...plus the main reasons branded experiences fall flat, and what native studios understand about retention and monetisation that you don't (yet!)
& 433 and FIFAe’s launch of Talent Lab & Paramount+ doubling down with an Arsenal partnership after acquiring Champions League rights in the UK
& NBA, ESPN & Disney gear up for the return of animated broadcasts + IMG release Digital Trends Report 2026
& Roblox launches self-serve IP licensing + RuneScape removes microtransactions after community vote
& Roblox game Grow a Garden gets film adaptation + G2 Esports launch webcomic series
What are the strategies, strengths and similarities?
& EA partners with Stability.ai to co-develop AI models, tools and workflows + Netflix share report on how and why Gen Z and Millennial audiences stream - and what it all means for advertisers
& FIFA partner with Football Manager ahead of 2026 World Cup + General Intuition raise $134m to train AI agents on video game clips
& Netflix launch co-op party games for TV with Tetris, LEGO and more + Google & NBCU to bring interactive experiences to LA28
& International Olympic Committee announces long-term licensing agreement with SEGA for Sonic the Hedgehog + NHL releases Puck Rush game on motion-based console Nex Playground
Plus, over half of UK population uncomfortable with the idea of brands using AI influencers & NBCUniversal's gaming & experiential strategy for launching Gabby's Dollhouse movie
In Ep. 4 of The Speakeasy, we're joined by Michael Lee - Co-Founder & CEO of Abstract, to talk corporate innovation, consumer crypto, how to use web3 to enhance fandom, Oracle Red Bull Racing's 'In the Moment' collectibles and more.
