Ad Platforms or offerwall solutions has significantly increased in the last couple of years. I remember that back in 2017, the only options for publishers looking for offerwalls solutions were relegated to two choices: Fyber and Tapjoy. Now, it’s 2025, and according to Paul Bowen’s Data Baseon Incentivized ad platforms, you can choose from 19 companies. That’s 8x more companies in 8 years. So, this week, I want to break down the different types of offerwalls available to publishers and break down common pitfalls publishers face when chasing these golden gains. 🤔What is an Offerwall?🤔 Easy - A publisher integrates an offerwall where their users can see a list of offers they can complete for in-game currency. The offers can range […]

Felix Braberg March 27

Journal

Custom Store Listing for World Eternal Online

We did a super fun creative test with Core Loop for World Eternal Online. The goal? Come up with new art styles for the game and see how they perform compared to the original, in terms of audience appeal and campaign results.To bring it all to life, we leaned heavily on AI:🧠 ChatGPT helped us write character prompts🎨 Midjourney turned those into awesome character designs🎥 Pika, Kling and Creatify helped animate everything into ad-ready creativesBut it didn’t stop there.We used the AI art to build dedicated Custom Store Listings on Google Play, complete with unique icons and screenshots for each visual style. Then we ran a Meta campaign to send traffic to each version and measure the differences in audience behavior and conversion rates.The result? Two totally different visual vibes. Two different types of players. Tons of insights for further […]

Richard Kos March 27

Highlights

Influencer Marketing Framework

🧩 Your Influencer Marketing strategy won’t be scalable unless you follow a framework. Here’s Step 1 of the 3-step formula: The first stage is always all about gathering knowledge.- Start small, working with Nano and Micro Influencers- Identify initial content verticals based on your target demos- Test the potential of these verticals and sub-verticals- Examine data at scale to identify which verticals are worth scaling withWhen you have sufficient data to make reliable conclusions about a vertical's potential: Move on to Phase 2: Optimisation. 🧩 Profitably scaling Influencer Marketing - Optimisation. Phase 2 is where you optimise the creatives you use to actually convert the audiences in these niches.This involves iterating with- Visual elements of the integration- Talking points- CTAs- Different Live Ops and events- Initial additional incentives like gift codesOnce you've figured out the optimal setup, you can move onto […]

Marion Balinoff March 26

Highlights

Is CPI the new ROAS?

In mobile gaming user acquisition, return on ad spend (ROAS) hasn’t always been the go-to metric for success. Before ROAS took centre stage, cost per install (CPI) was the primary focus, with advertisers optimizing for the lowest CPI possible without much thought to what happened post-install.Then, as attribution improved, the industry shifted toward measuring D7 ROAS as a key performance indicator. This provided an early read on whether a cohort of installs would eventually break even. Over time, predictive lifetime value (LTV) models layered onto this, helping publishers refine their forecasts and ensure long-term profitability.Now, in a post-Zero Interest-Rate Policy (ZIRP) world, CPI is making a comeback alongside ROAS as gaming companies sharpen their focus on efficiency and profitability. Let’s explore why.The Risk of Unchecked CPIEvery mobile publisher operates under a simple equation:LTV - CPI = ProfitThe challenge? LTV isn’t […]

Paul Bowen March 26

Highlights

Game Over for Sexist Mobile Ads

Mobile gaming’s fun, until the Ads get weird. And sexist. And downright disgusting. The UK’s Advertising Standards Authority just dropped the ban hammer on eight mobile game ads that crossed a line—hard. Think: women as props, porn tropes masquerading as game previews, and disturbing depictions of coercion wrapped in cutesy animation. The ASA called it what it is: shocking and unacceptable. See: Actions being taken on Sexualised Ads 🤯 Wait, This Is Still Happening? Jup. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Despite progress in other media, mobile game ads are stuck in a grim loop of clickbait and sleaze. Why? Low CPI = Business as usual :)) They’re not edgy. GROSS. And yet, they WORK. That’s the problem :)) Real Cost? 🚫 Misleading gameplay = player distrust 💔 Sexist content = alienating 48% of the mobile gamer base (yep, that many are women) 📉 Fake […]

Ömer Yakabagi March 26

Journal

Actions being taken on Sexualised Ads

It’s encouraging to see action finally being taken on sexualised ads in our industry. The UK’s ASA has just banned ads from five mobile games for breaching guidelines, including ones featuring hyper-sexualised and stereotypical portrayals of women. This follows a string of similar cases, and it’s clear the industry is now under real scrutiny; who knows how long before the IAB enforces something even further?I covered this issue in detail last year with Gamesforum, pointing out how this kind of advertising doesn’t just fail morally, it also fails commercially. It undermines trust in the product, the platform, and ultimately the industry, which reduces retention rates and other qualitative gaming metrics. These aren’t edge cases, they’re still far too common.This ASA ruling is a much-needed first step, but we’ve got a long way to go. It’s not enough to quietly hope […]

John Wright March 26

Journal

Why Mukbang Games are in the top charts?

Who's Hungry? Let's see why Mukbang Games are in the top charts 🍔🍜 Check out some insights into the trend and dive into the fastest-growing Mukbang Games in the world! 🚀In my opinion, these games are great for those who love food🔥

Zack Weiss March 26

Highlights

Supercell Supports Offroad Games in High-Speed Studio Launch

Buckle up: a crew of Space Ape veterans just launched Offroad Games, a brand-new London studio with one mission—drive car games into the future with full-throttle energy. Even better? They’re not doing it alone. In a bold move to keep beloved games alive and thriving, Supercell and Offroad Games have joined forces, handing over the keys to Chrome Valley Customs, Fastlane: Road to Revenge, and the long-dormant Go Race: Superkarts. This partnership protects jobs, powers up innovation, and fuels growth across London’s buzzing dev scene. At the wheel is Geoffrey Gilles, Offroad’s CEO and former GM of Chrome Valley Customs and original game lead on Beatstar. Backed by a team of ten (and growing), Offroad is already profitable and running at full speed, with no outside funding and no time to waste. “Offroad is buzzing with gallons of nitro energy! […]

Gamigion March 26

Journal

10 Ways to Monetize a Game

10 Ways to Monetize a Game Here are 10 common game monetization models: 𝟭. 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗶𝘂𝗺 – 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗯𝘂𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝘂𝗽𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗻𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀. • Instant revenue, full experience • High price can deter players 𝟮. 𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗲-𝘁𝗼-𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘆 (𝗙𝟮𝗣) – 𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻𝗹𝗼𝗮𝗱, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘁𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗶𝗻-𝗴𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗽𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗮𝘀𝗲𝘀. • Large player base, high revenue potential • High competition, requires constant updates 𝟯. 𝗗𝗟𝗖 (𝗗𝗼𝘄𝗻𝗹𝗼𝗮𝗱𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁) – 𝗔𝗱𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘁-𝗹𝗮𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗵. • Extends game lifecycle, ongoing revenue • Requires continuous development, balancing paid vs. free content 𝟰. 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘆-𝘁𝗼-𝗘𝗮𝗿𝗻 – 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹-𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗶𝗻-𝗴𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 (𝗰𝗿𝘆𝗽𝘁𝗼, 𝗡𝗙𝗧𝘀). • Attracts players with rewards, player-driven economy • Security risks, regulatory challenges 𝟱. 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝗚𝗮𝗺𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 – 𝗕𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻-𝗴𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀. • High revenue, strong player engagement • Legal restrictions, ethical concerns 𝟲. 𝗦𝘂𝗯𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 – 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗮𝘆𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗮 𝗴𝗮𝗺𝗲 […]

Anton Slashcev March 26

Highlights

The Future of UA: Creator Programs

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗨𝗔! Creator programs. "𝗢𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗰𝘀". Roblox, Fortnite, MY.GAMES, and Supercell recruited over 𝟭𝟬𝟬𝟬 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀. Why? 👇 𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗹, 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗯𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺, 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴:↳Retention↳Feedback loops and positive PR↳Generate user-generated content↳Distribution↳Reduce fatigue↳Reward your most loyal fans↳Drive more revenue Supercell has recruited over 1,000 creators, claiming some have even increased viewership by 600%. I mean, you can’t pay bills with viewership, but still. That was their main UA channel until Brawl Stars blast, and it still is the main UA for some games: 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗺 𝗶𝘁'𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗱 𝗨𝗔, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗶𝘁 𝗶𝘀. Creator programs. Everyone and their mom has one, including Roblox, Fortnite, Rush Royale, and Supercell…but why? What’s the ROI? Well, there are several benefits to starting one, including: Retention: keep the community engaged, return for new content, and generate buzz around updates Feedback loops and […]

Matej Lancaric March 26

Journal

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