TWIG #328 The Hidden Cost of Celebrity Ads and the How Hollywood Doesn’t Get Games

 The crew unpacks a week of spicy news and strategic contradictions, starting with Supercell’s latest investments and how VC incentives often clash with long-term game building. We weigh in on GamesBeat’s move to independence, the ongoing esports funding debate, and whether Netflix’s Rebel Moon game is a flex or a fumble. Valorant Mobile’s China launch signals Riot’s next big move, while Tencent continues to dominate with titles like Gunfight King. The team dives into Disney’s Solitaire push, Habby's intriguing new soft launch, and the return of Royal Kingdom’s celebrity-fueled ad campaign—capped off by a heated debate: do TV ads still move the needle for mobile games, or are we watching legacy marketing die in real time?01:56 Industry News Highlights02:47 Supercell Investments Analysis05:35 VC Contradictions and Incentives17:43 GamesBeat Independence20:17 Esports Investment22:31 Oblivion24:15 Netflix's Rebel Moon Game31:00 Valorant Mobile Launch in China32:36 Gunfight King and Tencent's Gaming Dominance33:19 Disney Solitaire40:00 Habby's New Game in Soft Launch46:33 Royal Kingdom's Celebrity Ad Campaign48:44 Debating the Effectiveness of TV Ads for Mobile Games01:06:53 Concluding Thoughts on Marketing Strategies