TWIG #328 The Hidden Cost of Celebrity Ads and the How Hollywood Doesn’t Get Games

Deconstructor of Fun

The crew unpacks a week of spicy news and strategic contradictions, starting with Supercell’s latest investments and how VC incentives often clash with long-term game building. We weigh in on GamesBeat’s move to independence, the ongoing esports funding debate, and whether Netflix’s Rebel Moon game is a flex or a fumble.

Valorant Mobile’s China launch signals Riot’s next big move, while Tencent continues to dominate with titles like Gunfight King.

The team dives into Disney’s Solitaire push, Habby's intriguing new soft launch, and the return of Royal Kingdom’s celebrity-fueled ad campaign—capped off by a heated debate: do TV ads still move the needle for mobile games, or are we watching legacy marketing die in real time?

01:56 Industry News Highlights

02:47 Supercell Investments Analysis

05:35 VC Contradictions and Incentives

17:43 GamesBeat Independence

20:17 Esports Investment

22:31 Oblivion

24:15 Netflix's Rebel Moon Game

31:00 Valorant Mobile Launch in China

32:36 Gunfight King and Tencent's Gaming Dominance

33:19 Disney Solitaire

40:00 Habby's New Game in Soft Launch

46:33 Royal Kingdom's Celebrity Ad Campaign

48:44 Debating the Effectiveness of TV Ads for Mobile Games

01:06:53 Concluding Thoughts on Marketing Strategies