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Deconstructor of Fun

Deconstructor of Fun
Gaming Industry
Roblox
Mobile Gaming
Supercell
User Acquisition
Game Development
Applovin
Epic Games
Xbox
Fortnite
Call Of Duty
Game Monetization
Cyprus
Ubisoft
Appsflyer
Scopely
AI In Gaming
Venture Capital
Hybrid Casual Games
Mobile Games

Deconstructor of Fun podcast is created by games professionals for games professionals. We explore the business side of the games industry with the goal of bringing listeners content that is relevant, insightful, and entertaining on a weekly basis. Hosts: Michail Katkoff www.linkedin.com/in/michailkatkoff/ Eric Kress www.linkedin.com/in/erickress/ Phillip Black www.linkedin.com/in/phillip-black-ec... more

PublishesDailyEpisodes796Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
LeisureVideo Games

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Artwork for Deconstructor of Fun

Latest Episodes

Andrew Bowell, CEO of Iconic, who spent 15 years at Havok and a decade at Unity, discusses the future of game development, AI integration, and the challenges of building new game engines. He shares insights on technological shifts, AI's role in creat... more

Roblox's Chief Safety Officer and VP of Safety Products join the podcast to answer the question every parent is asking: Is it actually safe?What's covered:● Why Roblox's safety chief uninstalled the app for his own daughter● The new Roblox Kids and S... more

Microsoft is laying the groundwork to spin Xbox off, Supercell just cut 70% of Metacore's staff after burning through $180M. Meanwhile, EA just launched a real ad platform for sports games.

In this episode, we break down:

● Why Xbox keeps losing its ... more

Gossip Harbor is beating Candy Crush, Merge Mansion is going to Supercell, and the Merge genre is at an inflection point.

In this episode of Puzzle Monthly, we break down the real state of Merge games in 2026, from the history of the genre to why Go... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Christopher Anjos
Guest, game developer/analyst
Episode: Shooter Monthly #7: Marathon’s Collapse, Apex’s Comeback, & Disney’s Extraction Shooter
Tom Storr
Industry veteran from King and Experimentation Group
King / Experimentation Group
Episode: Puzzle Monthly #2: Match-3 Is Broken, Pixel Flow Clones, and Royal Kingdom’s Rise
Phillip Black
Economist, Twig liaison
Twig
Episode: Puzzle Monthly #2: Match-3 Is Broken, Pixel Flow Clones, and Royal Kingdom’s Rise
Warren Woodward
Co-founder and Chief Growth Officer at Uptick
Uptick
Episode: UA Monthly #3: Freecash Ban, Unity Kills ironSource & Vector’s Rise
Zach Letter
CEO of WonderWorks, Roblox studio veteran
WonderWorks
Episode: Can You Build a Real Business on Roblox?
Nick Tornow
Senior Vice President of Engine and Creator Engineering at Roblox
Roblox
Episode: Can You Build a Real Business on Roblox?
Gil Tovly
CMO of AppCharge
AppCharge
Episode: The Epic Settlement: Google's "Level Up" Program & The Future of DTC
Chris Sides
Former EA and Bungie contributor, worked on Marathon
Former EA / Bungie
Episode: Shooter Monthly #5: The Marathon Revelation, Overwatch Reborn & The Death of Highguard
Sam Ani
Lead Gaming Insights Analyst, Sensor Tower
Sensor Tower
Episode: State of Gaming 2026: What’s Really Winning Now

Hosts

Jen Donahoe
Host of Deconstructor of Fun; marketing/publishing lead
Eric Kress
Host focusing on strategy and monetization commentary
Michail Katkoff
Host; co-host and industry commentator
Phillip Black
Host; monetization economist / commentator

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 534 ratings
  • woof

    Some of the most insufferable personalities in podcasting, unsubbed after Eric started casually dropping the r-slur.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    nickfourtimes
    Canada3 months ago
  • Ever wonder what the far right thinks about gaming?

    From promoting authoritarian states in unmarked ads, to mocking the homeless as not real people, to blaming Joe Biden for the EU existing (?!?) and now finally to Ai not succeeding in gaming not because it doesn’t work but because of “left wing artists”.

    How daft are they? They used to have an entire series dedicated to the “inevitable” rise of NFTs and web 3 gaming.

    Philip black may be known as the stupidest man in gaming for a reason… but please hire them as consultants!

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    BigBetter
    United States8 months ago
  • Underwhelming

    For such a good newsletter the hosts are actually pretty weak in podcast form. Chore to listen to.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Jrd929
    United States9 months ago
  • Entertaining and useful

    Great host and guests covering all holistic industry topics and deep dives on topical events

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    BigDave1092
    Sweden10 months ago
  • Fun and insightful

    Need to drop Ethan though

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    NC099
    United States10 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Insightful, high-signal industry analysis with strong host chemistry.
Audio quality and some episodes can be uneven; pacing and hosting style can be polarizing.
Valuable for listeners who want practical takeaways on monetization and growth.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Match Masters' Influencer Marketing Playbook: 8 Years of Always-On Growth
Q: How should influencer marketing fit into a growth stack today?
It should be a permanent pillar that complements performance UA and brand, providing high-retention audiences, organic lift, and stronger app store signals, rather than a one-off experiment.
UA Monthly #4: Freecash Android Comeback, Mistplay Goes All In & Can Anyone Stop AppLovin?
Q: What is your take on Sensor Tower acquiring AppMagic and the potential implications for the market?
The panel views this as consolidation that could reduce competition and potentially normalize pricing, with AppMagic offering a lower-cost tier that could erode some share from Sensor Tower's existing offerings, but they see mixed differentiation across product features.
Left VC to Become a Founder Again. Here's What They Don't Tell You About Running a Fund
Q: So what is the notion of timing?
Timing is crucial for fundraising; despite long discussions about market conditions, founders often push ahead when capital is available, while LPs remain cautious, especially after the pandemic, making timely fundraising a key predictor of success.
What Newzoo's 2026 PC & Console Report Actually Says
Q: What are the key takeaways from the 2026 PC & Console report?
The main takeaways are that PC is outgrowing console in nominal terms, engagement is flattening with a shift in playtime toward different genres (notably sandbox), and pricing dynamics are evolving toward a mid-price premium live-service model, with Roblox playing a uniquely platform-driven role.
400,000 Wishlists in a Month: Dead as Disco's Steam(ing) Playbook
Q: Adam, I wanted to ask you a little bit about some of the playtests that you did and some of the surveys that you were able to do. How are you using those in-game surveys and any of these player feedback kind of functionality services?
Adam explains that they consistently use a set of five key questions to gather feedback from players about enjoyment and engagement to make informed decisions on game development.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Deconstructor of Fun

What is Deconstructor of Fun about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A sharp, industry-focused roundtable centered on the business of games. Across episodes, discussions frequently pivot around live service dynamics, monetization economics, platform strategies (including subscriptions and AD-supported models), and the tension between big IPs and lean development approaches. Guests range from developers and operators to investors and market analysts, with a penchant for data-informed takes, candid disagreements, and practical takeaways for strategy, growth, and market positioning. The show stands out for its veteran perspectives, willingness to challenge conventional wisdom, and a candid, debate-driven format that blends macro industry trends with hands-on insights for publishers, developers, and investors.

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How many listeners does Deconstructor of Fun get?

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Which podcasts are similar to Deconstructor of Fun?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Deconstructor of Fun:

1. Gamecraft
2. Naavik Gaming Podcast
3. Decoder with Nilay Patel
4. The a16z Show
5. BG2Pod with Brad Gerstner and Bill Gurley

How many episodes of Deconstructor of Fun are there?

Deconstructor of Fun launched 9 years ago and published 796 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Deconstructor of Fun?

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What guests have appeared on Deconstructor of Fun?

Recent guests on Deconstructor of Fun include:

1. Christopher Anjos
2. Tom Storr
3. Phillip Black
4. Warren Woodward
5. Zach Letter
6. Nick Tornow
7. Gil Tovly
8. Chris Sides

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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