Mateusz Gajdzik

Launching a new game? Together with Mykola, we made a 24-week roadmap template: 𝟭. 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗼𝘁𝘆𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 & 𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 (𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸𝘀 𝟭–𝟲)   • Define your core loop (Spot → Act → Reward → Repeat)   • Build quick prototypes and test them early   • Create simple, intuitive tutorials for new players   • Add basic visuals and UI mockups   • Run small tests focused on Day-1 retention and CPI 𝟮. 𝗠𝗶𝗱-𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗺 𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 (𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸𝘀 𝟳–𝟭𝟮)   • Add more mechanics and progression systems   • Expand content with new levels or modes   • Track player progression and identify churn points   • Refine difficulty and balance based on data   • Add engagement features like daily missions or streak rewards 𝟯. 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘁𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 (𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸𝘀 𝟭𝟯–𝟭𝟴)   • Combine IAP with rewarded ads   • Add offers: shops, bundles, starter packs   • Measure ARPU, conversion, and pricing strategies   • Optimize your game’s economy   • Make sure monetization supports retention, not hurts it 𝟰. 𝗦𝗼𝗳𝘁 𝗹𝗮𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗵 (𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸𝘀 𝟭𝟵–𝟮𝟰)   • Launch in Tier-2 countries first   • Run targeted UA campaigns   • Continuously iterate based on feedback and data   • Start building a community through social and feedback loops   • Fix bugs, polish the UX, and get ready for global release Ship smarter. Not just faster. This roadmap gives you the structure to build, test, learn, and grow. Save it for your next launch or send it to someone who needs a clear plan. --- DM Mykola if your studio needs help testing or scaling the next game idea!

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Creating a new IP on a “triple A” scale for under $30 million might sound impossible, but Cronos: The New Dawn from Bloober Team proves otherwise. The game cost less than $30 million to make, thanks in part to Poland’s lower development costs and Bloober’s refined production pipelines. Some might call it a regional advantage, others a skill issue. Either way, the result is a major new release built on efficiency. Several factors explain how a studio like Bloober can deliver a large-scale, ambitious game without reaching the massive budgets seen in the U.S. or Western Europe. First, Poland has a lower cost of living compared to major game development hubs such as California, London, or Montreal. This immediately reduces the baseline cost of production. Second, Bloober has built up deep expertise and production pipelines over years of development. With titles like Layers of Fear, The Medium, and the ongoing Silent Hill 2 remake, the studio has refined workflows, asset pipelines, and in-house tools. That efficiency means less wasted time and fewer resources spent reinventing the wheel for each project. Third, Polish studios often benefit from favorable tax incentives and government programs designed to support the country’s growing video game sector. Grants and subsidies help reduce risk and keep budgets lean, even on ambitious projects. Fourth, Bloober has developed a reputation for focusing on tightly scoped experiences. Rather than sprawling open-worlds with endless side content, the studio delivers narrative-driven games with carefully designed environments. This creative discipline means production resources can be concentrated, reducing the need for ballooning teams or endless content creation. Finally, Bloober’s strategy has always emphasized specialization. By focusing on psychological horror and atmospheric storytelling, the studio can reuse its technical expertise, motion capture setups, and even some core design philosophies across projects. That specialization keeps development costs down while still producing games that feel fresh and unique. All of this adds up to a situation where Cronos: The New Dawn can be built for under $30 million, a fraction of what AAA publishers often spend, yet still position itself as a premium release targeting console players. Can't wait to play.

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Two formalized resources: Amir Likes Me and Complete Job Search Playbook Folks, all the time we are tinkering with new resources for Amir Satvat's Games Community. Sometimes what we add is brand new. In other cases, we have run extensive trials and, based on consistent and strong feedback, decide to formalize them. Today is one of those times. The first is Amir Likes Me. Once a month, you can let me know about a job search post that is at least partially for a role in games. I will add a supportive comment to help boost its visibility. Over the lifetime of our community, I have done about 200 of these. The feedback has been uniformly positive, so I am formalizing it as a resource. This is not a miracle fix, but it is one more way to get more eyes on your post and more connections. It is now on our homepage with a Google form for tracking. I am also adding statistics for this to our bi-weekly community updates so you can see the data on its impact. I will start the tracking at 200, per the data above. Link: https://lnkd.in/gUUuRSjd The second is the Complete Job Search Playbook. This PDF checklist, distilled from a LinkedIn post that received very positive feedback, outlines everything I would consider before calling a job search complete. I know the list is long and that not every candidate can do everything on it for many reasons. This is respected and that is not the goal. It is meant to be a short, printable document you can use to check off actions over any period of time and find new ideas you may not have tried, whether that is just one of them or all of them. Link: https://lnkd.in/gF_gj4rS Neither of these will be numbered resources, but both are now in our resource library, which is linked from our homepage. I hope many of you will use Amir Likes Me to boost your search posts and the checklist to expand your job search activities. Link to Overall Resource Library: https://lnkd.in/eE9EXB5M A big thank you to Desirée R., who helped with UX, resource planning, branding, and design. She did an excellent job. I appreciate your engagement and amplification of this post so we can get this help into the hands of as many games jobseekers as possible. Thank you games community for the continued privilege of serving you.

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Paradox Interactive, the powerhouse behind iconic strategy games like Stellaris, Europa Universalis, Crusader Kings, Cities: Skylines, and Hearts of Iron, has announced the acquisition of Haemimont Games, the Bulgarian studio behind beloved titles like Tropico, Surviving Mars, and Jagged Alliance 3. Paradox now owns 100% of Haemimont, a move that aligns perfectly with its vision to strengthen its portfolio of deep, engaging strategy games. While Tropico 6 was developed by Limbic Entertainment, Haemimont’s legacy with earlier Tropico titles and its expertise in city-building and tactical RPGs make it a natural fit for Paradox’s future. This acquisition signals a renewed focus on the kind of strategy games that have defined Paradox’s identity—games that blend complexity, creativity, and player-driven storytelling. As Paradox looks to the future, the integration of Haemimont into its ecosystem could mark the beginning of a new chapter. For fans of grand strategy and simulation games, this is an exciting development worth watching. What are your thoughts on Paradox’s direction? Are you excited to see what Haemimont brings to the table? (source: https://lnkd.in/e9Y7Z8U7)

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