Valve’s secret game, Unity snags ex-Applovin boss, Polymarket blows up – Games Growth with Upptic

Dive into some of the most intriguing topics in the gaming and tech industries, including the hidden web3 giant that everyone is referencing this election cycle, Unity’s Q2 earnings and intriguing new Chief Product Officer, and a new not-so-secret Valve game taking Steam by storm. It’s all in this episode of Games Growth with Upptic!

Polymarket is a web3 giant hidden in plain sight

Warren leads the conversation by highlighting the growing relevance of Polymarket, a prediction platform that has quietly risen to prominence, especially during the election season. What sets Polymarket apart is that it’s a stealth Web3 product built on Polygon, a blockchain, making it one of the first blockchain-powered products to gain widespread public adoption without the typical hype or backlash that often accompanies crypto-related ventures. Xander shares his thoughts on Polymarket, emphasizing that it’s a real use case that brings value. The duo also discuss the challenges that still exist with web3 user onboarding and government regulation.

Unity’s Jim Payne hire is a big deal

Next, the conversation shifts to Unity, the gaming engine and games marketing company. Xander discusses their recent earnings report and the hiring of Jim Payne as the new Chief Product Officer for advertising. Payne’s impressive background, including co-founding Mopub and Max Ads, positions him as a promising leader to steer Unity’s advertising product. The discussion also touches on the challenges Unity faces in merging its various business components into a cohesive unit and the potential for future growth under Payne’s leadership.

Deadlock: Valve’s not so secret game

Finally, the duo explores the mystery surrounding a new game that is gaining popularity on Steam: Deadlock. Despite Valve’s lack of official acknowledgment, the game has Valve’s fingerprints all over it. The game, which appears to be in a closed beta, has gained significant traction on Steam – with over 23,000 concurrent players. Xander and Warren speculate on Valve’s unorthodox marketing strategy, which has seemingly turned the lack of acknowledgment into a clever, organic promotional tactic. The game itself combines elements of MOBAs like League of Legends with third-person shooter gameplay akin to Overwatch, and both hosts express their anticipation for what could be a major hit.