{"podcast":{"title":"Deconstructor of Fun","slug":"deconstructor-of-fun-223878","podcast_index_feed_id":223878,"rss_url":"https://anchor.fm/s/500026c/podcast/rss","website_url":"https://www.deconstructoroffun.com","image_url":"https://d3t3ozftmdmh3i.cloudfront.net/staging/podcast_uploaded_nologo/738867/738867-1707997600386-9686d82cf1bc9.jpg","author":"Deconstructor of Fun","episode_count":793,"summary":"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-economist/ Jen Donahoe www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferdonahoe","last_synced_at":"2026-06-16T02:22:37.907775+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/deconstructor-of-fun-223878"},"episode":{"title":"TWIG #376: Epic Layoffs, Roblox Tax & Google’s New Strategy","slug":"twig-376-epic-layoffs-roblox-tax-google-s-new-strategy","published_at":"2026-03-27T08:28:39+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/deconstructor-of-fun-223878/twig-376-epic-layoffs-roblox-tax-google-s-new-strategy","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/deconstructor-of-fun-223878","url":"https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/deconstructoroffun/episodes/TWIG-376-Epic-Layoffs--Roblox-Tax--Googles-New-Strategy-e3h1p89","audio_url":"https://anchor.fm/s/500026c/podcast/play/117547721/https%3A%2F%2Fd3ctxlq1ktw2nl.cloudfront.net%2Fstaging%2F2026-2-27%2F420901834-44100-2-245d4af01a221.mp3","summary":"The games industry is hitting another inflection point, and the "old rules" of growth are being rewritten. This week, we’re unpacking: ● Google’s "Level Up" Program: Is it actually a win for devs, or just more platform gatekeeping? We look at Sidekick and the new UA economics. ● The Epic Pivot: Layoffs, the UEFN "platform" gamble, and what the future of Fortnite actually looks like. ● Roblox’s New Play: Their latest brand integration strategy is a massive shift for creator monetization. ● The Newzoo Reality Check: PC is back, player behavior is shifting, and "mid-priced premium" is the new sweet spot. Plus ++ We dive deep into UA multiplier theory, why CPIs are lying to you, and where real growth is actually hiding in 2026. CHAPTERS: 00:26 Show Intro and Agenda 01:36 Quick Shills and Updates 04:05 Google Level Up Explained 07:27 Messaging Mess and Sidekick AI 09:06 UA Multiplier and CPI Debate 11:55 Sidekick Skepticism Extortion 14:39 Epic Layoffs Breakdown 19:05 Why Epic Lost Focus 26:14 Star Wars UEFN Toolkit 33:36 Newzoo Report Key Trends 37:31 Report Critique And TAM Reality 42:29 Premium Mid Price Debate 47:39 Roblox Brand Deal Revenue Cut 51:14 Creator Backlash And Platform Control 56:25 Why The Brand Tax Might Help 01:01:04 Final Debate And Wrap Up","meta_description":"The games industry is hitting another inflection point, and the \"old rules\" of growth are being rewritten. This week, we’re unpacking: ● Google’…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":3884,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/deconstructor-of-fun-223878/episodes/twig-376-epic-layoffs-roblox-tax-google-s-new-strategy/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/deconstructor-of-fun-223878/twig-376-epic-layoffs-roblox-tax-google-s-new-strategy.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}