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Deconstructor of Fun breaks down successful free-to-play games in search of what makes them fun - or not. All of the contributors to this site are both gamers and game makers.

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Deconstructor of Fun
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Outsourcing Is Dead. Long Live Co-Development
Jun 10

Jun 10 Outsourcing Is Dead. Long Live Co-Development

Michail Katkoff
Business

Game studios are scaling smarter in 2025—co-development isn’t a backup plan anymore, it’s the new blueprint for building at scale.

Mobile Gaming in 2025: 10 Trends That Matter
Jun 5

Jun 5 Mobile Gaming in 2025: 10 Trends That Matter

Michail Katkoff
Marketing, Predictions

The hits are older. The players are smarter. And success is quieter. Mobile gaming’s mid-year status check is here—and it might not look like what you expected.

How Voodoo Builds Hits: Four Product Lessons from a 2000-Prototypes-a-Year Machine
Jun 2

Jun 2 How Voodoo Builds Hits: Four Product Lessons from a 2000-Prototypes-a-Year Machine

Kate Halewood
Business

How does Voodoo turn rapid-fire prototypes into chart-topping hits? Discover their 4 game-changing product lessons for building scalable, lasting games.

The Hard Truth About the Finnish Game Industry
May 26

May 26 The Hard Truth About the Finnish Game Industry

Michail Katkoff
Business

Why did Finland’s once world-leading game industry lose momentum? Michail Katkoff explores the broader decline across the Finnish ecosystem—from overreliance on studio culture and Supercell mimicry to missed market shifts, studio closures, and waning investor confidence.

What I Took from Games to Build Better Consumer Apps
May 19

May 19 What I Took from Games to Build Better Consumer Apps

Guest Writer
Deconstructions

A breakdown of five game-design “superpowers” that product leaders can bring into consumer apps—from progression systems to re-engagement loops and monetization models.

Squad Busters 2.0 and Supercell's YOLO Strategy
May 16

May 16 Squad Busters 2.0 and Supercell's YOLO Strategy

Michail Katkoff
Deconstructions

Supercell has rebooted Squad Busters. Again. Yet the reboot feels more like a company wrestling with itself than with its competition.

How I Went From a 3D Artist to GM of a Billion-Dollar Game
May 12

May 12 How I Went From a 3D Artist to GM of a Billion-Dollar Game

Kate Halewood
Business

Justin McFarlane went from 3D artist to GM of SciPlay’s Billion Dollar flagship game. We explore how long-term trust, internal growth, and deep product proximity shaped his unconventional path — and what it says about building great teams in gaming.

Why Smart Founders Say No to Billions
May 8

May 8 Why Smart Founders Say No to Billions

Michail Katkoff
Business, Founders

What if the smart move for a unicorn founder isn’t to sell or go public, but to simply stay the course?

AppLovin: The Apex Predator
May 5

May 5 AppLovin: The Apex Predator

Guest Writer
Business

AppLovin didn’t win mobile ad tech by competing harder. It rewrote the rules, seized the pipes, and made everyone else dependent.

Rethinking Creative Production with AI
Apr 30

Apr 30 Rethinking Creative Production with AI

Michail Katkoff
Marketing

Debunking AI myths in marketing: creativity, brand voice, and personalization

Mobile Dreams of Hollywood: Inside Royal Kingdom’s Celebrity Blitz
Apr 28

Apr 28 Mobile Dreams of Hollywood: Inside Royal Kingdom’s Celebrity Blitz

Michail Katkoff
Business, Marketing

"When in doubt, add LeBron." That seems to have been Dream Games' mantra when they unleashed an all-out celebrity siege for Royal Kingdom.

Supercell Investments: A Creative Community or a Missed Opportunity?
Apr 22

Apr 22 Supercell Investments: A Creative Community or a Missed Opportunity?

Michail Katkoff
Business

Supercell has revamped its investment strategy under a new brand, but is it more than just rebranding? We break down Supercell Investments' track record, how it compares to CVC best practices.

Duolingo: How the $15B App uses Gaming Principles to Supercharge DAU Growth
Apr 14

Apr 14 Duolingo: How the $15B App uses Gaming Principles to Supercharge DAU Growth

Guest Writer
Deconstructions

The green owl isn’t cute. It’s ruthless. Here’s how Duolingo gamified education and built one of the stickiest consumer apps on the planet.

The Future of Gaming: Engaging Gen Z
Apr 7

Apr 7 The Future of Gaming: Engaging Gen Z

Kate Halewood
Business

By 2026, Gen Z will be the biggest spenders in gaming. But winning them over takes more than a good game—it takes creators, social ecosystems, and seamless cross-platform play. Here’s how to stay ahead.

The Power of Q5 and Retention: Lessons from SciPlay
Mar 31

Mar 31 The Power of Q5 and Retention: Lessons from SciPlay

Kate Halewood
Business

How do you grow in a mature market? Well, there’s no one better to answer this question than Josh Wilson, CEO of SciPlay, who has steered the company to growth every year since 2013.

Beyond User Acquisition: How to Win with Influencer Marketing
Mar 24

Mar 24 Beyond User Acquisition: How to Win with Influencer Marketing

Guest Writer
Business

Influencer Marketing is a key UA channel, but making it profitable takes more than guesswork. Here’s what drives real, measurable impact.

The Magic Behind Magicabin’s ARPDAU
Mar 19

Mar 19 The Magic Behind Magicabin’s ARPDAU

Guest Writer
Deconstructions

Magicabin, a captivating farm adventure game by Ivy Mobile, has rapidly gained popularity with its immersive gameplay and seasonal events. As it continues to rise, it establishes itself as a strong competitor to the reigning leader in the niche, Moon Active.

Inside the Skillz Developer Accelerator: Why $75M is Up for Grabs for Game Studios
Mar 13

Mar 13 Inside the Skillz Developer Accelerator: Why $75M is Up for Grabs for Game Studios

Michail Katkoff
Business

Skillz is betting $75M to find the next big skill-based game, pushing real-money competition beyond casual titles into new, high-stakes genres. Is your game the one they’re looking for?

How Istanbul Became the New Capital of Mobile Gaming – And Where It’s Headed Next
Mar 10

Mar 10 How Istanbul Became the New Capital of Mobile Gaming – And Where It’s Headed Next

Michail Katkoff
Business

Türkiye has mastered hyper-casual and puzzle games, turning startups into billion-dollar giants. The question now is: Can it break into new frontiers?

Six Hiring Mistakes Most Companies Make
Mar 3

Mar 3 Six Hiring Mistakes Most Companies Make

Michail Katkoff
Business

With fewer open roles and more talent on the market, you’d think hiring would be easier—but it’s not. In fact, the high stakes mean hiring mistakes have never been costlier

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