On the podcast: Apple’s undercooked games efforts, Google’s big AI claims, Ilkka’s BAFTA speech and more
The mobilegamer.biz podcast, a weekly digest hosted by founder Neil Long, covers four major topics affecting the games industry.
Long discusses Apple’s role and contributions to gaming during Tim Cook’s 15-year tenure as CEO, describing the company’s gaming efforts as “undercooked.” This reflects broader questions about Apple’s commitment to the games business despite its significant App Store platform.
A significant portion examines comments from Google Cloud’s games boss Jack Buser, made during a GDC conversation. Buser claimed that practically all major game studios are currently using artificial intelligence in game development. However, he noted that many of these studios appear to be hiding their AI usage from players, suggesting a gap between industry adoption and consumer transparency.
The episode also covers Ilkka Paananen’s BAFTA Fellowship speech, honoring the prominent industry leader. Long includes a brief note about Shuhei Yoshida’s gaming preferences as an aside.
Additionally, the podcast highlights independent developer Philipp Stollenmayer and references the game comedia, acknowledging the broader independent game development scene.
Together, these segments capture current industry dynamics: major platform holders’ gaming strategies, the widespread yet often undisclosed integration of AI in game development, and recognition of established and emerging industry figures.